scholarly journals Photometry of Pulsating Stars in the Magellanic Clouds as Observed in the MOA Project

2000 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 31-37
Author(s):  
J. B. Hearnshaw ◽  
I. A. Bond ◽  
N. J. Rattenbury ◽  
S. Noda ◽  
M. Takeuti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Wide Band ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Agb Stars ◽  
Ccd Photometry ◽  
Pulsating Stars ◽  
Large Numbers

AbstractA review of the MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics) project is presented. MOA is a collaboration of approximately 30 astronomers from New Zealand and Japan established with the aim of finding and detecting microlensing events towards the Magellanic Clouds and the Galactic bulge, which may be indicative of either dark matter or of planetary companions. The observing program commenced in 1995, using very wide band blue and red filters and a nine-chip mosaic CCD camera.As a by-product of these observations a large database of CCD photometry for 1.4 million stars towards both LMC and SMC has been established. In one preliminary analysis 576 bright variable stars were confirmed, nearly half of them being Cepheids. Another analysis has identified large numbers of blue variables, and 205 eclipsing binaries are included in this sample. In addition 351 red variables (AGB stars) have been found. Light curves have been obtained for all these stars. The observations are carried out on a 61-cm f/6.25 telescope at Mt John University Observatory where a new larger CCD camera was installed in 1998 July. From this latitude (44° S) the Magellanic Clouds can be monitored throughout the year.

scholarly journals First CCD observations of Magellanic Cloud variable stars from the Mt John University Observatory, New Zealand

1991 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 381-381
Author(s):  
William Tobin ◽  
A. C. Gilmore ◽  
Alan Wadsworth ◽  
S.R.D. West
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Ccd Observations ◽  
Differential Photometry

Late in 1988 the Mt John University Observatory acquired a cryogenic CCD system from Photometrics Ltd (Tucson). The chip is a Thomson CSF TH7882 CDA comprising 384 × 576 pixels. As part of the evaluation process, we have begun two differential photometry programs of the Magellanic Clouds using the Mt John 0.6m Boller & Chivens telescope. On this telescope each CCD pixel corresponds to 0.6 arcsec. Mt John's southerly latitude (44°S) permits year-round observations of the Clouds.The first program concerns B, V and I photometry of five blue eclipsing binaries selected, on the basis of Gaposchkin's (1970, 1977) photographic light curves, to have roughly equal components with minimal interaction. HV 12634 has also been observed for comparison with the CCD light curves published by Jensen et al. (1988). Fig. 1 shows the B observations so far obtained for HV 1761, but the reduction is preliminary, being based on aperture-integrated magnitudes. The field is populous, and a final reduction will require use of a crowded-field reduction package such as ROMAFOT.

scholarly journals SuperWASP variable stars: classifying light curves using citizen science

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (1) ◽  
pp. 1299-1311
Author(s):  
Heidi B Thiemann ◽  
Andrew J Norton ◽  
Hugh J Dickinson ◽  
Adam McMaster ◽  
Ulrich C Kolb
Keyword(s):  
Variable Stars ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Resultant Data ◽  
Sky Survey ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Contact Binaries ◽  
Analysis Of Results

ABSTRACT We present the first analysis of results from the SuperWASP variable stars Zooniverse project, which is aiming to classify 1.6 million phase-folded light curves of candidate stellar variables observed by the SuperWASP all sky survey with periods detected in the SuperWASP periodicity catalogue. The resultant data set currently contains >1 million classifications corresponding to >500 000 object–period combinations, provided by citizen–scientist volunteers. Volunteer-classified light curves have ∼89 per cent accuracy for detached and semidetached eclipsing binaries, but only ∼9 per cent accuracy for rotationally modulated variables, based on known objects. We demonstrate that this Zooniverse project will be valuable for both population studies of individual variable types and the identification of stellar variables for follow-up. We present preliminary findings on various unique and extreme variables in this analysis, including long-period contact binaries and binaries near the short-period cut-off, and we identify 301 previously unknown binaries and pulsators. We are now in the process of developing a web portal to enable other researchers to access the outputs of the SuperWASP variable stars project.

scholarly journals Studying bright variable stars with the Multi-site All-Sky CAmeRA (MASCARA)

2018 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
pp. A32 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Burggraaff ◽  
G. J. J. Talens ◽  
J. Spronck ◽  
A.-L. Lesage ◽  
R. Stuik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Variable Stars ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Previous Record ◽  
La Palma ◽  
Powerful Means ◽  
New Variables ◽  
Candidate Variable ◽  
Order Variability

Context. The Multi-site All-Sky CAmeRA (MASCARA) aims to find the brightest transiting planet systems by monitoring the full sky at magnitudes 4 < V < 8.4, taking data every 6.4 s. The northern station has been operational on La Palma since February 2015. These data can also be used for other scientific purposes, such as the study of variable stars. Aims. In this paper we aim to assess the value of MASCARA data for studying variable stars by determining to what extent known variable stars can be recovered and characterised, and how well new, unknown variables can be discovered. Methods. We used the first 14 months of MASCARA data, consisting of the light curves of 53 401 stars with up to one million flux points per object. All stars were cross-matched with the VSX catalogue to identify known variables. The MASCARA light curves were searched for periodic flux variability using generalised Lomb–Scargle periodograms. If significant variability of a known variable was detected, the found period and amplitude were compared with those listed in the VSX database. If no previous record of variability was found, the data were phase folded to attempt a classification. Results. Of the 1919 known variable stars in the MASCARA sample with periods 0.1 < P < 10 days, amplitudes >2%, and that have more than 80 h of data, 93.5% are recovered. In addition, the periods of 210 stars without a previous VSX record were determined, and 282 candidate variable stars were newly identified. We also investigated whether second order variability effects could be identified. The O’Connell effect is seen in seven eclipsing binaries, of which two have no previous record of this effect. Conclusions. MASCARA data are very well suited to study known variable stars. They also serve as a powerful means to find new variables among the brightest stars in the sky. Follow-up is required to ensure that the observed variability does not originate from faint background objects.

scholarly journals New results on OGLE Cepheids and PL relations in the LMC and SMC

2004 ◽  
Vol 193 ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
A. Udalski
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Photometric Data ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Internet Archive ◽  
Pulsating Stars ◽  
Third Phase ◽  
Pulsating Variable Stars ◽  
Star Field

AbstractWe present results of the search for pulsating variable stars in the Magellanic Cloud fields covering central parts of these galaxies. The data were collected during the second phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment survey (OGLE-II) from 1997 to 2000. In total, several thousand pulsating stars (Cepheids, RR Lyr) were found in both Magellanic Clouds. The photometric data of all objects are available to the astronomical community from the OGLE Internet archive. We present basic properties of pulsating stars in the Magellanic Clouds including Period–Luminosity relations for Cepheids. We also discuss observational prospects for the pulsating star field in the ongoing third phase of the OGLE project (OGLE-III) which started in 2001.

scholarly journals A Comparison Between Binary Star Light Curves and Those of Possible Binary Asteroids

1984 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 387-392
Author(s):  
H. J. Schober
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Binary Star ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Binary Asteroids ◽  
Binary Nature ◽  
Rotation Rates ◽  
Photoelectric Observations

AbstractSince about ten years coordinated programs of photoelectric observations of asteroids are carried out to derive rotation rates and light curves. Quite a number of those asteroids exhibit features in their light curves, with similar characteristics as variable stars and especially eclipsing binaries. This would allow also an interpretation that there might be an evidence for the binary nature of some asteroids, based on observational hints. A few examples are given and a list of indications for the possible binary nature of asteroids, based on their light curve features, is presented.

scholarly journals A search for variable subdwarf B stars in TESS full frame images – I. Variable objects in the southern ecliptic hemisphere

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (4) ◽  
pp. 5508-5526
Author(s):  
S K Sahoo ◽  
A S Baran ◽  
S Sanjayan ◽  
J Ostrowski
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Eclipsing Binaries ◽  
Spectral Classification ◽  
B Stars ◽  
Mode Identification ◽  
Pulsating Stars ◽  
Subdwarf B Stars ◽  
Amplitude Spectra

ABSTRACT We report the results of our search for pulsating subdwarf B stars in full frame images, sampled at 30 min cadence and collected during Year 1 of the TESS mission. Year 1 covers most of the southern ecliptic hemisphere. The sample of objects we checked for pulsations was selected from a subdwarf B stars data base available to public. Only two positive detections have been achieved, however, as a by-product of our search we found 1807 variable objects, most of them not classified, hence their specific variability class cannot be confirmed at this stage. Our preliminary discoveries include: 2 new subdwarf B (sdB) pulsators, 26 variables with known sdB spectra, 83 non-classified pulsating stars, 83 eclipsing binaries (detached and semidetached), a mix of 1535 pulsators and non-eclipsing binaries, two novae, and 77 variables with known (non-sdB) spectral classification. Among eclipsing binaries we identified two known HW Vir systems and four new candidates. The amplitude spectra of the two sdB pulsators are not rich in modes, but we derive estimates of the modal degree for one of them. In addition, we selected five sdBV candidates for mode identification among 83 pulsators and describe our results based on this preliminary analysis. Further progress will require spectral classification of the newly discovered variable stars, which hopefully include more subdwarf B stars.

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