Abstract
DR. R. M. PETRIE, of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria, B. C., reports the discovery of another sub-dwarf star, a component of the binary system HD 144208-9 (Sky and Telescope, August). The primary in the system is of class G and the dwarf is of class A and a normal object for its class. Its luminosity in terms of the primary was determined from the combined spectrum of the two stars, in which the metallic lines and the K line of calcium are weaker than normal, and the wings of the Balmer hydrogen are stronger. The assumption that the primary obeys the mass-luminosity relation-mass proportional to absolute magnitude-made it possible to determine the masses and mean densities of both stars. Many other binary systems exist in which the components are G- and A-type, and the investigation of these systems is important that more may be understood about the relationship of the sub-dwarfs to the white dwarfs.
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An Important Binary Star System. Nature 150, 545 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/150545c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/150545c0