FU orionis: A binary star?

Hongchi Wang; Dániel Apai; Thomas Henning; Ilaria Pascucci

doi:10.1086/381705

FU orionis: A binary star?

Hongchi Wang, Dániel Apai, Thomas Henning, Ilaria Pascucci

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

By using the Adaptive Optics with a Laser for Astronomy system at the 3.6 m telescope of the Calar Alto Observatory, we detected a faint red star in the apparent vicinity of FU Ori, the prototype of the FUor outburst stars. Independent confirmation of the detection is obtained from archival Probing the Universe with Enhanced Optics/Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope images. The separation between the companion candidate and FU Ori is 0′.50, and their brightness contrast is around 4 mag. We discuss the possible nature of the newly detected star based on near-infrared photometry and its proper motion relative to FU Ori. The photometric data are consistent with a nearby late-type main-sequence star, a background giant star, and a pre-main-sequence star. On the basis of the proper motion and the stellar surface density in the direction toward FU Ori, we argue that the probabilities of the first two options are very low.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L83-L86
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	601
Issue number	1 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/381705
State	Published - Jan 20 2004
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Binaries: general
Stars: individual (FU Orionis)
Stars: pre-main-sequence
Techniques: high angular resolution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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@article{5431d4016fbb41889b55aff7e36d04e6,

title = "FU orionis: A binary star?",

abstract = "By using the Adaptive Optics with a Laser for Astronomy system at the 3.6 m telescope of the Calar Alto Observatory, we detected a faint red star in the apparent vicinity of FU Ori, the prototype of the FUor outburst stars. Independent confirmation of the detection is obtained from archival Probing the Universe with Enhanced Optics/Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope images. The separation between the companion candidate and FU Ori is 0′.50, and their brightness contrast is around 4 mag. We discuss the possible nature of the newly detected star based on near-infrared photometry and its proper motion relative to FU Ori. The photometric data are consistent with a nearby late-type main-sequence star, a background giant star, and a pre-main-sequence star. On the basis of the proper motion and the stellar surface density in the direction toward FU Ori, we argue that the probabilities of the first two options are very low.",

keywords = "Binaries: general, Stars: individual (FU Orionis), Stars: pre-main-sequence, Techniques: high angular resolution",

author = "Hongchi Wang and D{\'a}niel Apai and Thomas Henning and Ilaria Pascucci",

year = "2004",

month = jan,

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doi = "10.1086/381705",

language = "English (US)",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - FU orionis

T2 - A binary star?

AU - Wang, Hongchi

AU - Apai, Dániel

AU - Henning, Thomas

AU - Pascucci, Ilaria

PY - 2004/1/20

Y1 - 2004/1/20

N2 - By using the Adaptive Optics with a Laser for Astronomy system at the 3.6 m telescope of the Calar Alto Observatory, we detected a faint red star in the apparent vicinity of FU Ori, the prototype of the FUor outburst stars. Independent confirmation of the detection is obtained from archival Probing the Universe with Enhanced Optics/Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope images. The separation between the companion candidate and FU Ori is 0′.50, and their brightness contrast is around 4 mag. We discuss the possible nature of the newly detected star based on near-infrared photometry and its proper motion relative to FU Ori. The photometric data are consistent with a nearby late-type main-sequence star, a background giant star, and a pre-main-sequence star. On the basis of the proper motion and the stellar surface density in the direction toward FU Ori, we argue that the probabilities of the first two options are very low.

AB - By using the Adaptive Optics with a Laser for Astronomy system at the 3.6 m telescope of the Calar Alto Observatory, we detected a faint red star in the apparent vicinity of FU Ori, the prototype of the FUor outburst stars. Independent confirmation of the detection is obtained from archival Probing the Universe with Enhanced Optics/Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope images. The separation between the companion candidate and FU Ori is 0′.50, and their brightness contrast is around 4 mag. We discuss the possible nature of the newly detected star based on near-infrared photometry and its proper motion relative to FU Ori. The photometric data are consistent with a nearby late-type main-sequence star, a background giant star, and a pre-main-sequence star. On the basis of the proper motion and the stellar surface density in the direction toward FU Ori, we argue that the probabilities of the first two options are very low.

KW - Binaries: general

KW - Stars: individual (FU Orionis)

KW - Stars: pre-main-sequence

KW - Techniques: high angular resolution

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U2 - 10.1086/381705

DO - 10.1086/381705

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VL - 601

SP - L83-L86

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 II

ER -

FU orionis: A binary star?

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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