Precision Millimeter Astrometry of the α Centauri AB System
| Autor: | Rachel Akeson, Charles Beichman, Pierre Kervella, G. Fritz Benedict, Edward B. Fomalont |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA (UMR_8109)), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP) |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Fundamental parameters of stars
01 natural sciences 0103 physical sciences Astrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics Radio astrometry 010303 astronomy & astrophysics Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics Main sequence stars Physics 010308 nuclear & particles physics Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Astronomy Astronomy and Astrophysics Astrometry Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 13. Climate action Space and Planetary Science Millimeter Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics Astrometric binary stars [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph] Main sequence Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics |
| Zdroj: | The Astronomical Journal The Astronomical Journal, 2021, 162, 19 pp. ⟨10.3847/1538-3881/abfaff⟩ |
| ISSN: | 1538-3881 0004-6256 |
| Popis: | $\alpha$ Centauri A is the closest solar-type star to the Sun and offers the best opportunity to find and ultimately to characterize an Earth-sized planet located in its Habitable Zone (HZ). Here we describe initial results from an ALMA program to search for planets in the $\alpha$ Cen AB system using differential astrometry at millimeter wavelengths. Our initial results include new absolute astrometric measurements of the proper motion, orbital motion, and parallax of the $\alpha$ Cen system. These lead to an improved knowledge of the physical properties of both $\alpha$ Cen A and B. Our estimates of ALMA's relative astrometric precision suggest that we will ultimately be sensitive to planets of a few 10s of Earth mass in orbits from 1-3 AU, where stable orbits are thought to exist. Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. Full versions of Tables 6, 7 and 12 available in the source material |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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