This page contains information on the tables for multiple star systems. Here we will explain the various columns in the tables, what the different abbreviations mean, and which units are used. Scroll down to the example tables and click on a column header to find out more.
| System | Discovery | Spectral Type | Distance [parsec] | a_triple or quadruple [AU] | a_binary1 [AU] | a_binary2 [AU] | Number of planets | Number of stars | m1 [m_sun] | m2 [m_sun] | m3 [m_sun] | m4 [m_sun] | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Ari BbC+A(AB) | 2005 | F6 / M1 + F5 / ? | 53.71 | 1670 | 22 | 0.004 | 1 | 4 | 0.93 | 0.46 | ? | ? | p_bin2=1.1d |
| 91 Aqr BC Ab | 2003 | K0III / K / K | 45.50 | 2250 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1.4 | HD 219449 GJ 893.2 | ||
| alf Cen ABb+C | 2012 | G2V / K1V / M6Ve | 1.34 | 23.68 | 1 | 3 | 1.1 | 0.934 | 0.12 | eccentricity_AB = 0.5 |
Name or designation of the system and the structure of the system, where capital letters refer to a star, and small letters refer to a planet.
Example: DP Leo AB b
"Ab B" or "A Bb" refered to a S-Type planet, while "AB b" refer to a P-Type planet as marked in the column on the planetary motion. This part of the catalogue represents only the stellar data of the system.
All systems are linked to The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia (http://exoplanet.eu/) or to the Open Exoplanet Catalogue (http://www.openexoplanetcatalogue.com/) where one can find additional data on the systems.
Gives the year of the first discovery.
This shows the spectral types of the stars. Unfortunately the data for some systems is incomplete.
Distance from the Sun to the system in units of parsecs (1 parsec = 3.26 light-years).
Distance in AU of the third star from the inner binary, or of the two binaries from each other.
Separation of the inner binary in case of a triple system.
Separation of the other binary in case of a quadruple system.
Systems with one planet are dominant, but multiplanet systems become more and more frequent.
Total number of detected stars in a multiple star system.
Mass of the first star given in units of the mass of our Sun. (1 solar mass = 1.988 × 1030 kg)
Mass of the second star given in units of the mass of our Sun. (1 solar mass = 1.988 × 1030 kg)
Mass of the third star given in units of the mass of our Sun. (1 solar mass = 1.988 × 1030 kg)
Mass of the fourth star (where possible) given in units of the mass of our Sun. (1 solar mass = 1.988 × 1030 kg)
| System | Discovery | Mass - M x sin i [M_Jupiter] | Semi-major axis [AU] | Orbital period [d] | Eccentricity | Argument of perihelion [deg] | Radius [R_J] | Inclination | Detection method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Ari BbC+A(AB) | 2005 | 0.48 | 0.04 | 3.44 | 0.041 | 126.9 | 1.04 | radial velocity | |
| 51 Eri b | 2015 | 7.0 | 13.20 | imaging / spectrum | |||||
| 91 Aqr b | 2003 | 3.20 | 0.70 | 181.4 | 0.03 | 177.3 | radial velocity |
The name or designation of the system; this part of the catalogue represents only the planetary data of the system.
All systems are linked to The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia (http://exoplanet.eu/) or to the Open Exoplanet Catalogue (http://www.openexoplanetcatalogue.com/) where one can find additional data on the systems.
Gives the year of the first discovery.
Represents the minimum mass of the planet in units of one Jupiter mass. (1 Jupiter mass = 1.898 × 1027 kg)
From the observational point of view we only know the mass of the planet to within the unknown factor related to the inclination (i) of the orbit of the system. The actual mass of the planet is the observed quantity divided by sin (i); and clearly, since the maximum value of sin (i) = 1, the planet's actual mass must be larger than or equal to the measured quantity.
Represents the semi-major axis of the planet's orbit given in astronomical units.
Represents the orbital period of the planet given in days.
Represents the eccentricity of the planet.
Represents the angle from the body's ascending node to its periapsis, measured in the direction of motion.
Represents the planet's radius given in units of one Jupiter radius. (1 Jupiter radius = 71 492 km)
This value does not represent the orbital inclination of the planet, but it shows only the inclination relative to the line of sight.
Shows the different detection methods which were used for the observations.