Gliese 815 - A dMe spectroscopic-visual triple

Abstract

GL 815 AB (sp. dM3e) is a close visual binary, BY Draconis variable, and flare star. The primary visual component is found to be a spectroscopic binary of period 3.28 days, making this system a spectroscopic-visual triple, with the masses of the individual components near 0.2-0.3 solar mass. Though the system exhibits low-amplitude photometric variations, no evidence is found for variability in phase with the spectroscopic orbit. Despite the suggestion by Lippincott (1975), no evidence is found for the existence of a degenerate star in the system.