AWhat changed
VLT GRAVITY interferometry and CRIRES+ spectroscopy independently indicated that Gliese 229B is a close binary. A joint orbital fit gave a period of 12.134 ± 0.003 days and component masses of 38.1 ± 1.0 and 34.4 ± 1.5 Jupiter masses in the authors’ frequentist analysis.
Scientific scope
VLT GRAVITY interferometry and CRIRES+ spectroscopy independently indicated that Gliese 229B is a close binary. A joint orbital fit gave a period of 12.134 ± 0.003 days and component masses of 38.1 ± 1.0 and 34.4 ± 1.5 Jupiter masses in the authors’ frequentist analysis. The orbit is inferred from interferometric closure phases and modeled radial velocities; calibration, spectral templates and covariance handling enter the fit. The alternative Bayesian analysis gives somewhat different values. Component temperatures, luminosities and age use evolutionary models or empirical calibrations rather than being direct measurements. This 2024 result changes the interpretation of older combined-light measurements.
Evidence
The linked original works support the scoped statement and contribution attribution. WRS has not independently replayed experiments or reconstructed a full mathematical proof. The orbit is inferred from interferometric closure phases and modeled radial velocities; calibration, spectral templates and covariance handling enter the fit. The alternative Bayesian analysis gives somewhat different values. Component temperatures, luminosities and age use evolutionary models or empirical calibrations rather than being direct measurements. This 2024 result changes the interpretation of older combined-light measurements.
Contributors
- The named authors in the research record · SCIENCE: These are the listed authors of the cited contribution sources. Paper authorship does not quantify individual effort. An incomplete list is explicitly marked; same names are not automatically merged.
Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-28.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.
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