Astronomical Data Resources for Binary and Multiple Stars

Abstract

Binary stars form a significant part of stellar population. They are registered and observed by a number of methods. This is the reason for variety of present-day resources of astronomical data dealing with binaries and multiples. The review of observational types of binary stars and of basic data resources for them is presented. The properties of stars within these types and possible relationships between them are discussed. The Binary star DataBase, BDB (http://bdb.inasan.ru), is presented as the resource joining data for all observational types of binaries. The problem of correct cross-identification of objects within binary and multiple stars is being solved in the frame of the Identification List of Binaries (ILB).

Keywords

• astronomical catalogues and databases
• binaries