Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-10-31
Astrophys.J. 606 (2004) 741-748
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
22 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables. ApJ, submitted revised version: 19 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, added clarifications, fixed typo
Scientific paper
10.1086/383183
By observing the high galactic latitude equatorial sky in drift scan mode with the QUEST (QUasar Equatorial Survey Team) Phase 1 camera, multi-bandpass photometry on a large strip of sky, resolved over a large range of time scales (from hourly to biennially) has been collected. A robust method of ensemble photometry revealed those objects within the scan region that fluctuate in brightness at a statistically significant level. Subsequent spectroscopic observations of a subset of those varying objects easily discriminated the quasars from stars. For a 13-month time scale, 38% of the previously known quasars within the scan region were seen to vary in brightness and subsequent spectroscopic observation revealed that approximately 7% of all variable objects in the scan region are quasars. Increasing the time baseline to 26 months increased the percentage of previously known quasars which vary to 61% and confirmed via spectroscopy that 7% of the variable objects in the region are quasars. This reinforces previously published trends and encourages additional and ongoing synoptic searches for new quasars and their subsequent analysis. During two spectroscopic observing campaigns, a total of 30 quasars were confirmed, 11 of which are new discoveries and 19 of which were determined to be previously known. Using the previously cataloged quasars as a benchmark, we have found it possible to better optimize future variability surveys. This paper reports on the subset of variable objects which were spectroscopically confirmed as quasars.
Abad Carlos
Adams Ben
Andrews Peter
Bailyn Charles
Baltay Charles
No associations
LandOfFree
New Quasars Detected via Variability in the QUEST1 Survey does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with New Quasars Detected via Variability in the QUEST1 Survey, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and New Quasars Detected via Variability in the QUEST1 Survey will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-417745