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Precision Millimeter Astrometry of the α Centauri AB System
- Source :
- The Astronomical Journal, The Astronomical Journal, 2021, 162, 19 pp. ⟨10.3847/1538-3881/abfaff⟩
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- American Astronomical Society, 2021.
-
Abstract
- $\alpha$ Centauri A is the closest solar-type star to the Sun and offers the best opportunity to find and ultimately to characterize an Earth-sized planet located in its Habitable Zone (HZ). Here we describe initial results from an ALMA program to search for planets in the $\alpha$ Cen AB system using differential astrometry at millimeter wavelengths. Our initial results include new absolute astrometric measurements of the proper motion, orbital motion, and parallax of the $\alpha$ Cen system. These lead to an improved knowledge of the physical properties of both $\alpha$ Cen A and B. Our estimates of ALMA's relative astrometric precision suggest that we will ultimately be sensitive to planets of a few 10s of Earth mass in orbits from 1-3 AU, where stable orbits are thought to exist.<br />Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. Full versions of Tables 6, 7 and 12 available in the source material
- Subjects :
- Fundamental parameters of stars
01 natural sciences
0103 physical sciences
Astrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Radio astrometry
010303 astronomy & astrophysics
Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
Main sequence stars
Physics
010308 nuclear & particles physics
Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Astronomy
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrometry
Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
13. Climate action
Space and Planetary Science
Millimeter
Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Astrometric binary stars
[PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
Main sequence
Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15383881 and 00046256
- Volume :
- 162
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Astronomical Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4331f019c5e2cd512b9c1c992f6ea14b