Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-13-2008

Publication Title

The Astronomical Journal

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

We report parallax and distance estimates for 12 more cataclysmic binaries and related objects observed with the 2.4 m Hiltner telescope at MDM Observatory. The final parallax accuracy is typically ~1 mas. Notable results include distances for V396 Hya (CE 315), a helium double degenerate with a relatively long orbital period, and for MQ Dra (SDSSJ155331+551615), a magnetic system with a very low accretion rate. We find that the Z Cam star KT Persei is physically paired with a K main-sequence star lying 15 arcsec away. Several of the targets have distance estimates in the literature that are based on the white dwarf's effective temperature and flux; our measurements broadly corroborate these estimates, but tend to put the stars a bit closer, indicating that the white dwarfs may have larger masses than assumed. As a side note, we briefly describe radial velocity spectroscopy that refines the orbital period of V396 Hya to 65.07 ± 0.08 minutes.

DOI

10.1088/0004-6256/136/5/2107

Original Citation

John R. Thorstensen et al 2008 AJ 136 2107

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