The Catalogue of the Components of Double and Multiple Stars (C C D M) — First edition

Abstract

The Hipparcos mission required the realisation of an Input Catalogue giving the positions of 100.000 stars (single or components of double and multiple systems) to an accuracy better than 1”5. At the start of this work (1981) no specific catalogue of double and multiple stars provided these data. The only general data base on double stars available to us, giving positions to ±1’ , was the Index (1961,0) updated at the USNO by C.E.Worley till 1976,5 and of which a copy was communicated by P.Muller of the Observatoire de Meudon. It has then been decided to reformat this Catalogue in such a way as to allow the introduction of all necessary information for the mission. This permitted a correct cross-identification with the Hipparcos Input Catalogue (of finally 118.000 stars). It was later called: the Catalogue of the Components of Double and Multiple stars (CCDM). Since then, it has been developed and its aim remains to furnish the best accurate locations and descriptions of the double and multiple systems on the sky for all double and multiple star research.