H.-H. Bernstein

Derivation of orbital parameters of very low mass companions in double stars from radial velocities and observations of space astrometry missions like HIPPARCOS, DIVA and GAIA

Radial velocity measurements are a well known high-precision method to obtain the orbits of extrasolar planets or brown dwarfs. However, this method is not able to determine the inclination which could be derived from astrometry. The astrometric effects of those objects are very minute, wherefore the interest of astronomers in astrometric techniques was very poor. This situation changes fundamentally since space astrometry observations are available. HIPPARCOS demonstrated the power of space astrometry and the extremely high accuracy of the DIVA, and especially the GAIA observations allows one to detect Jupiter- and Earth- like objects. The optimal estimation of the parameters of the orbit of extrasolar planets or brown dwarfs is a combination of radial velocity measurements and space astrometry observations. Here it is possible to overcome problems which are inherent in both observation methods, so space astrometry complements radial velocity observations and vice versa. This paper gives a method for the parameter estimation using both types of measurements.