A Search for Variable Stars and Planetary Occultations in NGC 2301 II: Variability

Details A Search for Variable Stars and Planetary Occultations in NGC 2301 II: Variability A Search for Variable Stars and Planetary Occultations in NGC 2301 II: Variability

2005-09-19

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0509558v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

25 pages, 21 figures Accepted to PASP

Scientific paper

10.1086/496963

We performed R-band time series observations of the young, metal rich open cluster NGC 2301 for 12 nights in Feb. 2004. B images were also obtained and color magnitude diagrams, having limits of R=19.5 and B=21.5, were produced. Only asmall effort was made to determine cluster membership as our magnitude limits are far deeper than previously published values. Our photometric precision, for the brightest 5 magnitudes of sources, is 1-2 mmag. We determine that for the $\sim$4000 stars which have time-series data, 56% are variable and of these, approximately 13% are observed to exhibit periodic light curves ranging from tens of minutes to days. We present some examples of the light curves obtained and produce cuts in variability space based on parameters such as color and amplitude. The percentage of variability is approximately equal across all colors with the majority of variables having amplitudes of 0.15 magnitudes or less. In general, redder stars show larger variability amplitudes. We find a smooth decline in the number of periodic variables toward longer period. This decline is probably due to a transition from intrinsic to extrinsic variability and, in part, to our limited observing period of 12 nights. Essentially all the A and F main sequence stars in our sample are variable ($\sim$2 mmag and larger) and most present complex light curves containing multiple periods suggestive of their inclusion in the $\delta$Sct and $\gamma$Dor classes. A variable non-cluster member giant and two variable white dwarf candidates are discussed. Our equational description of variability is shown to be an excellent predictive tool for determining the cumulative fraction of variables that will be observed in a photometric survey. Our entire dataset is available electronically.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A Search for Variable Stars and Planetary Occultations in NGC 2301 II: Variability 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 A Search for Variable Stars and Planetary Occultations in NGC 2301 II: Variability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Search for Variable Stars and Planetary Occultations in NGC 2301 II: Variability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-298865