• DOI:10.1086/430730
• Corpus ID: 6776360

First Results from the CHARA Array. I. An Interferometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Fast Rotator α Leonis (Regulus)

@article{Mcalister2005FirstRF,
  title={First Results from the CHARA Array. I. An Interferometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Fast Rotator $\alpha$ Leonis (Regulus)},
  author={Harold A. Mcalister and Theo A. ten Brummelaar and Douglas R. Gies and W. Huang and William G. Bagnuolo, Jr. and Mark Alan Shure and Judit Sturmann and Laszlo Sturmann and Nils H. Turner and S. F. Taylor and David H. Berger and Ellyn K. Baines and Erika D. Grundstrom and Chad E. Ogden and Stephen T. Ridgway and Gerard T. van Belle},
  journal={The Astrophysical Journal},
  year={2005},
  volume={628},
  pages={439 - 452}
}

• H. Mcalister, T. T. ten Brummelaar, +13 authors G. V. van Belle
• Published 13 January 2005
• Physics
• The Astrophysical Journal

We report on K-band interferometric observations of the bright, rapidly rotating star Regulus (type B7 V) made with the CHARA Array on Mount Wilson, California. Through a combination of interferometric and spectroscopic measurements, we have determined for Regulus the equatorial and polar diameters and temperatures, the rotational velocity and period, the inclination and position angle of the spin axis, and the gravity darkening coefficient. These first results from the CHARA Array provide the first interferometric measurement of gravity darkening in a rapidly rotating star and represent the first detection of gravity darkening in a star that is not a member of an eclipsing binary system.