Herschel images of Fomalhaut - An extrasolar Kuiper belt at the height of its dynamical activity

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Table 2

Geometric properties of the elliptical belt.

	Optical^a	70 μm	160 μm

Semi-major axis^a (AU)^b	141 ± 2	137.5 ± 0.9	125 ± 3^c
Eccentricity e	0.11 ± 0.01	0.125 ± 0.006	0.17 ± 0.07
Inclination i (°)	65.6 ± 0.4	65.6 ± 0.5	64 ± 2
Longitude of ascending node Ω (°)	156.0 ± 0.3	156.9 ± 0.5	160 ± 2
Argument of periastron ω (°)	31 ± 6	1 ± 6	... ^d
Offset between star and ring center (AU)^e	15 ± 1	17.2 ± 0.9	... ^d

Notes.

^(a)

Kalas et al. (2005).

^(b)

At peak surface brightness.

^(c)

Spatial resolution of the 160 μm image is insufficient to derive a reliable semi-major axis.

^(d)

Star not visible at 160 μm.

^(e)

In the plane of the belt.

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