Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems:
The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates

J 2026

Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems: The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates

JADLOVSKÝ, Daniel; L. MOLNAR; A. ERCOLINO; M. BERNINI-PERON; A. MERAND et al.

Základní údaje

Originální název

Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems: The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates

Autoři

Vydání

ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, LES ULIS CEDEX A, EDP SCIENCES S A, 2026, 0004-6361

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Článek v odborném periodiku

Obor

10308 Astronomy

Stát vydavatele

Francie

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Odkazy

URL

Impakt faktor

Impact factor: 5.800 v roce 2024

Označené pro přenos do RIV

Ano

Organizační jednotka

Přírodovědecká fakulta

Klíčová slova anglicky

techniques: interferometric; binaries: eclipsing; stars: massive; stars: mass-loss; supergiants

Štítky

14312040, rivok

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Změněno: 31. 8. 2026 15:50, Mgr. Marie Novosadová Šípková, DiS.

Anotace

V originále

Context. The majority of massive stars are part of binary systems and may interact with their companions during their evolution. This has important consequences for systems in which one star evolves into a red supergiant (RSG). However, not many RSGs have been found in binary systems, and only a few have constrained orbital parameters. Aims. We aim to better characterize and constrain the properties of some of the known RSGs in binaries. We were inspired to do so by recent observations where these RSGs transitioned to an earlier spectral type, likely following a major interaction event with their companions. Methods. We searched the available TESS photometry for eclipsing companions. We focused on the best candidate, the VV Cephei-type RSG binary KQ Pup, which is made up of an RSG, KQ Pup A, and a B-type companion, KQ Pup B and has an orbital period of 26 years. For this system, we have enough data to constrain the system's properties. We used archival photometry and UV spectroscopy along with newly acquired optical spectra and interferometric data from VLTI-GRAVITY. Results. Using TESS light curves, we discovered eclipses with a period of 17.2596 d associated with KQ Pup B, making it a binary. We refer to the two components as KQ Pup Ba and Bb. Meanwhile, the detection of the hydrogen Br gamma line with VLTI-GRAVITY enabled us to track the orbital motion of the Ba+Bb pair relative to A and thus determine the astrometric orbit of A+B. The dynamical masses agree with independent estimates from asteroseismology and evolutionary models. The results give a mass of similar to 10 M(circle dot )for the RSG KQ Pup A and similar to 14 M(circle dot )for the sum of the hot components Ba+Bb. The observed properties of the system are compatible with a coeval hierarchical triple star, where we constrained the mass of KQ Pup Bb to be greater than or similar to 1.2 M-circle dot. We determined an orbital parallax of pi = 1.24(-0.04 )(+0.05)mas based on the detailed orbital model of the system, which is the first such parallax measurement for an RSG, and the value is consistent with Gaia DR3. Conclusions. KQ Pup represents a unique demonstration of mass transfer in a wide, eccentric RSG system. The variability of Balmer emission lines and the detection of Br gamma are a strong signature of accretion to the Ba+Bb pair near periastron. With the RSG filling its Roche lobe by only similar to 70% at periastron (phi(A + B) similar to 0), the mass transfer is instead driven by accretion from its extended atmosphere via the wind Roche-lobe overflow. The accretion disk is formed already by phi(A + B) similar to 0.95, while TESS light curves also begin to show a signature of occultations by the circumbinary disk, similar to young stellar objects. Through apastron (phi(A + B) similar to 0.5), Balmer emissions weaken and indicate a decaying disk. Overall, using TESS, we discovered that several previously assumed RSG binaries host eclipsing inner systems, corresponding to similar to 10% of all known Galactic RSG binaries. This suggests that many of the other RSG binaries may also be hierarchical triples.

Návaznosti

GA25-15910S, projekt VaV

Název: Větry horkých hvězd: řešení nejistot ztráty hmoty v blízkosti Eddingtonovy limity

Investor: Grantová agentura ČR, Větry horkých hvězd: řešení nejistot ztráty hmoty v blízkosti Eddingtonovy limity

Přiložené soubory

2586697.pdf

Citovat

JADLOVSKÝ, Daniel; L. MOLNAR; A. ERCOLINO; M. BERNINI-PERON; A. MERAND; Jiří KRTIČKA; L. WANG; R. Z. ADAM; D. BAADE; A. BAYO; G. GONZALEZ-TORA; T. GRANZER; G. W. HENRY; Jan JANÍK; Jakub KOLÁŘ; K. KRAVCHENKO; N. LANGER; L. M. OSKINOVA; D. PAULI; V. RAMACHANDRAN; A. C. RUBIO; A. A. C. SANDER; K. G. STRASSMEIER; M. WEBER; M. WITTKOWSKI; R. BRAHM; V. SCHAFFENROTH; L. VANZI a M. SKARKA. Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems: The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS. LES ULIS CEDEX A: EDP SCIENCES S A, 2026, roč. 712, August, s. 1-29. ISSN 0004-6361. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202557474.

@article{2586697,
   author = {Jadlovský, Daniel and Molnar, L. and Ercolino, A. and BerniniandPeron, M. and Merand, A. and Krtička, Jiří and Wang, L. and Adam, R. Z. and Baade, D. and Bayo, A. and GonzalezandTora, G. and Granzer, T. and Henry, G. W. and Janík, Jan and Kolář, Jakub and Kravchenko, K. and Langer, N. and Oskinova, L. M. and Pauli, D. and Ramachandran, V. and Rubio, A. C. and Sander, A. A. C. and Strassmeier, K. G. and Weber, M. and Wittkowski, M. and Brahm, R. and Schaffenroth, V. and Vanzi, L. and Skarka, M.},
   article_location = {LES ULIS CEDEX A},
   article_number = {August},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202557474},
   keywords = {techniques: interferometric; binaries: eclipsing; stars: massive; stars: mass-loss; supergiants},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0004-6361},
   journal = {ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS},
   title = {Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems: The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates},
   url = {https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/pdf/2026/08/aa57474-25.pdf},
   volume = {712},
   year = {2026}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2586697
AU  - Jadlovský, Daniel - Molnar, L. - Ercolino, A. - Bernini-Peron, M. - Merand, A. - Krtička, Jiří - Wang, L. - Adam, R. Z. - Baade, D. - Bayo, A. - Gonzalez-Tora, G. - Granzer, T. - Henry, G. W. - Janík, Jan - Kolář, Jakub - Kravchenko, K. - Langer, N. - Oskinova, L. M. - Pauli, D. - Ramachandran, V. - Rubio, A. C. - Sander, A. A. C. - Strassmeier, K. G. - Weber, M. - Wittkowski, M. - Brahm, R. - Schaffenroth, V. - Vanzi, L. - Skarka, M.
PY  - 2026
TI  - Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems: The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates
JF  - ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
VL  - 712
IS  - August
SP  - 1-29
EP  - 1-29
PB  - EDP SCIENCES S A
SN  - 00046361
KW  - techniques: interferometric
KW  - binaries: eclipsing
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - stars: mass-loss
KW  - supergiants
UR  - https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/pdf/2026/08/aa57474-25.pdf
N2  - Context. The majority of massive stars are part of binary systems and may interact with their companions during their evolution. This has important consequences for systems in which one star evolves into a red supergiant (RSG). However, not many RSGs have been found in binary systems, and only a few have constrained orbital parameters. Aims. We aim to better characterize and constrain the properties of some of the known RSGs in binaries. We were inspired to do so by recent observations where these RSGs transitioned to an earlier spectral type, likely following a major interaction event with their companions. Methods. We searched the available TESS photometry for eclipsing companions. We focused on the best candidate, the VV Cephei-type RSG binary KQ Pup, which is made up of an RSG, KQ Pup A, and a B-type companion, KQ Pup B and has an orbital period of 26 years. For this system, we have enough data to constrain the system's properties. We used archival photometry and UV spectroscopy along with newly acquired optical spectra and interferometric data from VLTI-GRAVITY. Results. Using TESS light curves, we discovered eclipses with a period of 17.2596 d associated with KQ Pup B, making it a binary. We refer to the two components as KQ Pup Ba and Bb. Meanwhile, the detection of the hydrogen Br gamma line with VLTI-GRAVITY enabled us to track the orbital motion of the Ba+Bb pair relative to A and thus determine the astrometric orbit of A+B. The dynamical masses agree with independent estimates from asteroseismology and evolutionary models. The results give a mass of similar to 10 M(circle dot )for the RSG KQ Pup A and similar to 14 M(circle dot )for the sum of the hot components Ba+Bb. The observed properties of the system are compatible with a coeval hierarchical triple star, where we constrained the mass of KQ Pup Bb to be greater than or similar to 1.2 M-circle dot. We determined an orbital parallax of pi = 1.24(-0.04 )(+0.05)mas based on the detailed orbital model of the system, which is the first such parallax measurement for an RSG, and the value is consistent with Gaia DR3. Conclusions. KQ Pup represents a unique demonstration of mass transfer in a wide, eccentric RSG system. The variability of Balmer emission lines and the detection of Br gamma are a strong signature of accretion to the Ba+Bb pair near periastron. With the RSG filling its Roche lobe by only similar to 70% at periastron (phi(A + B) similar to 0), the mass transfer is instead driven by accretion from its extended atmosphere via the wind Roche-lobe overflow. The accretion disk is formed already by phi(A + B) similar to 0.95, while TESS light curves also begin to show a signature of occultations by the circumbinary disk, similar to young stellar objects. Through apastron (phi(A + B) similar to 0.5), Balmer emissions weaken and indicate a decaying disk. Overall, using TESS, we discovered that several previously assumed RSG binaries host eclipsing inner systems, corresponding to similar to 10% of all known Galactic RSG binaries. This suggests that many of the other RSG binaries may also be hierarchical triples.
ER  -

JADLOVSKÝ, Daniel; L. MOLNAR; A. ERCOLINO; M. BERNINI-PERON; A. MERAND; Jiří KRTIČKA; L. WANG; R. Z. ADAM; D. BAADE; A. BAYO; G. GONZALEZ-TORA; T. GRANZER; G. W. HENRY; Jan JANÍK; Jakub KOLÁŘ; K. KRAVCHENKO; N. LANGER; L. M. OSKINOVA; D. PAULI; V. RAMACHANDRAN; A. C. RUBIO; A. A. C. SANDER; K. G. STRASSMEIER; M. WEBER; M. WITTKOWSKI; R. BRAHM; V. SCHAFFENROTH; L. VANZI a M. SKARKA. Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems: The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates. \textit{ASTRONOMY \&{} ASTROPHYSICS}. LES ULIS CEDEX A: EDP SCIENCES S A, 2026, roč.~712, August, s.~1-29. ISSN~0004-6361. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202557474.

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