Abstract
The displacement of a radio-emitting star around the barycenter of a possible planetary system can be measured by astrometric very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations. We have observed the radio-emitting starσ 2 CrB at 8 epochs over 5 years by VLBI and fitted its 5 astrometric parameters to the observed coordinates. The post-fit coordinate residuals have an rms scatter of 0.22 milliarcseconds and show no systematic behavior. We use this result to set a limit on the presence of planets aroundσ 2 CrB and conclude that our present VLBI astrometric precision corresponds to the threshold to detect a Jupiter-like planet around this star. We also discuss the astrometric monitoring program of 11 radio-emitting stars that we are conducting for the Hipparcos space mission and its possible contribution to a long-term planet search program.
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Lestrade, JF., Jones, D.L., Preston, R.A. et al. High-precision VLBI astrometric observations of radio-emitting stars for detection of extra-solar planets. Astrophys Space Sci 212, 251–260 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984529
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984529