1997/10/14 by David C. Black · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Binary number #Binary star #Brown dwarf #Eccentricity (behavior) #Educational Leadership and Practices #Exoplanet #Orbital elements #Planet #Planetary mass #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/311026
LaTeX, 11 pages including 2 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters
arxiv created 1997/10/14 · openalex publication_date 1997/12/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The difference in formation process between binary stars and planetary systems is reflected in their composition, as well as orbital architecture, particularly in their orbital eccentricity as a function of orbital period. It is suggested here that this difference can be used as an observational criterion to distinguish between brown dwarfs and planets. Application of the orbital criterion suggests that, with three possible exceptions, all of the recently discovered substellar companions may be brown dwarfs and not planets. These criterion may be used as a guide for interpretation of the nature of substellar-mass companions to stars in the future.