Markov Chain Monte Carlo applied to the Double Stars of Miller and Pitman

Abstract

Model orbits have been fitted to 27 physical double stars listed in a 1922 catalogue. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique was applied to estimate best fitting values and associated uncertainties for the orbital parameters. Dynamical masses were calculated using parallaxes from the Hipparcos mission, and are presented in this paper together with the estimates of the orbital parameters for the 27 systems. The resulting mass estimates of the current study are in good agreement with a recently published study, as are comparisons with the orbital parameters listed by the Washington Double Star catalog, confirming the validity of the optimisation methodology