Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jul 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003hst..prop.9970g&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #9970
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Hst Proposal Id #9970 Cold Stars
Scientific paper
The analysis of over 30 yr of 161 eclipse timings of the Hyades eclipsing binary V471 Tauri shows the presence of a low mass tertiary companion. A third body was found from periodic variations in the observed arrival times of the eclipses - known as the ``light time'' effect. The light time effect occurs as the relative distance {and light travel time} changes as the eclipsing binary moves around the barycenter of the triple system. Our analysis yields an orbital period of P_3=30.5+/-1.6 yr, e_3=0.31+/-0.04, a semi-major axis of a_3=11.2+/-0.4 AU, and a tertiary mass M_3 sin i_3 =0.039+/- 0.004 Mo. For orbital inclinations >35 degrees the mass of the third body would be below the stable hydrogen burning limit of M 0.07 Mo and thus would be a brown dwarf. We propose HST/FGS observations of V471 Tau over the next 3 years {2 HST orbits/year} to determine its astrometric orbit. These HST observations, when combined with Hipparcos astrometry and the light time orbit, will unambiguously yield the orbital inclination and the mass of the third body. The identification of a brown dwarf in V471 Tau will provide the first direct dynamical mass determination of a brown dwarf with a known age {tau{Hyades}=625 Myr}, chemical composition, and distance. In a few years {near maximum elongation}, it should be feasible to obtain IR images and spectra of this object that will provide crucial tests of brown dwarf models.
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