We used the newly commissioned 50cm Binocular Network telescope at Qinghai Station of Purple Mountain Observatory (Chinese Academy of Sciences) to observe the old open cluster NGC188 in V and R as part of a search for variable objects. Our time-series data span a total of 36 days. Radial velocity and proper-motion selection resulted in a sample of 532 genuine cluster members. Isochrone fitting was applied to the cleaned cluster sequence, yielding a distance modulus of (m-M)_V_^0^=11.35+/-0.10mag and a total foreground reddening of E(V-R)=0.062+/-0.002mag. Light-curve solutions were obtained for eight W Ursae Majoris eclipsing binary systems (W UMas), and their orbital parameters were estimated. Using the latter parameters, we estimate a distance to the W UMas that is independent of the host cluster's physical properties. Based on combined fits to six of the W UMas (EP Cep, EQ Cep, ES Cep, V369 Cep, and-for the first time-V370 Cep and V782 Cep), we obtain an average distance modulus of (m-M)_V_^0^=11.31+/-0.08mag, which is comparable to that resulting from our isochrone fits. These six W UMas exhibit an obvious period-luminosity relation. We derive more accurate physical parameters for the W UMa systems and discuss their initial masses and ages. The former show that these W UMa systems have likely undergone angular momentum evolution within a convective envelope (W-type evolution). The ages of the W UMa systems agree well with the cluster's age.
We present V and R CCD photometric sequences of stars and galaxies for calibrating ESO/SERC (R) survey plates in the region of the Shapley supercluster of galaxies.
We use 64{deg}^2^ of deep V and R CCD images to measure the local V- and R-band luminosity functions of galaxies. The V_0_<16.7 and R_0_<16.2 redshift samples contain 1255 and 1251 galaxies and are 98.1% and 98.2% complete, respectively.
We present 1256 new photometric observations of 36 Cepheids with periods longer than 8 days. The majority are likely type II Cepheids, but we have included about a dozen classical Cepheids for comparison purposes, a few stars of uncertain type, and one putative RV Tauri star. We discuss the appearance of the light curves, the Fourier parameters, and the light-curve stability in terms of differentiation between type I and type II Cepheids. Although we encounter the same difficulties as previous investigators in using these parameters for this purpose, we are able to identify some stars of particular interest, including several likely type I Cepheids at large distances from the Galactic plane. Six stars with especially large period changes are identified and discussed.
We present 741 new photometric observations for 22 Cepheids with periods between 3 and 8 days. Many of the stars are probable type II Cepheids, but we have included some type I Cepheids for comparison.
We focus here on one particular and poorly studied object, IRAS 11472-0800. It is a highly evolved post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) star of spectral type F, with a large infrared excess produced by thermal emission of circumstellar dust. We deployed a multi-wavelength study that includes the analyses of optical and IR spectra as well as a variability study based on photometric and spectroscopic time-series.
The star V426 Sge (HBHA 1704-05), originally classified as an emission-line object and a semi-regular variable, brightened at the beginning of August 2018, showing signatures of a symbiotic star outburst. We aim to confirm the nature of V426 Sge as a classical symbiotic star, determine the photometric ephemeris of the light minima, and suggest the path from its 1968 symbiotic nova outburst to the following 2018 Z And-type outburst. We re-constructed an historical light curve (LC) of V426 Sge from approximately the year 1900, and used original low- (R~500-1500; 330-880nm) and high-resolution (R~11000-34000; 360-760nm) spectroscopy complemented with Swift-XRT and UVOT, optical UBVR_C_I_C_ and near-infrared $JHKL$ photometry obtained during the 2018 outburst and the following quiescence. The historical LC reveals no symbiotic-like activity from ~1900 to 1967. In 1968, V426 Sge experienced a symbiotic nova outburst that ceased around 1990. From approximately 1972, a wave-like orbitally related variation with a period of 493.4+/-0.7-days developed in the LC. This was interrupted by a Z And-type outburst from the beginning of August 2018 to the middle of February 2019. At the maximum of the 2018 outburst, the burning white dwarf (WD) increased its temperature to >~2x10^5^K, generated a luminosity of ~7x10^37^(d/3.3kpc}^2^erg/s, and blew a wind at the rate of ~3x10^-6^M_{sun}_/yr. Our spectral energy distribution models from the current quiescent phase reveal that the donor is a normal M4-5 III giant characterised with Teff~3400K, R_G_~106(d/3.3kpc})R_{sun}_ and L_G_~1350(d/3.3kpc})^2^L_{sun}_ and the accretor is a low-mass ~0.5M_{sun}_ WD. During the transition from the symbiotic nova outburst to the quiescent phase, a pronounced sinusoidal variation along the orbit develops in the LC of most symbiotic novae. The following eventual outburst is of Z And-type, when the accretion by the WD temporarily exceeds the upper limit of the stable burning. At this point the system becomes a classical symbiotic star.
The cataclysmic variable V893 Sco is an eclipsing dwarf nova which, apart from outbursts with comparatively low amplitudes, exhibits a particularly strong variability during quiescence on timescales of days to seconds.The present study aims to update the outdated orbital ephemerides published previously, to investigate deviations from linear ephemerides, and to characterize non-random brightness variations in a range of timescales. Light curves of V893 Sco were observed on 39 nights, spanning a total time base of about 14 years. They contain 114 eclipses which were used to significantly improve the precision of the orbital period and to study long-term variations of the time of revolution. Oscillations and similar brightness variations were studied with Fourier techniques in the individual light curves. The orbital period exhibits long-term variations with a cycle time of 10.2 years. They can be interpreted as a light travel time effect caused by the presence of a giant planet with approximately 9.5 Jupiter masses in a 4.5AU orbit around V893 Sco. On some nights transient semi-periodic variations on timescales of several minutes can be seen which may be identified as quasi-periodic oscillations. However, it is difficult to distinguish whether they are caused by real physical mechanisms or if they are the effect of an accidental superposition of unrelated flickering flares. Simulations to investigate this question are presented.
We compile and analyze an extended database of light curve parameters scattered in the literature to search for correlations and study physical properties, including internal structure constraints.
We analyze long-term UBV observations and ASAS-3 photometry for five candidates for protoplanetary nebulae - F and G supergiants with infrared excesses at high Galactic latitudes - V340 Ser, IRAS 05113+1347, V552 Pup, V448 Lac, and RV Col. These stars exhibit quasi-periodic multifrequency light variations caused by pulsations with characteristic time scales from 83 to 139 days, depending on the stellar temperature. Cooler stars undergo variations with larger amplitudes and periods. The variations at close frequencies with a period ratio of 1.03-1.09 are responsible for the amplitude modulation revealed for most program stars.
