BS Indi: An enigmatic object in the Tucana association

Guenther, E. W.; Covino, E.; Alcalá, J. M.; Esposito, M.; Mundt, R.
Referencia bibliográfica

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 433, Issue 2, April II 2005, pp.629-634

Fecha de publicación:
4
2005
Número de autores
5
Número de autores del IAC
0
Número de citas
8
Número de citas referidas
5
Descripción
BS Ind (=HD 202947) is a young K0V star in the Tucana association. Photometric observations with the Hipparcos satellite show an eclipse-like light-curve with primary and secondary eclipse. The eclipsing binary has a period of 0.435338 days and a circular orbit. Our spectroscopic observations however show that the K0V primary is a single-line spectroscopic binary with a period of 3.3 years. The minimum mass of the invisible component is about 0.9 M_&sun; which means that the mass of the companion is about the same as that of the primary. The first inspection of our FEROS spectra with a resolution of 48 000, as well as a CES spectrum with a resolution of 220 000 shows no obvious companion. However, when the FEROS spectra are cross-correlated with an M-star, a secondary becomes visible as a broad peak in the cross-correlation function. The width and the position of this broad peak is variable on a short time. When phased to a period of 0.435338 days, the radial velocity variations of the broad peak show the characteristic sine-wave of a spectroscopic binary in a circular orbit. The best interpretation of this data is that the broad peak in the cross-correlation function is caused by an eclipsing binary consisting of two late-K, or early-M stars with an orbital period of 0.435338 days. This is the eclipsing system. These two stars then orbit the K0V-primary with a period of 3.3 years. The assumption that BS Ind is a triple system consisting of a K0V star and two late-K, or early-M stars also explains the unusual brightness of the object and the near infrared excess. Thus, BS Ind is unique, as it contains by far the shortest-period young binary star, and these stars are eclipsing. Based on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory at La Silla, Chile in program 62.I-0418, 63.I-0096, 64.I-0294, 65.I-0012, 67.C-0155, 68.C-0292, 69.C-0207, 70.C-0163, 072.A-9012, 073.C-0355 and 67.C-0194.