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RXJ2130.6+4710 - an eclipsing white dwarf-M-dwarf binary star
We report the detection of eclipses in the close white-dwarf-M-dwarfbinary star RXJ2130.6+4710. We present light curves in the B, V and Ibands and fast photometry obtained with the three-channel CCD photometerUltracam of the eclipse in the u', g' and r' bands. The depth of theeclipse varies from 3.0 mag in the u' band to less than 0.1 mag in the Iband. The times of mid-eclipse are given by the ephemerisBJD(mid-eclipse) = 2452785.681876(2) + 0.521035625(3) E, where figuresin parentheses denote uncertainties in the final digit. We presentmedium-resolution spectroscopy from which we have measured thespectroscopic orbits of the M dwarf and white dwarf. We estimate thatthe spectral type of the M dwarf is M3.5Ve or M4Ve, although the data onwhich this is based are not ideal for spectral classification. We havecompared the spectra of the white dwarf with synthetic spectra from purehydrogen model atmospheres to estimate that the effective temperature ofthe white dwarf is Teff= 18000 +/- 1000 K. We have used thewidth of the primary eclipse and duration of totality measured preciselyfrom the Ultracam u' data combined with the amplitude of the ellipsoidaleffect in the I band and the semi-amplitudes of the spectroscopic orbitsto derive masses and radii for the M dwarf and white dwarf. The M dwarfhas a mass of 0.555 +/- 0.023 Msolar and a radius of 0.534+/- 0.053 Rsolar, which is a typical radius for stars of thismass. The mass of the white dwarf is 0.554 +/- 0.017 Msolarand its radius is 0.0137 +/- 0.0014 Rsolar, which is theradius expected for a carbon-oxygen white dwarf of this mass andeffective temperature. The light curves are affected by frequent flaresfrom the M dwarf and the associated dark spots on its surface can bedetected from the distortions to the light curves and radial velocities.RXJ2130.6+4710 is a rare example of a pre-cataclysmic variable star thatwill start mass transfer at a period above the period gap forcataclysmic variables.
| Chromospheric Ca II Emission in Nearby F, G, K, and M Stars
We present chromospheric Ca II H and K activity measurements, rotationperiods, and ages for ~1200 F, G, K, and M type main-sequence stars from~18,000 archival spectra taken at Keck and Lick Observatories as a partof the California and Carnegie Planet Search Project. We have calibratedour chromospheric S-values against the Mount Wilson chromosphericactivity data. From these measurements we have calculated medianactivity levels and derived R'HK, stellar ages,and rotation periods from general parameterizations for 1228 stars,~1000 of which have no previously published S-values. We also presentprecise time series of activity measurements for these stars.Based on observations obtained at Lick Observatory, which is operated bythe University of California, and on observations obtained at the W. M.Keck Observatory, which is operated jointly by the University ofCalifornia and the California Institute of Technology. The KeckObservatory was made possible by the generous financial support of theW. M. Keck Foundation.
| Improved Astrometry and Photometry for the Luyten Catalog. II. Faint Stars and the Revised Catalog
We complete construction of a catalog containing improved astrometry andnew optical/infrared photometry for the vast majority of NLTT starslying in the overlap of regions covered by POSS I and by the secondincremental Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) release, approximately 44%of the sky. The epoch 2000 positions are typically accurate to 130 mas,the proper motions to 5.5 mas yr-1, and the V-J colors to0.25 mag. Relative proper motions of binary components are measured to 3mas yr-1. The false-identification rate is ~1% for11<~V<~18 and substantially less at brighter magnitudes. Theseimprovements permit the construction of a reduced proper-motion diagramthat, for the first time, allows one to classify NLTT stars intomain-sequence (MS) stars, subdwarfs (SDs), and white dwarfs (WDs). We inturn use this diagram to analyze the properties of both our catalog andthe NLTT catalog on which it is based. In sharp contrast to popularbelief, we find that NLTT incompleteness in the plane is almostcompletely concentrated in MS stars, and that SDs and WDs are detectedalmost uniformly over the sky δ>-33deg. Our catalogwill therefore provide a powerful tool to probe these populationsstatistically, as well as to reliably identify individual SDs and WDs.
| Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997
| Revised Coordinates and Proper Motions of the Stars in the Luyten Half-Second Catalog
We present refined coordinates and proper-motion data for the highproper-motion (HPM) stars in the Luyten Half-Second (LHS) catalog. Thepositional uncertainty in the original Luyten catalog is typicallygreater than 10" and is often greater than 30". We have used the digitalscans of the POSS I and POSS II plates to derive more accurate positionsand proper motions of the objects. Out of the 4470 candidates in the LHScatalog, 4323 objects were manually reidentified in the POSS I and POSSII scans. A small fraction of the stars were not found because of thelack of finder charts and digitized POSS II scans. The uncertainties inthe revised positions are typically ~2" but can be as high as ~8" in afew cases, which is a large improvement over the original data.Cross-correlation with the Tycho-2 and Hipparcos catalogs yielded 819candidates (with mR<~12). For these brighter sources, theposition and proper-motion data were replaced with the more accurateTycho-2/Hipparcos data. In total, we have revised proper-motionmeasurements and coordinates for 4040 stars and revised coordinates for4330 stars. The electronic version of the paper5 contains the updated information on all 4470stars in the LHS catalog.
| The Palomar/MSU Nearby Star Spectroscopic Survey. III. Chromospheric Activity, M Dwarf Ages, and the Local Star Formation History
We present high-resolution echelle spectroscopy of 676 nearby M dwarfs.Our measurements include radial velocities, equivalent widths ofimportant chromospheric emission lines, and rotational velocities forrapidly rotating stars. We identify several distinct groups by theirHα properties and investigate variations in chromospheric activityamong early (M0-M2.5) and mid (M3-M6) dwarfs. Using a volume-limitedsample together with a relationship between age and chromosphericactivity, we show that the rate of star formation in the immediate solarneighborhood has been relatively constant over the last 4 Gyr. Inparticular, our results are inconsistent with recent large bursts ofstar formation. We use the correlation between Hα activity and ageas a function of color to set constraints on the properties of L and Tdwarf secondary components in binary systems. We also identify a numberof interesting stars, including rapid rotators, radial velocityvariables, and spectroscopic binaries. Observations were made at the 60inch telescope at Palomar Mountain, which is jointly owned by theCalifornia Institute of Technology and the Carnegie Institution ofWashington.
| Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statistics
The Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521
| The Near-Ultraviolet Continuum of Late-Type Stars
Analyses of the near-ultraviolet continuum of late-type stars have ledto controversial results regarding the performance of state-of-the-artmodel atmospheres. The release of the homogeneous InternationalUltraviolet Explorer (IUE) final archive and the availability of thehigh-accuracy Hipparcos parallaxes provide an opportunity to revisitthis issue, as accurate stellar distances make it possible to compareobserved absolute fluxes with the predictions of model atmospheres. Thenear-UV continuum is highly sensitive to Teff and [Fe/H], andonce the gravity is constrained from the parallax, these parameters maybe derived from the analysis of low-dispersion, long-wavelength(2000-3000 Å) IUE spectra for stars previously studied by Alonso,Arribas, & Martínez-Roger using the Infrared Flux Method(IRFM). A second comparison is carried out against the starsspectroscopically investigated by Gratton, Carretta, & Castelli. Itis shown that there is a good agreement between Teff valuesobtained from the IRFM and those from the near-UV continuum, and aremarkable correspondence between observed and synthetic fluxes forstars with 4000 K<=Teff<=6000 K of any metallicity andgravity. These facts suggest that model atmospheres provide an adequatedescription of the near-UV continuum forming region and that theopacities involved are essentially understood.
| Photometric Measurements of the Fields of More than 700 Nearby Stars
In preparation for optical/IR interferometric searches for substellarcompanions of nearby stars, we undertook to characterize the fields ofall nearby stars visible from the Northern Hemisphere to determinesuitable companions for interferometric phase referencing. Because theKeck Interferometer in particular will be able to phase-reference oncompanions within the isoplanatic patch (30") to about 17th magnitude atK, we took images at V, r, and i that were deep enough to determine iffield stars were present to this magnitude around nearby stars using aspot-coated CCD. We report on 733 fields containing 10,629 measurementsin up to three filters (Gunn i, r and Johnson V) of nearby stars down toabout 13th magnitude at V.
| The Palomar/MSU Nearby Star Spectroscopic Survey.II.The Southern M Dwarfs and Investigation of Magnetic Activity
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996AJ....112.2799H&db_key=AST
| Photometry of Stars with Large Proper Motion
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996AJ....112.2300W&db_key=AST
| Determination of effective temperatures for an extended sample of dwarfs and subdwarfs (F0-K5).
We have applied the InfraRed Flux Method (IRFM) to a sample of 475dwarfs and subdwarfs in order to derive their effective temperatureswith a mean accuracy of about 1.5%. We have used the new homogeneousgrid of theoretical model atmosphere flux distributions developed byKurucz (1991, 1993) for the application of the IRFM. The atmosphericparameters of the stars cover, roughly, the ranges:3500K<=T_eff_<=8000K -3.5<=[Fe/H]<=+0.53.5<=log(g)<=5. The monocromatic infrared fluxes at the continuum,and the bolometric fluxes are derived using recent results, whichsatisfy the accuracy requeriments of the work. Photometric calibrationshave been revised and applied to estimate metallicities, although directspectroscopic determinations were preferred when available. The adoptedinfrared absolute flux calibration, based on direct optical measurementsof angular stellar diameters, sets the effective temperatures determinedusing the IRFM on the same scale than those obtained by direct methods.We derive three temperatures, T_J_, T_H_ and T_K_, for each star usingthe monochromatic fluxes at different infrared wavelengths in thephotometric bands J, H, and K. They show good consistency over 4000 K,and no trend with wavelength may be appreciated. We provide a detaileddescription of the steps followed for the application of the IRFM, aswell as the sources of the errors associated to the different inputs ofthe method, and their transmission into the final temperatures. We alsoprovide comparison with previous works.
| Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.
| The Palomar/MSU Nearby-Star Spectroscopic Survey. I. The Northern M Dwarfs -Bandstrengths and Kinematics
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1995AJ....110.1838R&db_key=AST
| Far infrared properties of late type dwarfs. Infrared fluxes of K & M dwarfs
IRAS fluxes/upper limits are presented for a large sample of K and Mdwarfs. Good agreement is found between the 12 micrometer fluxes andthose derived from the photospheric models of Mould (1976).Relationships between the optical and infrared colors are derived. Theactive dMe/dKe stars appear systematically brighter in the infraredcompared with the less active dM/dK stars, which could be attributed tomore efficient nonradiative heating in their atmosphere. Any systematicdifferences found in our results when compared with those obtained fromprevious studies are attributed to the different analysis packages used.
| The importance of surface inhomogeneities for K and M dwarf chromospheric fluxes
We present published and archived spectroscopic and spectrophotometricdata of H-alpha, Ca II, Mg II, and X-rays for a large sample of K and Mdwarfs. The data set points to the importance that surfaceinhomogeneities have in the flux luminosity diagrams in these late-typedwarfs, irrespective of whether the Balmer lines are in emission orabsorption. Although supporting the fact that cooler stars exhibitincreasing levels of surface activity, evident through an increasingincidence of Balmer emission, surface inhomogeneities, or variations inthe local temperature and density structure, at the chromospheric level,dominate the total Ca II and Mg II fluxes. We show that the flux-fluxand luminosity-luminosity relations indicate differing extents ofinhomogeneity from the chromosphere through to the corona. A goodcorrelation between Ca II and Mg II fluxes indicates that they areformed in overlapping regions of the chromosphere, so that thecontribution of surface inhomogeneities is not evident from thisparticular flux-flux diagram. In the region of the upper chromospherethrough to the transition and corona, the correlation between Ly-alphaand X-ray fluxes indicates regions with similar levels of arealinhomogeneity. This appears to be uncorrelated with that at thechromospheric level.
| Photometry of dwarf K and M stars
An observational program using UBVRI photometry is presented for 688stars from among the dwarf K and M stars already found spectroscopicallyby Vyssotsky (1958). Of these, 211 have not been observedphotometrically. These observations were obtained over a period ofseveral years at the Kitt Peak National Observatory using a GaAsphotomultiplier with an 0.9 m reflector. Based on night-to-nightvariations in the measures of individual stars, the internal errors maybe estimated to be roughly 0.01 mag for the colors and 0.015 for the Vmagnitudes. The photometric parallaxes reported for each star werecomputed in the manner discussed by Weis (1986).
| Infrared colors of low-mass stars
A total of 322 red dwarf stars are studied in a review of IR IJHKphotometry to discern chromospheric activity and kinematic dataregarding metallicity effects in the IR color:color diagrams. Themetallicity variations are employed to assess changes in the H(-)continuum opacity and water-vapor characterizations. The stars areclassified in terms of metal-richness with five categories includingyoung disk, old disk, and halo types with attention given to the inverserelationship between metallicity and water-band absorption strength. Theresults include IR photometric parallax relations for each metallicitygroup and absolute magnitudes for single stars as well as temperatures,intrinsic colors, and spectral types. The body of data is useful forconstraining models of the interiors and atmospheres of this class ofstars.
| Chromospheric heating in late-type dwarfs - Acoustic or magnetic?
Mg II h and k fluxes for 69 K and 88 M dwarfs have been analyzed. Anempirical lower limit is found in the Mg II flux, extended down to thelatest spectral types. Based on the data presented here it is themagnetic component that dominates the emission from the atmosphere ofcool dwarfs, especially the M dwarfs. It, however, coexists with anacoustically heated component, which can only be identified in the starswith the lowest fluxes in the flux-color diagram, these stars possiblybeing the slowest rotators. Data for the dM(e) stars, i.e., those starswith zero H-alpha, show that these are divided into two classes: (1) aninactive M dwarf star with very weak chromospheric heating, perhaps onlyby acoustic waves; and (2) an intermediate chromospheric activity stardominated by magnetic heating.
| CA II H and K measurements made at Mount Wilson Observatory, 1966-1983
Summaries are presented of the photoelectric measurements of stellar CaII H and K line intensity made at Mount Wilson Observatory during theyears 1966-1983. These results are derived from 65,263 individualobservations of 1296 stars. For each star, for each observing season,the maximum, minimum, mean, and variation of the instrumental H and Kindex 'S' are given, as well as a measurement of the accuracy ofobservation. A total of 3110 seasonal summaries are reported. Factorswhich affect the ability to detect stellar activity variations andaccurately measure their amplitudes, such as the accuracy of the H and Kmeasurements and scattered light contamination, are discussed. Relationsare given which facilitate intercomparison of 'S' values with residualintensities derived from ordinary spectrophotometry, and for convertingmeasurements to absolute fluxes.
| Chromospheric activity in evolved stars - The rotation-activity connection and the binary-single dichotomy
A tabulation of measured values of the Ca II H and K (S) index aretransformed to the original Mount Wilson definition of the index. Thetabulation includes main-sequence, evolved, single, and tidally coupled(RS CVn) binary stars. The (S) indices are analyzed against Wilson's(1976) I(HK) intensity estimates, showing that Wilson's estimates areonly a two-state indicator. Ca II H and K fluxes are computed andcalibrated with published values of rotation periods. It is found thatthe single and binary stars are consistent with a single relationshipbetween rotation and Ca II excess emission flux.
| A study of excess H-alpha emission in chromospherically active M dwarf
Spectroscopic observations from three observatories are combined tostudy the properties of the excess H-alpha emission which characterizesthe most chromospherically active subset of the M dwarf stars, known asthe dMe stars. It is demonstrated that the excess H-alpha luminosityfrom these stars is a monotonically decreasing function of their (R-I)color, and evidence is presented which suggests that the product of themean surface brightness and the mean filling factor of the emissiveregions is essentially constant with color. Another significant resultof the study is a linear correlation between the excess luminosity inH-alpha and the coronal X-ray luminosity.
| The infrared luminosity function for low-mass stars
IR observational luminosity functions are presented for M dwarfs towardsthe South Galactic Pole and the Hyades cluster. A compilation of VRIJHKdata is given for 200 parallax stars. Two-color NIR/IR diagrams of thedata are used to demonstrate metallicity and gravity effects. It isshown that I-J is the purest temperature color index. The corrections tothe luminosity functions that are necessary to allow for magnitudeerrors (Malmquist effects) are discussed. It is found that there is arise in the luminosity function and the mass function for stars in thesolar neighborhood with masses close to the hydrogen-burning limit.
| H-alpha photometry of dwarf K and M stars
Attention is given to the distribution of stars in the N-W, R-I planefor the case of 188 dM and dK stars for which H-alpha photometry hasbeen obtained. Most are found to lie along a single 'main sequence' ofabsorption which slopes up towards 0 EW with increasing R-I. Theabsorption EWs are noted to be large by comparison with photosphericmodel predictions, implying either that the models are in error or thatchromospheres are present in virtually all late-type dwarfs, and areresponsible for the H-alpha distribution feature in both absorption andemission.
| Catalog of proper-motion stars. III - Stars brighter than visual magnitude 15.1, south of declination +30 deg, and with annual proper motion between 0.5 and 0.7 arcsec
A catalog of (VRI) photometry for the some one thousand stars withannual proper motion between 0.5 and 0.7 arcsec, brighter than visualmagnitude 15.1, and south of declination +30 deg is presented. Theavailable proper-motion and radial-velocity data are also summarized.
| Radial-velocity measures and the existence of astrophysical binaries in late-type dwarf stars
Radial velocities with errors of 1-2 km/s are presented based on CCDscans obtained with the Kitt Peak National Observatory coude feedtelescope between 1982 and 1985 of 48 dK-M stars that lack Balmeremission. Comparison with Gliese's (1969) values shows only two stars tobe spectroscopic binary candidates with small velocity amplitudes. Noevidence for any short period (less than 10 days) binaries is found,supporting the conclusions of Young et al. (1986) that there are noastrophysical binaries among these chromosherically inactive dM stars.
| Chromospheric activity, kinematics, and metallicities of nearby M dwarfs
Attention is given to the results of more than 1000 observations ofabout 200 Gliese (1969) catalog M dwarfs, whose BVRIJHK photometry isbelieved to be accurate to 0.015 mag in each bandpass. An analysis ofthese data indicates that the H-alpha equivalent widths are a usefulchromospheric indicator for M dwarfs; as the chromosphere increases instrength, the H-alpha absorption equivalent width first increases, thendecreases, and H-alpha finally goes into emission, as predicted by Gramand Mullan (1979) for M dwarf chromospheres. The present JHK photometryis used to identify stars with metallicities that are significantlydifferent from that of the sun. It is noted that dMe stars in thissample generally have young disk motions, are more luminous than dMstars of the same color, and have B-V colors that are too blue for theirV-I color.
| G. P. Kuiper's spectral classifications of proper-motion stars
Spectral classifications are listed for over 3200 stars, mainly of largeproper motion, observed and classified by Kuiper during the years1937-1944 at the Yerkes and McDonald Observatories. While Kuiper himselfpublished many of his types, and while improved classifications are nowavailable for many of these stars, much of value remains. For many ofthe objects, no other spectral data exist.
| Predicted infrared brightness of stars within 25 parsecs of the sun
Procedures are given for transforming selected optical data intoinfrared flux densities or irradiances. The results provide R, T(eff)blackbody approximations for about 2000 of the stars in Woolley et al.'sCatalog of Stars (1970) within 25 pc of the sun, and additional whitedwarfs, with infrared flux densities predicted for them at ninewavelengths from 2.2 to 101 microns including the Infrared AstronomySatellite bands.
| Erratum - Errors or Omissions in Star-Identifications in the General Catalogue of Trigonometric Stellar Parallaxes
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Hercules |
| Right ascension: | 18h48m51.87s |
| Declination: | +17°26'20.2" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 9.209 |
| Distance: | 17.065 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -406.8 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -423.4 |
| B-T magnitude: | 10.868 |
| V-T magnitude: | 9.346 |
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INHABITED SKY
