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Misaligned spin and orbital axes cause the anomalous precession of DI Herculis

Author

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  • Simon Albrecht

    (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Postbus 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
    and Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA)

  • Sabine Reffert

    (Zentrum für Astronomie Heidelberg, Landessternwarte, Königstuhl 12, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Ignas A. G. Snellen

    (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Postbus 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands)

  • Joshua N. Winn

    (and Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA)

Abstract

Herculean task achieved DI Herculis is well known to astrophysicists as a binary star system with an orbit that precesses (changes orientation) at a rate that seemingly cannot be accounted for by conventional physics and stellar models. Many theories have been offered to explain this anomaly, including a failure of general relativity, a 'circumbinary' planet and an unprecedentedly large tilt between the spin axes of the stars and the orbital axis. Now this long-standing mystery has been solved. Analysis of spectra obtained during a series of binary eclipses reveals that both stars in the binary are tipped over on their sides, rotating with their spin axes nearly perpendicular to the orbital axis. The slow precession arises from extra forces associated with the stars being on their 'sides'.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Albrecht & Sabine Reffert & Ignas A. G. Snellen & Joshua N. Winn, 2009. "Misaligned spin and orbital axes cause the anomalous precession of DI Herculis," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7262), pages 373-376, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:461:y:2009:i:7262:d:10.1038_nature08408
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08408
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiang Zhu & Dianwen Zhang, 2013. "Efficient Parallel Levenberg-Marquardt Model Fitting towards Real-Time Automated Parametric Imaging Microscopy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-9, October.

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