Note on the companion of Sirius

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1880
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Abstract
IN 1844, Bessel showed by a cal'eful discussion of the observations of Sirius, tbat the right ascensions of tbis star could not be represented within the limits of their probable errors by means of a uniform proper motion.The residuals were distributed in a periodical form; and Bessel, after a simple and ingenious transformation of the equations of motion, and the assumption of a value fOl' the annual parallax of Sirius, was led to infer the existence of a dark body near this star that disturbed its proper motion.This, indeed, seemed to be tbe only reasonable hypothesis left.It is evident, if we imagine sucb a system, that while the center of gravity of the two bodies would move in a right line, or apparently on the arc of a great circle, the stars themselves would be subject to periodical variations in their motions.Bessel's conclusion was criticised by W. Struve, in his studies on stellar astl'Onomy, page 50 of the notes, who decided that Bessel was mistaken; but Struve's criticism does not seem to be well founded, and in 1851, Dr. C. A. F. Peters showed, in a very complete investigation of this question, that the observations of right ascension fully confirm Bessel's opinion.Petel's also computed an orbit of the disturbing body, and found the time of its revolution to be fifty years.In 1861, Professor T. H. Safford found that the observations of declination indicate a similar disturbing force.In January, 1862, Mr. Alvan G. Clark discovered a companion of Sirius very nearly in the position pointed out by theory, tbus confirming in a remarkable mannet• Bessel's hypothesis.A very complete discussion of the observations of Sirius, both in right ascension and declination, and also of the micro• metrical measurements of tbe Clark companion during the first five years after its discovery, was publisbed by Professor Auwers in 1868.The identity of this companion with Be:;,sel's disturbing body, is, in the opinion of Auwers, put beyond doubt by his investigation.rrhe elements of tbe disturbing body found by him are nearly the same as those found before by Peters, and the accuracy with which the observations are represented by the elements is so great that confidence in the identity of the two bodies is fully justified.The weight to which this result is entitled is very great, especially since the variable proper motion of Sirius has been investigated by four able astronomers.Yet there are some things which seem to me to throw a slight degree of doubt on the identit.Y of the Clark companion with Bessel's disturbing body: First, the relatively great mass of the companion, which, according to
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openalex_W2328140083 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors A. Hall
Journal american journal of science
Year 1880
DOI
10.2475/ajs.s3-19.114.457
URL
https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.s3-19.114.457
Keywords Keywords not found

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