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Orbital motion of the massive multiple stars in the Orion Trapezium

2003; EDP Sciences; Volume: 402; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1051/0004-6361

1432-0746

D. Schertl, Yu. Yu. Balega, T. Preibisch, G. Weigelt,

Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure

We present bispectrum speckle interferometry of the multiple Orion Trapezium stars A, B, and C obtained with the SAO 6 m telescope in Russia over a period of 5.5 years (epochs 1995–2001). Our diffraction-limited images have a resolution of 42 mas (J-band), 57 mas (H-band) and 76 mas (K-band). We clearly detect motion of the companions relative to their primary stars in the systems A1–2 (mean separation mas, change in position angle ), B2–3 ( mas, ), and C1–2 ( mas, ). In our K-band image of B we resolve a fourth visual component, confirming its discovery by Simon et al. ([CITE]). We determine the J, H, and K magnitudes of the system components and estimate the stellar masses of the companions in the HR-diagram. The companions C2 and B2 show clear evidence of near-infrared excess in the color-color diagram. The companions A2 and B3 show much stronger extinction than their primary stars, providing evidence of the presence of circumstellar material around the companions.