[vsnet-chat 3717] del Vel AaB... ...the eclipser is A

[crawl@zoom.co.uk]

During a post to 'chat' a few days ago, I made some comment about the
proximity of the stars AaB in delta Velorum making it difficult at this
time to be sure which star was the actual eclipser, although the primary is
usually preferred in such cases.

When I actually get around to completing this thought process, and using
some actual representative numbers, I find that the above point, though a
potential problem, is not an actual one.

Given that the 'a' star is at least 1.3 mags fainter than the A star, (but
may even be as faint as around mag 5.5 [from Hipparcos Doubles and Multiple
Annex]), and that literature values for the magnitude of the B star range
from 5.1 to 6.6, and using these numbers in estimates it turns out that:-

NO DEPTH OF ECLIPSE of either the 'a' or B star can reduce the magnitude of
the entire system by 0.3 magnitudes [or even for that matter some cosmic
coincidence of both going into deep eclipse simultaneously!].

Therefore, star A is therefore the only possbly eclipsing candidate...

...and smartarse thoughts should be carried through to their full
conclusion, and not just halfway ;^)

Cheers

John

JG, UK

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