For more than a decade we have been able
to acquire and analyse a significant amount of
photometric data of the highly variable R Coronae
Borealis (RCB) stars. This has made been possible
by a photometric service observing programme
instigated at the Observatory. These photometric
data have been combined with less extensive
spectroscopic coverage, particularly of the
decline phase of these stars. These have been
supplemented by observations obtained at Mount
Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories for a
radial velocity study. Significantly more
spectroscopic observations are now being acquired
with the development of a new medium resolution
spectrograph at Mount John University
Observatory.
In this poster we will present recent
photometric and spectroscopic results for a number
of the RCB stars in our sample. This observational
and analysis work can be used to provide further
insight into the nature of these stars, their
likely progeny and progenitors and the processes
that are involved in the formation and evolution
of the obscuring dust clouds which cause the
decline phase.
Revised Surface Abundances of R Coronae Borealis Stars
