Binaries as they are observed (and extrapolated) from Earth

Frame from a movie showing the binaries as they are observed (and extrapolated) from Earth over the period from 2000-2013. The resulting on-sky behavior is somewhat complex, due to the varying viewing geometry from Earth's and the binary system's orbital motions. During the period of this animation, all illustrated binaries except 2001 QW322 will have completed at least one mutual orbit (2001 QW322 has a mutual orbit period of approximately 17.4 years). Animation is rendered with a 10-day timestep in simulated 0.35 arcsecond seeing (roughly the best seeing achieved during our observational campaign). Lower right bars are one arcsecond on a side and point North and East. Nominal best-fit orbit is illustrated. One-sigma astrometric uncertainty reflected in size of data points, while the color of the data points indicates data taken from Gemini North (red) or other facilities (blue).

Note: the original version of this movie includes audible tones which correspond to each observation.