Catalogues, parameters and distributions of orbital binaries

TL;DR

This paper compiles the most comprehensive catalog of visual binary systems with orbital data, analyzes their observational parameter distributions, and discusses mass estimation discrepancies.

Contribution

It provides an extensive, refined catalog of orbital binaries, analyzes parameter relations and selection effects, and compares different mass estimation methods.

Findings

Compiled 3139 orbits for 2278 pairs from major databases.

Analyzed distributions and selection effects of observational parameters.

Discussed discrepancies between dynamical, photometric, and spectral mass estimates.

Abstract

The most complete list of visual binary systems with known orbital elements is compiled. It is based on OARMAC and ORB6 data and contains 3139 orbits for 2278 pairs. A refined subset of high quality orbits with available distance was also compiled. Relations between and distributions along different observational parameters are constructed, and an analysis of selection effects is made. Dynamical, photometric and spectral masses of systems are estimated, and reasons for discrepancies between them are discussed.