RITTERRBIN: Catalog of 500 Related Binary Star Systems

NASA HEASARC's RITTERRBIN table contains data on 500 related binary star objects, extracted from the 7.21 edition of the Ritter & Kolb catalog. The catalog compiles stellar parameters and orbital properties for detached binaries with white dwarf or white dwarf precursor primaries, incorporating literature published before 1 January 2014. This specific table was last updated by the HEASARC in April 2014.

Use Cases

• Classifying binary star systems based on stellar component types mentioned in the description
• Studying orbital parameter distributions for detached binaries with evolved components
• Cross-referencing cataclysmic and low-mass X-ray binary catalogs from the same source

Strengths

• Contains data on 500 related binary objects
• Literature review includes publications up to 1 January 2014
• Part of a larger, structured catalog split into three specific object classes

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data is based on a 2014 catalog release; newer discoveries are not included

Provenance

Source

NASA HEASARC, based on the Ritter & Kolb Catalog of Cataclysmic Binaries, Low-Mass X-ray Binaries, and Related Objects (7th Edition, Release 7.21).

Collection Method

Compilation from published astronomical literature, with data extracted from the pcbdata.dat file from CDS Catalog B/cb.

Time Range

Literature published before 1 January 2014.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:36:22.832182; freshness should be verified