Accurate relative positions and motions of poorly studied binary stars

Abstract

We have studied the relative motions of the components of 25 visual binary and multiple stars for which only a modest number of observations of various types had accumulated due to their small relative component motions. A uniform series of photographic observations obtained over many years on the 26-inch refractor of the Pulkovo Observatory are used to calculate the parameters of the apparent relative positions and motions, which can be used for further kinematic and dynamical studies of these stars. A comparison of the relative and proper motions of the components indicates that they are physically bound. Optical components are identified in six systems—for the first time in the three systemsWDS00082+6217, ADS 830, and ADS 7361. The relative motions in ADS 861 and ADS 12925 suggest the presence of perturbing invisible companions, but this requires confirmation based on more accurate observations. The apparent motion parameters method yields a family of orbits with a minimum period of 26 000 yrs for the nearby wide visual binary Gliese 745, for which the parallax and relative radial velocity of the components are known.