Database of binary star data info within 10 PC of Earth

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on finding a publicly available database of binary stars within 10 parsecs of Earth, specifically focusing on orbital parameters such as eccentricity and distance between stars. Users have explored resources like the HEASARC catalog and SIMBAD but encountered limitations in accessing detailed orbital data. The ESA's Gaia database is recommended for its tutorials and potential access to non-single star information, which may include the desired orbital parameters.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of binary star systems and their definitions
  • Familiarity with database querying techniques
  • Basic knowledge of astronomical measurements such as brightness and declination
  • Experience with the ESA's Gaia database and its resources
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the ESA's Gaia database for non-single stars and their orbital parameters
  • Review tutorials on database queries available on the ESA's Gaia site
  • Investigate the HEASARC catalog for additional binary star data
  • Learn how to apply the Pythagorean theorem for spatial calculations in astronomy
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysics students, and researchers interested in binary star systems and their orbital dynamics will benefit from this discussion.

Sciencemaster
Messages
129
Reaction score
20
TL;DR
I'm looking for a database of binary stars within 10 PC of Earth containing info such as the eccentricity of orbits around one another that's somewhat easy to use.
I'm looking for a database of binary stars within 10 PC of Earth, including information such as eccentricity of orbits, their distance from one another, etc. I'm hoping to find a list with this information, or just a collection of pages with this information. I've tried Simbad but I can't find information on Binary Star Orbits. My question is, is there a publicly available database with this information that's somewhat easy to use to someone without much experience with such databases?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Here's one I found via Google:

https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/star-catalog/cabscat.html

I imagine a query would be needed to find those systems that close to Earth ala 10 pc.

At the bottom of the page they mention fields x-coords, y-coords, z-coords which could be used via the pythagorean theorem to decide if the system is within your 10pc radius.

and this page seems to allow queries by distance:

http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-fcoo

then again maybe not. It seemes to index journal articles.
 
I suspect you will need to do this in two steps - find the systems, and then look up their parameters.

I also suspect you will need to decide what a binary system is/what a star is - i.e. what to do with brown dwarfs. You may or may not be able to get a sharp definition. I would be inclined to consider lithium as the dividing line, but I don't know if all my candidates would have good measurements,
 
Vanadium 50 said:
I suspect you will need to do this in two steps - find the systems, and then look up their parameters.

I also suspect you will need to decide what a binary system is/what a star is - i.e. what to do with brown dwarfs. You may or may not be able to get a sharp definition. I would be inclined to consider lithium as the dividing line, but I don't know if all my candidates would have good measurements,
That's a fair point. I have created a list of the binary stars I need information on (I am including orbiting brown dwarfs for the time being, and I can always just ignore them later on), but I'm having trouble finding information on their oribits, as the databases I have tried so far just give me information on the stars themselves--such as brightness and declination--whereas I need to know information about how they orbit around one another. It doesn't help that I'm inexperienced in the use of databases, so I'm not exactly sure how to look for what I need, either.
 
I would suggest going thru the tutorials on the ESA's Gaia site to gain some experience on the database queries. They are very good, and they also have a database of non-single stars. I haven't gone thru this database, but they may have the orbital parameters, or links to the publications that do.

https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/dr3-non-single-stars
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: pbuk
Mendrys said:
I would suggest going thru the tutorials on the ESA's Gaia site to gain some experience on the database queries. They are very good, and they also have a database of non-single stars. I haven't gone thru this database, but they may have the orbital parameters, or links to the publications that do.

https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/dr3-non-single-stars
Thank you very much! That's a good idea, I'll try that!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
10K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K