The 0.33 Day DA Plus dMe Binary BPM 6502

Abstract

We have obtained a series of spectroscopic measurements of the high proper-motion star BPM 6502 showing Balmer emission superposed upon the absorption lines. Radial velocity measurements determined by tracing optical absorption and emission lines show that the star is a binary system comprised of a DA white dwarf and an M dwarf with an orbital period of 0.33678 days. The space motion of the system falls within the general white dwarf population, and the system is not expected to initiate mass transfer within a Hubble time.