Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2014
Multi-epoch, high-resolution (R ∼ 50 000) optical spectrosco-py of the O-type (O9 III – IV) star HD 152246 suggests that it is a triple system where a close inner pair (Aa–Ab) with a circular orbit and a period of 6 days is in a 53–d eccentric orbit (e = 0.68) with a third component Ac. The mass ratios for the inner and outer system are 0.10 and 0.96, respectively. The strengths of various He lines classify Aa and Ac as late O-type stars while Ab is invisible in our spectra.