Radial velocities of the composite spectrum binary Equulei

Abstract

High-dispersion (2.4 A/mm) photographic spectra of the composite spectrum binary α Equulei were reduced to radial velocities at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory using the ARCTURUS measuring machine for the G-component's spectrum, and a radial velocity cross-correlation package within the Image Reduction and Analysis Facility for the A component's spectrum. It is found that subtraction of the G star before cross-correlation gave consistently better results than cross-correlation alone. The velocities are used to derive a new radial velocity curve and to calculate new orbital elements.