Hans Bruntt's Blog | Observing binary stars with SUSI

Monday, 28. May 2007

Observing binary stars with SUSI05/28/2007 10:50 AM

I am visiting the Paul Wild Observatory near Narrabri in the northern part of New South Wales. I have been observing with the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI). I am here with Julian North who has many years of experience with the slightly dodgy instrument. We've had five clear nights so far but it's overcast tonight.

Interferometry is a fascinating technique. The idea is to combine light from two telescopes separated by (up to) 120 meters. When this is done very carefully the resolution is equal to a single telescope with a diameter corresponding to the baseline. In this way the diameter of nearby stars can be measured to within a few percent. We are measuring the detailed orbits of binary stars, ie. pairs of stars that orbit each other. Around 50% of all stars are binary or in multiple systems.

On another note: I've been listening a lot to the new Assemblage 23 album while up here...

The world isn't rendered in black and white
Other shades lie between
Don't view the world with binary eyes
We are human, not machine

- Tom Shear (Ass23); Binary, 2007

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Comments :

1. flemming08-06-2007 08:29:20

Hej Hans.
Spændende teknik - med stor vinkel - selv om afstandene er enorme.
du skal forøvrigt snakke med gutterne - uendeligt indgår i deres begrebsforråd!!Jeg troe endda de kender det liggende 8 tal?!
Hav det godt -her alt vel
KH
Flemmingx