The magnetically-active, low-mass, triple system WDS 19312+3607

TL;DR

This study thoroughly characterizes the triple system WDS 19312+3607, revealing an active, wide, low-mass binary with a close, magnetically-active spectroscopic binary component, challenging previous assumptions about its youth.

Contribution

We provide detailed spectral, astrometric, and activity analyses of WDS 19312+3607, discovering its complex multiplicity and older age, and identifying the primary as an inflated, active spectroscopic binary.

Findings

G 125-15 is an active, inflated spectroscopic binary with a 1.6-day period.

The system's age is estimated to be over 600 million years.

The wide separation (~1200 AU) makes it one of the widest intermediate M-type systems.

Abstract

Aims: We investigated in detail the system WDS 19312+3607, whose primary is an active M4.5Ve star previously thought to be young (tau ~ 300-500 Ma) based on high X-ray luminosity. Methods: We collected intermediate- and low-resolution optical spectra taken with 2 m-class telescopes, photometric data from the $B$ to 8 mum bands, and eleven astrometric epochs with a time baseline of over 56 years for the two components in the system, G 125-15 and G 125-14. Results: We derived M4.5V spectral types for both stars, confirmed their common proper motion, estimated the heliocentric distance and projected physical separation, determined the galactocentric space velocities, and deduced a most-probable age older than 600 Ma. We discovered that the primary, G 125-15, is in turn an inflated, double-lined, spectroscopic binary with a short period of photometric variability of P ~ 1.6 d, which we associated to orbital synchronisation. The observed X-ray and Halpha emissions, photometric variability, and abnormal radius and effective temperature of G 125-15 AB indicate strong magnetic activity, possibly due to fast rotation. Besides, the estimated projected physical separation between G 125-15 AB and G 125-14 of about 1200 AU makes WDS 19312+3607 to be one of the widest systems with intermediate M-type primaries. Conclusions: G 125-15 AB is a nearby (d ~ 26 pc), bright (J ~ 9.6 mag), active spectroscopic binary with a single proper-motion companion of the same spectral type at a wide separation. They are thus ideal targets for specific follow-ups to investigate wide and close multiplicity or stellar expansion and surface cooling due to reduced convective efficiency.