Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004aas...204.0610t&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society Meeting 204, #06.10; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 36, p.744
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
2
Scientific paper
The North Star, Polaris, and the anonymous, poorly populated, previously-unnoticed, star cluster in which it lies, have been target objects in a newly initiated campaign of photometric observation using the Burke-Gaffney Observatory at Saint Mary's University. Polaris continues to pulsate with its familiar 4-day period, albeit at a very low level; its 2003 amplitude in V was 0.024, typical of recent observations. The star also exhibits a rapid rate of period change that has probably been underestimated by previous investigators. The declining light amplitude and rapid rate of evolution through the Cepheid instability strip raise questions about its evolutionary status and pulsation mode. The possibility is raised that Polaris is crossing the instability strip for the first time, and that its declining light amplitude is linked to a relatively narrow width of the instability strip for first crossers. Cluster main sequence fitting provides an estimate for its luminosity of MV = -3.37 ± 0.07, which differs from the value inferred from its Hipparcos parallax. The Cepheid may be an overtone pulsator.
No associations
LandOfFree
Overlooked Properties of the Cepheid Polaris 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 Overlooked Properties of the Cepheid Polaris, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Overlooked Properties of the Cepheid Polaris will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1170341