Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Aug 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993lehi.rept.....m&link_type=abstract
Final Report Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA. Dept. of Mathematics.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Eclipsing Binary Stars, Interstellar Gas, Light Curve, Lyra Constellation, Molecular Clouds, Spaceborne Astronomy, Spectrum Analysis, Stellar Spectra, Ultraviolet Astronomy, Ultraviolet Spectra, Variable Stars, Far Ultraviolet Radiation, Iue, Lyman Alpha Radiation, Oao 2, Spectral Bands, Stellar Envelopes, Voyager 2 Spacecraft
Scientific paper
The six-band ultraviolet light curves of beta Lyrae obtained with the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory A-2 in 1970 exhibited a very unusual behavior. The secondary minimum deepened at shorter wavelength, indicating that one was not observing light variations caused primarily by the eclipses of two stars having a roughly Planckian energy distribution. It was then suggested that the light variations were caused by a viewing angle effect of an optically-thick, ellipsoidal circumbinary gas cloud. Since 1978 beta Lyrae has been observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite. We have constructed ultraviolet light curves from the IUE archival data for comparison with the OAO-A2 results. We find that they are in substantial agreement with each other. The Voyager ultraviolet spectrometer was also used to observe this binary during a period covered by IUE observations. The Voyager results agree with those of the two other satellite observatories at wavelengths longer than about 1350 A. However, in the wavelength region shorter than the Lyman-alpha line at 1216 A, the light curves at 1085 A and 965 A show virtually no light variation except an apparent flaring near phase 0.7, which is also in evidence at longer wavelengths. We suggest that the optically-thick circumbinary gas cloud, which envelops the two stars completely, assumes a roughly spherical shape when observed at these shorter wavelengths.
No associations
LandOfFree
Analysis of the IUE spectra of the strongly interacting binary beta Lyrae does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Analysis of the IUE spectra of the strongly interacting binary beta Lyrae, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Analysis of the IUE spectra of the strongly interacting binary beta Lyrae will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1493954