The Power of Eccentric Binaries

Milena Ratajczak, OGLE Collaboration, BRITE Team

Eccentric binaries may serve as a tool for studying several astrophysical phenomena, like orbital dynamics and gravitational effects of stars on each other, including tidally induced pulsations. We hereby present the selection of eccentric ellipsoidal variable stars identified in the OGLE and BRITE data collections, whose nature we unveiled by tracking radial velocity changes around the periastron. The selection includes the most eccentric system with massive stars known to date, as well as an intriguing binary with a compact component from the Galactic bulge.

Proceedings of the Polish Astronomical Society, vol. 10, 151-155 (2020)

Download full article as PDF file: