Discovery of binary systems among RR Lyrae stars belongs to challenges of present astronomy. So far, none of classical RR Lyrae stars was clearly confirmed that it is a part of an eclipsing system. For this reason we studied two RR Lyrae stars, VX Her and RW Ari, in which changes assigned to eclipses were detected in sixties and seventies of the 20th century. In this paper our preliminary results based on analysis of new photometric measurements are presented as well as the results from the detailed analysis of original measurements. A new possible eclipsing system, RZ Cet was identified in the archive data. Our analysis rather indicates errors in measurements and reductions of the old data than real changes for all three stars.
The phenomenological parameters of eclipsing binary stars, which are the prototypes of the EA, EB and EW systems are determined using the expert complex of computer programs, which realizes the NAV ("New Algol Variable") algorithm (Andronov 2010, 2012) and its possible modifications are discussed, as well as constrains for estimates of some physical parameters of the systems in a case of photometric observations only, such as the degree of eclipse, ratio of the mean surface brightnesses of the components. The half-duration of the eclipse is 0.0617(7), 0.1092(18) and 0.1015(7) for Algol, $β$ Ly…
In this paper we report the discovery of 35 new RR Lyrae variables. These stars were found by a special searching technique. We crossmatched the catalog of the PanSTARRS (PS) sky survey with K2 space photometry data to the validate candidates. It turns out that this technique can find eclipsing binaries as well.
We present the first high-resolution spectra for the eclipsing binary V404 Lyr showing $γ$ Dor pulsations, which we use to study its absolute properties. By fitting models to the disentangling spectrum of the primary star, we found that it has an effective temperature of $T_{\rm eff,1}=7,330 \pm 150$ K and a rotational velocity of $v_1\sin$$i=148\pm18$ km s$^{-1}$. The simultaneous analysis of our double-lined radial velocities and the pulsation-subtracted ${\it Kepler}$ data gives us accurate stellar and system parameters of V404 Lyr. The masses, radii, and luminosities are $M_1$ = 2.17$\pm$0…
We report the discovery of a new Kepler first-overtone RR Lyrae pulsator, KIC 2831097. The pulsation shows large, 0.1 d amplitude, systematic phase variations that can be interpreted as light travel-time effect caused by orbital motion in a binary system, superimposed on a linear pulsation-period decrease. The assumed eccentric (e=0.47) orbit with the period of approximately 2 yr is the shortest among the non-eclipsing RR Lyrae binary candidates. The binary model gives a lowest estimate for the mass of the companion of 8.4 M_Sun, that places it among black hole candidates. Beside the first-ove…
We present the largest collection of RR Lyrae stars in the Magellanic System and in its foreground. The sample consists of 45 451 RR Lyr stars, of which 39 082 were detected toward the Large Magellanic Cloud and 6369 toward the Small Magellanic Cloud. We provide long-term time-series photometric measurements collected during the fourth phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE-IV). We discuss several potential astrophysical applications of our collection: investigation of the structure of the Magellanic Clouds and the Galactic halo, studies of the globular clusters in the Mag…
We present an analysis of multi-epoch low-resolution spectrophotometry, complemented by the light curves provided by massive photometric surveys spanning over 100 years, of the symbiotic binary LMC S63. We showed that it is an eclipsing binary with the orbital period of 1050d. We also found evidence of outbursts in history of the white dwarf. If it was a Z-And type outburst, as is most likely, it would be a second such outburst recorded in the Magellanic Cloud symbiotic system. We confirmed that the red giant is enhanced in carbon, and estimated C/O~1.2 by fitting a model atmosphere to the SAL…
We report the results of a search for variable stars in the open cluster NGC 2141. Ten variable stars are detected, among which nine are new variable stars and they are classified as three short period W UMa type eclipsing binaries, two EA type eclipsing binaries, one EB type eclipsing binary, one very short period RS CVn type eclipsing binary, one d type RR Lyrae variable star, and one unknown type variable star. The membership and physical properties are discussed, based on their light curves, positions in the CMDs, spatial locations and periods. A known EB type eclipsing binary is also iden…
We present preliminary Sloan u',g'-band light curves for a sample of known RR Lyrae variables in the Galactic globular cluster Omega Cen. Results are based on the partial reduction of multi-band time series photometric data collected during six consecutive nights with the visitor instrument ULTRACAM mounted on the New Technology Telescope (La Silla, ESO). This facility allowed us to simultaneously observe in three different bands (Sloan u',g',r') a field of view of about 6x6 arcminutes. The telescope and the good seeing conditions allowed us to sample the light curves every 15 seconds. We ende…
We present new photometric observations of the $β$ Lyrae-type eclipsing binary systems NSVS 7322420 and NSVS 5726288. These observations represent the first multi-band photometry performed on these systems. The light curves were analyzed with PHOEBE, a front-end GUI based on the Wilson-Devinney program, to produce models to describe our observations. Our preliminary solutions indicate that NSVS 7322420 is a primary filling semi-detached system with unusual features warranting further study. These features include a pronounced O'Connell effect, a temporal variance in the light curve, and an unu…
A Pilot Study to Verify the RR Lyrae Candidates with Vera C. Rubin Observatory Early Alerts
National Central University（中央大学）；Taiwan Astronomical Research Alliance (TARA)（台湾天文研究联盟）；Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)（大学间天文学与天体物理学中心）；Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, University of Lancashire（兰开夏大学杰里米·霍罗克斯研究所）；Center for Astrophysics and Cosmology, University of Nova Gorica（新戈里察大学天体物理学与宇宙学中心）
Aims: To try and clarify whether there are stars in the neighbourhood of $β$ Lyrae which are physically connected to the famous prototype eclipsing binary. Methods: Scrutinize the astrometric and photometric data (from Hipparcos and Gaia DR2) of stars in a limited sky field around $β$~Lyrae. Results: A star cluster of about 100 members is discovered, nicely centered on $β$~Lyrae in 5 dimensions. There are clear indications that the newly discovered cluster belongs to a larger old (extinct) star formation complex, including two already known star clusters and an extended strewn field of stars a…
We present VIVACE, the VIrac VAriable Classification Ensemble, a catalogue of variable stars extracted from an automated classification pipeline for the Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) infrared survey of the Galactic bar/bulge and southern disc. Our procedure utilises a two-stage hierarchical classifier to first isolate likely variable sources using simple variability summary statistics and training sets of non-variable sources from the Gaia early third data release, and then classify candidate variables using more detailed light curve statistics and training labels primarily from OGLE…
We present time-series $BVI$ photometry for the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6402 (M14). The data consists of $\sim$137 images per filter, obtained using the 0.9m and 1.0m SMARTS telescopes at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The images were obtained during two observing runs in 2006-2007. The image-subtraction package ISIS, along with DAOPHOT II/ALLFRAME, were used to perform crowded-field photometry and search for variable stars. We identified 130 variables, 8 of which are new discoveries. The variable star population is comprised of 56 ab-type RR Lyrae stars, 54 c-type RR Lyrae…
We present the discovery of 32 new double periodic variables (DPVs) located toward the Galactic bulge. We found these objects among the nearly half a million binary stars published by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment project. With this discovery, we increase the number of known DPVs in the Milky Way by a factor of 2. The new set of DPVs contains 31 eclipsing binaries and one ellipsoidal variable star. The orbital periods cover the range from 1.6 to 26 days, while long periods are detected between 47 and 1144 days. Our analysis confirms a known correlation between orbital and long p…
Context. Stars can maintain their observable magnetic activity from the PMS to the tip of the red giant branch. However, the number of known active giants is much lower than active stars on the main sequence since on the giant branch the stars spend only about 10% of their main sequence lifetime. Due to their rapid evolution it is difficult to estimate the stellar parameters of giant stars. A possibility for obtaining more reliable stellar parameters of an active giant arises when it is a member of an eclipsing binary system. Aims. We have discovered EPIC 211759736, an active spotted giant sta…
The subtype of hot algol semidetached binaries dubbed Double Periodic Variables (DPVs) are characterized by a photometric cycle longer than the orbital one, whose nature has been related to a magnetic dynamo in the donor component controlling the mass transfer rate. We aim to understand the morphologic changes observed in the light curve of OGLE-BLG-ECL-157529 that are linked to the long cycle. In particular, we want to explain the changes in relative depth of primary and secondary eclipses. We analyze $I$ and $V$-band OGLE photometric times series spanning 18.5 years and model the orbital lig…
In this paper we describe a project we initiated to investigate individual pixels in the downloaded Kepler apertures in order to find objects in the background of the main targets with variable brightness. In the first paper of this series we discovered and investigated 547 short-period eclipsing binaries (Bienias et al. 2021). Here we present the independent discovery of 26 new RR Lyrae stars in the Kepler background pixels obtained during the primary mission, and provide continuous and precise photometry for these objects. Twenty-one of these stars were already noted by Gaia or the Pan-STARR…
In this paper, we report the detections of stellar variabilities from the first 2-year observations of sky area of about 1300 square degrees from the Tsinghua University-NAOC Transient Survey (TNTS). A total of 1237 variable stars (including 299 new ones) were detected with brightness < 18.0 mag and magnitude variation >= 0.1 mag on a timescale from a few hours to few hundred days. Among such detections, we tentatively identified 661 RR Lyrae stars, 431 binaries, 72 Semiregular pulsators, 29 Mira stars, 11 slow irregular variables, 11 RS Canum Venaticorum stars, 7 Gamma Doradus stars, 5 long p…
Stellar fundamental properties (masses, radii, effective temperatures) can be extracted from observations of eclipsing binary systems with remarkable precision, often better than 2%. Such precise measurements afford us the opportunity to confront the validity of basic predictions of stellar evolution theory, such as the mass-radius relationship. A brief historical overview of confrontations between stellar models and data from eclipsing binaries is given, highlighting key results and physical insight that have led directly to our present understanding. The current paradigm that standard stella…
Secular period variations, $β=\dot{P}$, in 76 RR Lyrae stars in the globular cluster M5 are analysed using our most recent CCD $V$ photometry and the historical photometric database available in the literature since 1889. This provides a time baseline of up to 118 years for these variables. The analysis was performed using two independent approaches: first, the classical $O-C$ behaviour of the time of maximum light, and second, via a grid $(P,β)$, where the solution producing the minimum scatter in the phased light curve is chosen. The results of the two methods agree satisfactorily. This allo…
We present a catalog of eclipsing binaries in the northern Galactic Plane from the Kiso Wide-Field Camera Intensive Survey of the Galactic Plane (KISOGP). We visually identified 7055 eclipsing binaries spread across $\sim$330 square degrees, including 4197 W Ursa Majoris/EW-, 1458 $β$ Lyrae/EB-, and 1400 Algol/EA-type eclipsing binaries. For all systems, $I$-band light curves were used to obtain accurate system parameters. We derived the distances and extinction values for the EW-type objects from their period--luminosity relation. We also obtained the structure of the thin disk from the distr…
Some close binaries of the beta Lyrae type show photometric cycles longer than the orbital one, which are possibly related to changes in their accretion disks. We aim to understand the short- and long-scale changes observed in the light curve of the eclipsing system OGLE-BLG-ECL-157529. In particular, we want to shed light on the contribution of the disk to these changes, especially those related to the long cycle, occurring on timescales of hundreds of days. We studied I-band OGLE photometric times series spanning 18.5 years, constructing disk models by analyzing the orbital light curve at 52…
We explore the synergy between photometric and spectroscopic surveys by searching for periodic variable stars among the targets observed by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) using photometry from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). We identified 1924 periodic variables among more than 258000 APOGEE targets; 465 are new discoveries. We homogeneously classified 430 eclipsing and ellipsoidal binaries, 139 classical pulsators (Cepheids, RR Lyrae and delta Scuti), 719 long period variables (pulsating red giants) and 636 rotational variables. The …
We extract light curves for 4554 objects with $9<G<19$ in the K2 superstamp observations of the globular cluster M4, including 3784 cluster members, and search for variability. Among cluster member objects, we detect 66 variables, of which 52 are new discoveries. Among objects not belonging to the cluster, we detect 24 variables, of which 20 are new discoveries. We additionally discover 57 cluster-member suspected variables, 10 cluster-non-member suspected variables, and four variables with ambiguous cluster membership. Our light curves reach sub-millimagnitude precision for the cluster horizo…
The light variations of first-overtone RR Lyrae stars and contact eclipsing binaries can be difficult to distinguish. The Catalina Periodic Variable Star catalog contains several misclassified objects, despite the classification efforts by Drake et al. (2014). They used metallicity and surface gravity derived from spectroscopic data (from the SDSS database) to rule out binaries. Our aim is to further constrain the catalog using SDSS colours to estimate physical parameters for stars that did not have spectroscopic data.
After a brief historical introduction and recalling basic concepts of stellar oscillation theory, I focus my review on interpretation of secondary periodicities found in RR Lyrae stars and Cepheids as a manifestation of nonradial mode excitation.
New Optical and Mid-Infrared RR Lyrae Period-Luminosity-Metallicity Relations for Precision Distances and Metallicity Distributions in the Magellanic Clouds
NSF NOIRLab（美国国家光学红外天文研究实验室）；University of North Florida（北佛罗里达大学）；Vanderbilt University（范德堡大学）；Florida State University（佛罗里达州立大学）；Università di Roma Tor Vergata（罗马托尔维加塔大学）；INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma（意大利国家天体物理研究所罗马天文台）；INFN Sezione di Roma（意大利国家核物理研究所罗马分部）；INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Abruzzo（意大利国家天体物理研究所阿布鲁佐天文台）；INFN, Sezione di Pisa（意大利国家核物理研究所比萨分部）；Dartmouth College（达特茅斯学院）
Most of our knowledge about the structure of the Milky Way has come from the study of variable stars. Among the variables, mimicking the periodic variation of pulsating stars, are the eclipsing binaries. These stars are important in astrophysics because they allow us to directly measure radii and masses of the components, as well as the distance to the system, thus being useful in studies of Galactic structure alongside pulsating RR Lyrae and Cepheids. Using the distinguishing features of their light curves, one can identify them using a semi-automated process. In this work, we present a strat…
IY Lyr: A Thick-Disk first-overtone RR Lyrae Star with a Possible Neutron Star Companion
Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院云南天文台）；Department of Astronomy, School of Physics and Astronomy, Yunnan University（云南大学物理与天文学院天文学系）；Key Laboratory of Astroparticle Physics of Yunnan Province, Yunnan University（云南省天体粒子物理重点实验室）；Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences（乌兹别克斯坦科学院乌鲁格别克天文研究所）；University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学）；National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand（泰国国家天文研究所）
We are entering an era of unprecedented quantities of data from current and planned survey telescopes. To maximise the potential of such surveys, automated data analysis techniques are required. Here we implement a new methodology for variable star classification, through the combination of Kohonen Self Organising Maps (SOM, an unsupervised machine learning algorithm) and the more common Random Forest (RF) supervised machine learning technique. We apply this method to data from the K2 mission fields 0-4, finding 154 ab-type RR Lyraes (10 newly discovered), 377 Delta Scuti pulsators, 133 Gamma …
New CCD photometry is presented for the hot overcontact binary DK Cyg, together with reasonable explanations for the light and period variations. Historical light and velocity curves from 1962 to 2012 were simultaneously analyzed with the Wilson-Devinney (W-D) synthesis code. The brightness disturbances were satisfactorily modeled by applying a magnetic cool spot on the primary star. Based on 261 times of minimum light including 116 new timings and spanning more than 87 yrs, a period study reveals that the orbital period has varied due to a periodic oscillation superposed on an upward parabola…
