U.S. Naval Observatory Double Star CD 2006.5

Abstract

AbstractThe U.S. Naval Observatory has produced its second CDROM of double star catalogs. This successor to the 2001.0 CDROM includes the latest versions (June 30 2006) of four major double star catalogs maintained at the USNO:•Washington Double Star Catalog(WDS),•Second Photometric Magnitude Difference Catalog,•Fourth Catalog of Interferometric Measurements of Binary Stars, and•Sixth Catalog of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars.Each of these catalogs had seen significant changes during the past six years; for example, the WDS has grown by over 150,000 measures and the number of systems in theInterferometric Cataloghas nearly doubled. Other improvements include precise coordinates for the vast majority of systems, as well as new observing lists for tens of thousands of “neglected” doubles.Also included on this CDROM is aCatalog of Linear Elementsfor several hundred optical pairs. These elements should prove useful for improving the components' proper motions, as well as providing scale calibration out to several tens of arcseconds.As was done with its predecessor, the new CDROM is automatically distributed free of charge to members of the double star community and to astronomy libraries. Others may receive a complementary copy upon request.