The surface structure and limb-darkening profile of Betelgeuse

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

47

Techniques: Interferometric, Telescopes, Stars: Atmospheres, Stars: Imaging, Stars: Individual: Betelgeuse, Supergiants

Scientific paper

We present the first resolved image of a star observed with a separated-element optical aperture synthesis telescope. Observations of the M2 Iab supergiant Betelgeuse (alpha Orionis) were made at 830nm with the Cambridge Optical Aperture Synthesis Telescope (COAST) during 1995 October. Unusually, the source intensity distribution was highly symmetric at the time of observation - we find no evidence for the brightness asymmetries observed in earlier studies. Our data indicate a strongly limb-darkened but otherwise uniform and circularly symmetric disc, with no compact features contributing any more than 4 per cent of the total flux from the source. The brightness profile is characterized by a very flat core and a Gaussian-like tail, and cannot be represented satisfactorily by a conventional low-order Taylor expansion. A two-parameter Gauss-Hermite polynomial expansion provides a good description for the centre-to-limb brightness distribution.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

The surface structure and limb-darkening profile of Betelgeuse 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 The surface structure and limb-darkening profile of Betelgeuse, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The surface structure and limb-darkening profile of Betelgeuse will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1228103

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.