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Binary Maker 3.0 has now been released. This comprehensive revision of the widely-used Binary Maker 2.0 for DOS has been completely rewritten in Java so that it will run under platforms that support that language, i.e., Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Sun Solaris workstations.

What is Binary Maker 3?

Binary Maker 3 accurately calculates light and radial velocity curves for almost any type of binary, simultaneously displaying the theoretical and observed curves as well as a 3-D model of the orbiting stars. Professional quality PostScript output can be created of all the major displays. Additional functions include the capability of generating cross-sectional diagrams of the stars within their Roche surfaces, as well as the ability to calculate and display residuals between the synthetic light and radial velocity curves and the actual data.

The program comes complete with an extensive User Manual on the CD as well as a very complete Help system which explains not only how to use the program but also details how to analyze eclipsing binary light curves. Individual displays can be customized and saved to meet the user's needs. Starspot modeling, eccentric orbits and asynchronously rotating stars can also be accurately modeled.

Binary Maker 3 Features:

Watch the stars orbit as their light and radial velocity curves are calculated and compared with real data
Utilizes Roche model geometry
Model circular, eccentric and asynchronously rotating systems
Immediately compare observations with theory
Intuitive user interface
Ideal for undergraduate astronomy labs; sample lab included
228 actual binary systems with data
Professional quality PostScript outputs
Runs on Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Sun Solaris platforms
Can automatically create residual plots between data and theory
Quick Mode allows 10 times faster creation of synthetic models

Sample Screenshots

Above: Typical four-screen display of Binary Maker 3 showing the rapidly-rotating binary RZ Sct and its light and radial velocity curves.

Above: The displays are fully-customizable. Here the light curve window is enlarged for easy viewing for analysis.

Above: The surface outlines (inner and outer Lagrangian surfaces and stellar surfaces) for the overcontact binary AB And.

Above: Binary Maker 3 includes an extensive help system and 324 page User Manual, including detailed instructions on how to analyze eclipsing binary light curves.

Downloads

The following downloads regarding Binary Maker 3 are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format:

Trifold brochure that summarizes the features of Binary Maker 3 (259 KB).

Poster concerning the new program that was presented at the January 2003 meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, WA (Warning: 5.3 MB). Read just the AAS poster abstract here.

Sample lab included with Binary Maker 3 (1.4 MB).

All additional library sets created since the release of Binary Maker 3. These are available for download (one master .zip file) as part of the ongoing work with the CALEB database project. The latest library sets (individual .zip files) added to the CALEB database can be found here.

How do I purchase this program?

Binary Maker 3 costs $100.00 for a single user license (plus $6.00 for shipping & handling). Site licenses (30 users) are available for $500.00. Registered users of version 2.0 receive a discounted price of $75.00 (plus $6.00 for shipping & handling). Registered site license owners of version 2.0 receive a discounted price of $300.00 for a site license (30 users). The program may be ordered by contacting David H. Bradstreet by email at dbradstr@eastern.edu or by snail mail at:

Contact Software

725 Stanbridge Street

Norristown, PA 19401-5505 USA

Payment may be in the form of personal checks and institutional purchase orders are welcome.

Comments on the program, including suggestions for further enhancements and features, are encouraged and can be emailed to Dave Bradstreet at the address below.

David H. Bradstreet

Dept. of Physical Science

Eastern University

1300 Eagle Road

St. Davids, PA 19087-3696

dbradstr@eastern.edu

CALEB On-Line Database

The new version of Binary Maker 3 includes 228 sample binary star systems complete with parameters and observed data. These data sets are also on-line in the Catalog and AtLas of Eclipsing Binaries (http://caleb.eastern.edu/) and additional systems are being steadily added. Data sets can be downloaded and immediately read by Binary Maker 3.

Contact Information

For more information about Binary Maker 3, please contact David Bradstreet at dbradstr@eastern.edu.