Question: Consider a binary star that is both a visual and a spectroscopic binary, in which the two stars have circular orbits. Directly observable quantities for


Consider a binary star that is both a visual and a spectroscopic binary, in which the two stars have circular orbits. Directly observable quantities for this binary include the orbital period T, the radial velocity semi- amplitudes k1 = |v1 obs| and k2 = |v2, 0bs |, and the maximum angular separation 6 between the two stars. The inclination angle of the orbital plane can also be determined from observations of the visual binary orbit. Show that if all of these quantities can be measured, you can determine the distance d to the binary, and derive an expression for d in terms of these observable quantities. Your expression for the distance d should not include any dependence on M; or M5, the masses of the two stars
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