Charles E. Worley

The 2001 US Naval Observatory Double Star CD-ROM. I. The Washington Double Star Catalog

The Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS), maintained by the US Naval Observatory, is the worlds principal database of astrometric double and multiple star information. The WDS contains positions (J2000), discoverer designations, epochs, position angles, separations, magnitudes, spectral types, proper motions, and, when available, Durchmusterung numbers and notes for the components of 84,486 systems based on 563,326 means. The current version, available on-line, is updated nightly. This catalog is one of four USNO double star catalogs to be included on a new CD-ROM. A brief summary and statistical analysis of the contents of the catalog are presented.

The 2001 US Naval Observatory Double Star CD-ROM. II. The Fifth Catalog of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars

The Fifth Catalog of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars continues the series of compilations of visual binary star orbits published by Finsen, Worley, and Heintz from the 1930s to the 1980s. As of 2001 January 1, the new catalog includes 1465 orbits of 1430 systems. All orbits have been graded as in earlier catalogs, although the grading scheme has been modified to be more objective. Ephemerides are given for all orbits, as are plots including all associated data in the Washington Double Star 2001.0 database. A subset of orbits useful for scale calibration is also presented. This catalog is one of four USNO double star catalogs to be included on a new CD-ROM.

Speckle Interferometry at the US Naval Observatory. IV.

The results of 1314 speckle interferometric observations of 625 binary stars, ranging in separation from 02 to 52 with a limiting secondary magnitude of V = 11, are tabulated. These observations were obtained using the 66 cm refractor at the US Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, with an intensified CCD detector. This is the fourth in a series of papers presenting measures obtained with this equipment and covers the period 1997 January 1 through December 31. Random errors for all measures are estimated to be 18 mas in separation and 057/ρ in position angle, where ρ is the separation in arcseconds.

Speckle Interferometry at the US Naval Observatory. II.

Position angles and separations resulting from 2406 speckle interferometric observations of 547 binary stars are tabulated. This is the second in a series of papers presenting measures obtained using the 66 cm refractor at the US Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, with an intensified CCD detector. Program stars range in separation from 02 to 38, with Δm ≤ 2.5 mag and a limiting magnitude of V = 10.0. The observation epochs run from 1993 January through 1995 August. Random errors are estimated to be 14 mas in separation and 052/ρ in position angle, where ρ is the separation in arcseconds. The instrumentation and calibration are briefly described. Aspects of the data analysis related to the avoidance of systematic errors are also discussed.

Systematic Errors in Double Star Observations

We have examined the visual and speckle observations of visual double stars made by 31 experienced observers in order to evaluate possible systematic errors in these series. Using 57 “definitive” orbits, we find no appreciable errors in position angle. We do find systematic effects in separation for some observers, and, in particular, a “proximity” effect for measurements of pairs closer than 0″.5. Root-mean-square residuals are:

Speckle Interferometry at the U. S. Naval Observatory

A new speckle interferometer began operation with the 66-cm refractor in Oct. 1990. The interferometer is an improved version of the one operated by CHARA at Georgia State University. We describe the instrument, its calibration, and first observational results.

Micrometer Measures of Double Stars

Micrometer measures of 795 double stars made with the 26 inch (0.66 m) refractor of the US Naval Observatory from 1984 to 1990 are presented.

Thirty Years of Work: Construction of the Washington Visual Double Star Catalog and Its Future

A new edition of the Washington Visual Double Star Catalog (1996.0) has now been completed and issued. This report discusses some of the back-ground concerning such compilations, their contents and arrangement of the data, as well as prospects for future enhancements.

The New Index Catalog of Visual Double Stars — WDS

A new index catalog of visual double stars, the Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS), 1984.0, is now available in tape form. All of the double star data has been updated, as well as the notes to the catalog. This report summarizes the contents of the WDS and describes its compilation.