Accurate masses of very low mass stars: II The very low mass triple system Gl 866

Abstract

We present very accurate orbital parameters and mass measurements (2.4% accuracy) for the well known very low mass triple system Gl 866. We obtain first orbital elements for the short-period orbit and greatly improve the long period orbit. All three stars have masses close to 0.1 solar masses, and the system thus provides the strongest constraints to date on the mass-luminosity relation close to the brown dwarf limit.