A 9-Hr CV With One Outburst in 4 Years of Kepler Data
Zhifei Yu, John Thorstensen, Saul Rappaport, Andrew Mann, Thomas Jacobs, Lorne Nelson, Boris T. Gaensicke, Daryll LaCourse, Tamás Borkovits, Joshua Aiken, Danie… 展开作者
Zhifei Yu, John Thorstensen, Saul Rappaport, Andrew Mann, Thomas Jacobs, Lorne Nelson, Boris T. Gaensicke, Daryll LaCourse, Tamás Borkovits, Joshua Aiken, Daniel Steeghs, Odette Toloza, Andrew Vanderburg, Douglas N. C. Lin
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15 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables; accepted for publication in MNRAS
During a visual search through the Kepler main-field lightcurves, we have discovered a cataclysmic variable (CV) that experienced only a single 4-day long outburst over four years, rising to three times the quiescent flux. During the four years of non-outburst data the Kepler photometry of KIC 5608384 exhibits ellipsoidal light variations (`ELV') with a $\sim$12% amplitude and period of 8.7 hours. Follow-up ground-based spectral observations have yielded a high-quality radial velocity curve and the associated mass function. Additionally, H$α$ emission lines were present in the spectra even though these were taken while the source was presumably in quiescence. These emission lines are at least partially eclipsed by the companion K star. We utilize the available constraints of the mass function, the ELV amplitude, Roche-lobe filling condition, and inferred radius of the K star to derive the system masses and orbital inclination angle: $M_{\rm wd} \simeq 0.46 \pm 0.02 \, M_\odot$, $M_{\rm K} \simeq 0.41 \pm 0.03 \, M_\odot$, and $i \gtrsim 70^\circ$. The value of $M_{\rm wd}$ is the lowest reported for any accreting WD in a cataclysmic variable. We have also run binary evolution models using MESA to infer the most likely parameters of the pre-cataclysmic binary. Using the mass-transfer rates from the model evolution tracks we conclude that although the rates are close to the critical value for accretion disk stability, we expect KIC 5608384 to exhibit dwarf nova outbursts. We also conclude that the accreting white dwarf most likely descended from a hot subdwarf and, most notably, that this binary is one of the first bona fide examples of a progenitor of AM CVn binaries to have evolved through the CV channel.
Taking advantage of the unparallel quantity and quality of high cadence Kepler light curves of several dwarf novae, the strength of the flickering and the high frequency spectral index of their power spectra are investigated as a function of magnitude around the outburst cycle of these systems. Previous work suggesting that the flickering strength (on a magnitude scale) is practically constant above a given brightness threshold and only rises at fainter magnitudes is confirmed for most of the investigated systems. As a new feature, a hysteresis in the flickering strength is seen in the sense t…
We present observations of a new phenomenon in pulsating white dwarf stars: large-amplitude outbursts at timescales much longer than the pulsation periods. The cool (Teff = 11,010 K), hydrogen-atmosphere pulsating white dwarf PG 1149+057 was observed nearly continuously for more than 78.8 d by the extended Kepler mission in K2 Campaign 1. The target showed 10 outburst events, recurring roughly every 8 d and lasting roughly 15 hr, with maximum flux excursions up to 45% in the Kepler bandpass. We demonstrate that the outbursts affect the pulsations and therefore must come from the white dwarf. A…
Based on early Kepler data, Ostensen et al. (2010) found that KIC 9202990 showed a 4 hr and a two-week photometric period. They suggested the 4 hr period was a signature of an orbital period; the longer period was possibly due to precession of an accretion disk and KIC 9202990 was a cataclysmic variable with an accretion disk which is always in a bright state (a nova-like system). Using the full Kepler dataset on KIC 9202990 which covers 1421 d (Quarter 2--17), and includes 1 min cadence data from the whole of Quarters 5 and 16, we find that the 4 hr period is stable and therefore a signature …
An optical light curve of SU UMa type dwarf nova V1504 Cyg taken by Kepler was analysed in order to study fast optical variability (flickering). We calculated power density spectra and rms-flux relations for two different stages of activity, i.e. quiescence and regular outbursts. A multicomponent power density spectrum with two break frequencies was found during both activity stages. The rms-flux relation is obvious only in the quiescent data. However, while the collection of all outburst data do not show this variability, every individual outburst does show it in the majority of cases keeping…
We studied the Kepler light curves of three SU UMa-type dwarf novae. Both the background dwarf nova of KIC 4378554 and V516 Lyr showed a combination of precursor-main superoutburst, during which superhumps always developed on the fading branch of the precursor. This finding supports the thermal-tidal instability theory as the origin of the superoutburst. A superoutburst of V585 Lyr recorded by Kepler did not show a precursor outburst and the superhumps developed only after the maximum light, a first example in the Kepler data so far. Such a superoutburst is understood within the thermal-tidal …
We examine the Kepler light curves of V1504 Cyg and V344 Lyr, encompassing ~736 d at 1 min cadence. During this span each system exhibited ~64-65 outbursts, including six superoutbursts. We find that, in both systems, the normal outbursts between two superoutbursts increase in duration over time by a factor ~1.2-1.9, and then reset to a small value after the following superoutburst. In both systems the trend of quiescent intervals between normal outbursts is to increase to a local maximum about half way through the supercycle - the interval from one superoutburst to the next - and then to decr…
We have discovered a dwarf nova (DN) of type SU UMa in Kepler data which is 7.0 arcsec from the G-type exoplanet survey target KIC 4378554. The DN appears as a background source in the pixel aperture of the foreground G star. We extracted only the pixels where the DN is present and observed the source to undergo five outbursts -- one a superoutburst -- over a timespan of 22 months. The superoutburst was triggered by a normal outburst, a feature that has been seen in all DNe superoutburst observed by Kepler. Superhumps during the super outburst had a period of 1.842+/-0.004 h and we see a trans…
We present the results of an analysis of data covering 1.5 years of the dwarf nova V447 Lyr. We detect eclipses of the accretion disk by the mass donating secondary star every 3.74 hrs which is the binary orbital period. V447 Lyr is therefore the first dwarf nova in the Kepler field to show eclipses. We also detect five long outbursts and six short outbursts showing V447 Lyr is a U Gem type dwarf nova. We show that the orbital phase of the mid-eclipse occurs earlier during outbursts compared to quiescence and that the width of the eclipse is greater during outburst. This suggests that the brig…
We analysed Kepler data of two similar dwarf novae V344 Lyr and V1504 Cyg in order to study optical fast stochastic variability (flickering) by searching for characteristic break frequencies in their power density spectra. Two different stages of activity were analysed separately, i.e. regular outbursts and quiescence. Both systems show similar behaviour during both activity stages. The quiescent power density spectra show a dominant low break frequency which is also present during outburst with a more or less stable value in V344 Lyr while it is slightly higher in V1504 Cyg. The origin of thi…
We studied the background dwarf nova of KIC 11412044 in the Kepler public data and identified it with GALEX J194419.33+491257.0. This object turned out to be a very active SU UMa-type dwarf nova having a mean supercycle of about 150 d and frequent normal outbursts having intervals of 4-10 d. The object showed strong persistent signal of the orbital variation with a period of 0.0528164(4) d (76.06 min) and superhumps with a typical period of 0.0548 d during superoutbursts. Most of the superoutbursts were accompanied by a precursor outburst. All these features are unusual for this very short orb…
Context: [abbreviated] Aims: Kepler data of three known Be stars are re-visited to establish their pulsational nature and assess the properties of additional, non-pulsational variations. The three program stars turned out to be one inactive Be star, one active, continuously outbursting Be star, and one Be star transiting from a non-outbursting into an outbursting phase, thus forming an excellent sample to distill properties of Be stars in the various phases of their life-cycle. Methods: [abbreviated] Results: The short-term photometric variability of Be stars must be disentangled into a stella…
We present the Kepler light curve of KIC 4552982, the first ZZ Ceti (hydrogen-atmosphere pulsating white dwarf star) discovered in the Kepler field of view. Our data span more than 1.5 years with a 86% duty cycle, making it the longest pseudo-continuous light curve ever recorded for a ZZ Ceti. This extensive data set provides the most complete coverage to-date of amplitude and frequency variations in a cool ZZ Ceti. We detect 20 independent frequencies of variability in the data that we compare with asteroseismic models to demonstrate that this star has a mass M$_*$ > 0.6 M$_{\rm Sun}$. We ide…
We present time dependent modeling based on the accretion disk limit cycle model for a 270 d light curve of the short period SU UMa-type dwarf nova V344 Lyr taken by Kepler. The unprecedented precision and cadence (1 minute) far surpass that generally available for long term light curves. The data encompass two superoutbursts and 17 normal (i.e., short) outbursts. The main decay of the superoutbursts is nearly perfectly exponential, decaying at a rate ~12 d/mag, while the much more rapid decays of the normal outbursts exhibit a faster-than-exponential shape. Our modeling using the basic accret…
The timing capabilities and sensitivity of Kepler, NASA's observatory to find Earth-sized planets within the habitable zone of stars, are well matched to the timescales and amplitudes of accretion disk variability in cataclysmic variables. This instrumental combination provides an unprecedented opportunity to test and refine stellar accretion paradigms with high-precision, uniform data, containing none of the diurnal or season gaps that limit ground-based observations. We present a 3-month, 1 minute cadence Kepler light curve of V344 Lyr, a faint, little-studied dwarf nova within the Kepler fi…
We report on the analysis of the Kepler short-cadence (SC) light curve of V344 Lyr obtained during 2009 June 20 through 2010 Mar 19 (Q2--Q4). The system is an SU UMa star showing dwarf nova outbursts and superoutbursts, and promises to be a touchstone for CV studies for the foreseeable future. The system displays both positive and negative superhumps with periods of 2.20 and 2.06-hr, respectively, and we identify an orbital period of 2.11-hr. The positive superhumps have a maximum amplitude of ~0.25-mag, the negative superhumps a maximum amplitude of ~0.8 mag, and the orbital period at quiesce…
We identify a new, bright transient in the Kepler/K2 Campaign 11 field. Its light curve rises over seven magnitudes in a day and then declines three magnitudes over a month before quickly fading another two magnitudes. The transient was still detectable at the end of the campaign. The light curve is consistent with a WZ~Sge type dwarf nova outburst. Early superhumps with a period of 82 minutes are seen in the first 10 days and suggest that this is the orbital period of the binary which is typical for the WZ~Sge class. Strong superhump oscillations develop ten days after peak brightness with pe…
I analyzed the Kepler long and short cadence data of V363 Lyr. A period of 0.185723(8) d was persistently detected and this is identified as the orbital period. V363 Lyr showed one long outburst accompanied by an "(embedded) precursor" during Kepler observations and modulations with a period of 0.1956(2) d, longer than the orbital one, were detected during this outburst. There are two possible interpretations of this period. The first one is superhumps despite that V363 Lyr is far above the period gap. This interpretation requires an evolved, undermassive secondary enabling a low mass ratio of…
The first results from studies of the new FU Orionis star found in the field of NGC 7000 are presented in the paper. During the year passing from the registration of outburst at fourteen papers containing data from observations of this object have been published in the astronomical journals. These publications present photometric and spectral observations of HBC 722 ranging from the far infrared to X-ray wavelength region. HBC 722 is the first FU Orionis object, whose outburst was observed from its very beginning in all spectral ranges. We expect that the interest in this object will increase …
Extensive observations from the Kepler spacecraft have recently revealed a new outburst phenomenon operating in cool pulsating DA (hydrogen atmosphere) white dwarfs (DAVs). With the introduction of two new outbursting DAVs from K2 Fields 7 (EPIC 229228364) and 8 (EPIC 220453225) in these proceedings, we presently know of six total members of this class of object. We present the observational commonalities of the outbursting DAVs: (1) outbursts that increase the mean stellar flux by up to 15%, last many hours, and recur irregularly on timescales of days; (2) effective temperatures that locate t…
We present an ultraviolet spectrum and light curve of the short orbital period cataclysmic variable EZ Lyn obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope 14 months after its dwarf nova outburst, along with ground-based optical photometry. The UV spectrum can be fit with a 13,100K, log g=8 white dwarf using 0.5 solar composition, while fits to the individual lines are consistent with solar abundance for Si and Al, but only 0.3 solar for C. The Discrete Fourier Transforms of the UV and optical light curves at 14 months following outburst show a prominent period at 25…
The prototype of accreting, pulsating white dwarfs (GW Lib) underwent a large amplitude dwarf nova outburst in 2007. We used ultraviolet data from GALEX and ground-based optical photometry and spectroscopy to follow GW Lib for three years following this outburst. Several variations are apparent during this interval. The optical shows a superhump modulation in the months following outburst while a 19 min quasi-periodic modulation lasting for several months is apparent in the year after outburst. A long timescale (about 4 hr) modulation first appears in the UV a year after outburst and increases…
We report continued Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ultraviolet spectra and ground-based optical photometry and spectroscopy of GW Librae eight years after its largest known dwarf nova outburst in 2007. This represents the longest cooling timescale measured for any dwarf nova. The spectra reveal that the white dwarf still remains about 3000 K hotter than its quiescent value. Both ultraviolet and optical light curves show a short period of 364-373 s, similar to one of the non-radial pulsation periods present for years prior to the outburst, and with a similar large UV/optical amplitude ratio. A la…
AG Draconis is a strongly interacting binary system which manifests characteristic symbiotic activity of alternating quiescent and active stages. The latter ones consist of the series of individual outbursts repeating at about a one-year interval. After seven years of flat quiescence following the 2006-2008 major outbursts, in the late spring of 2015, the symbiotic system AG Dra started to become brighter again toward what appeared to be a new minor outburst. The current outburst activity of AG Dra was confirmed by the following three outbursts in April 2016, May 2017 and April 2018. The photo…
We present results of observations and analysis of five WZ-type dwarf novae: SDSS J080434.20+510349.2, SDSS J102146.44+234926.3, V1108 Her, ASAS J0025 and WZ Sge in 3 - 7 years after their outbursts. We found: 1) the observational evidences that emerging of the white dwarf nonradial pulsation in SDSS J080434.20+510349.2 [1] is no longer a regular since 3-rd year after 2006 outburst; 2) the true value of orbital period for V1108 Her (0.05672 d) and mass ratio (0.09); 3) The main feature of quiescent light curves of ASAS J0025 is the high-amplitude quasiperiodical light variations probably origi…
Since the large amplitude 2007 outburst which heated its accreting, pulsating white dwarf, the dwarf nova system GW Librae has been cooling to its quiescent temperature. Our Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet spectra combined with ground-based optical coverage during the 3rd and 4th year after outburst show that the fluxes and temperatures are still higher than quiescence (T=19,700K and 17,300K vs 16,000K pre-outburst for a log g=8.7 and d=100 pc). The K{wd} of 7.6+/-0.8 km/s determined from the CI1463 absorption line, as well as the gravitational redshift implies a white dwarf mass of 0.79+/-…
Hubble Space Telescope spectra obtained in 2010 and 2011, three and four years after the large amplitude dwarf nova outburst of V455 And, were combined with optical photometry and spectra to study the cooling of the white dwarf, its spin, and possible pulsation periods after the outburst. The modeling of the ultraviolet (UV) spectra show that the white dwarf temperature remains ~600 K hotter than its quiescent value at three years post outburst, and still a few hundred degrees hotter at four years post outburst. The white dwarf spin at 67.6 s and its second harmonic at 33.8 s are visible in th…
BOKS 45906 was found to be a blue source in the Burrell-Optical-Kepler-Survey which showed a 3 mag outburst lasting ~5 d. We present the Kepler light curve of this source which covers nearly 3 years. We find that it is in a faint optical state for approximately half the time and shows a series of outbursts separated by distinct dips in flux. Using data with 1 min sampling, we find clear evidence that in its low state BOKS 45906 shows a flux variability on a period of 56.5574+/-0.0014 min and a semi-amplitude of ~3 percent. Since we can phase all the 1 min cadence data on a common ephemeris usi…
We search the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) archives of the two best studied dwarf novae in an attempt to find light curves for long outbursts that are extremely well-characterized. The systems are U Gem and SS Cyg. Our goal is to search for embedded precursors such as those that have been found recently in the high fidelity Kepler data for superoutbursts of some members of the SU UMa subclass of dwarf novae. For the vast majority of AAVSO data, the combination of low data cadence and large errors associated with individual measurements precludes one from making any s…
We study the light curve of SN 1604 using the historical data collected at the time of observation of the outburst. Comparing the supernova with recent SNe Ia of various rates of decline after maximum light, we find that this event looks like a normal SNIa (stretch s close to 0.9: 0.9 \pm 0.13), a fact which is also favoured by the late light curve. The supernova is heavily obscured by 2.7 \pm 0.1 magnitudes in V. We obtain an estimate of the distance to the explosion with a value of d = 5 \pm 0.7 kpc. This can help to settle ongoing discussions on the distance to the supernova. It also shows …
We describe two observations of the nova-like cataclysmic variable AC Cnc obtained with {\it Kepler} during its revamped second mission ({\it K2}). Using the {\it K2} 1-minute cadence mode, the data were obtained during Campaigns 5 and 18. Campaign 5 (C05) lasted from ${\sim}$2015 Apr 27 to ${\sim}$2015 July 10, a total of 74.8 days, and yielded ${\sim}$106,000 measurements. Campaign 18 (C18) lasted from ${\sim}$2018 May 13 to ${\sim}$2018 July 2, a total of 50.7 days, yielding $\sim$72,000 measurements. The C05 light curve reveals two `stunted outbursts' having properties consistent with stun…
The extraordinarily long outburst of GRS 1915+105 makes it one of the most remarkable low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). It has been in a state of constant outburst since its discovery in 1992, an eruption which has persisted ~100 times longer than those of more typical LXMBs. The long orbital period of GRS 1915+105 implies that it contains large and massive accretion disc which is able to fuel its extreme outburst. In this paper, we address the longevity of the outburst and quiescence phases of GRS 1915+105 using Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of its accretion disc through many…
AG Peg is known as the slowest symbiotic nova, which experienced its nova-like outburst around 1850. After 165 years, during June of 2015, it erupted again showing characteristics of the Z And-type outburst. The primary objective is to determine basic characteristics, the nature and type of the 2015 outburst of AG Peg. We achieved this aim by modelling the spectral energy distribution using low-resolution spectroscopy (330-750 nm), medium-resolution spectroscopy (420-720 nm; R=11000), and $UBVR_{\rm C}I_{\rm C}$ photometry covering the 2015 outburst with a high cadence. Optical observations we…
We use photometry from the Kepler Mission to study oscillations in gamma Doradus stars. Some stars show remarkably clear sequences of g modes and we use period echelle diagrams to measure period spacings and identify rotationally split multiplets with l=1 and l=2. We find small deviations from regular period spacings that arise from the gradient in the chemical composition just outside the convective core. We also find stars for which the period spacing shows a strong linear trend as a function of period, consistent with relatively rapid rotation. Overall, the results indicate it will be possi…
Z CMa is a young binary system consisting of an Herbig primary and a FU Ori companion. Both components seem to be surrounded by active accretion disks and a jet was associated to the Herbig B0. In Nov. 2008, K. Grankin discovered that Z CMa was exhibiting an outburst with an amplitude larger than any photometric variations recorded in the last 25 years. To study the innermost regions in which the outburst occurs and understand its origin, we have observed both binary components with AMBER/VLTI across the Brγ emission line in Dec. 2009 in medium and high spectral resolution modes. Our observati…
We present the detection of l=4 and l=5 modes in power spectra of the Sun, constructed from 12 yr full-disk VIRGO-SPM data sets. A method for enhancing the detectability of these modes in asteroseismic targets is presented and applied to Kepler data of the two solar analogues 16 Cyg A and B. For these targets we see indications of a signal from l=4 modes, while nothing is yet seen for l=5 modes. We further simulate the power spectra of these stars and from this we estimate that it should indeed be possible to see such indications of l=4 modes at the present length of the data sets. In the simu…
We have studied the SC (short cadence) Kepler light curve of an SU UMa star, V1504 Cyg, which extends for a period of about 630 d. All superoutbursts in V1504 Cyg have turned out to be of the precursor-main type and the superhump first appears near the maximum of the precursor. The superhumps grow smoothly from the precursor to the main superoutburst showing that the superoutburst is initiated by the tidal instability (as evidenced by growing superhump) as envisioned in the thermal-tidal instability (TTI) model proposed by Osaki (1989). We have performed power spectral analysis of the light cu…
SXP 31.0 -- the 2025 near-Eddington double X-ray outburst after 26 years of quiescence
The University of Southampton（南安普顿大学）；The Pennsylvania State University（宾夕法尼亚州立大学）；South African Astronomical Observatory（南非天文台）；University of Cape Town（开普敦大学）；University of Warsaw（华沙大学）；University of Leicester（莱斯特大学）；North-West University（西北大学）
Massive stars are important building blocks of the Universe, and their stellar structure and evolution models are fundamental cornerstones of various fields in modern astrophysics. The precision of these models is limited by our lack of understanding of various internal mixing processes that significantly influence the lifetime of these objects (e.g. core overshoot, chemical mixing, or the internal differential rotation). Our goal is to calibrate models by extending the sample of available seismic studies of slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars, providing input for theoretical modelling efforts that…
The LAMOST-Kepler (LK-) project was initiated to use the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) to make spectroscopic follow-up observations for the targets in the field of the Kepler mission. The Kepler field is divided into 14 subfields that are adapted to the LAMOST circular field with a diameter of 5 degrees. During the regular survey phase of LAMOST, the LK-project took data from 2012 June to 2017 June and covered all the 14 subfields at least twice. In particular, we describe in this paper the second Data Release of the LK-project, including all spectra acquir…
The long-term outburst(s) of GPSV16: from an intermediate to a FUor classification
Seoul National University（首尔大学）；University of Hertfordshire（赫特福德大学）；Peking University（北京大学）；NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics（加拿大国家研究委员会赫茨伯格天体物理学研究所）；University of Victoria（维多利亚大学）；Universidad de Valparaíso（瓦尔帕莱索大学）；Chinese Academy of Sciences South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA), National Astronomical Observatories, CAS（中国科学院南美天文中心（CASSACA），中国科学院国家天文台）
We analyzed the Kepler long cadence data of KIC 7524178 (=KIS J192254.92+430905.4), and found that it is an SU UMa-type dwarf nova with frequent normal outbursts. The signal of the negative superhump was always the dominant one even during the superoutburst, in contrast to our common knowledge about superhumps in dwarf novae. The signal of the positive superhump was only transiently seen during the superoutburst, and it quickly decayed after the superoutburst. The frequency variation of the negative superhump was similar to the two previously studied dwarf novae in the Kepler field, V1504 Cyg …
High-precision frequencies of acoustic modes in red giant stars are now available thanks to the long observing length and high-quality of the light curves provided by the NASA Kepler mission, thus allowing to probe the interior of evolved cool low-mass stars with unprecedented level of detail. We characterize the acoustic signature of the helium second ionization zone in a sample of 18 low-mass low-luminosity red giants by exploiting new mode frequency measurements derived from more than four years of Kepler observations. We analyze the second frequency differences of radial acoustic modes in …
KIC 9406652 is a remarkable variable star in the Kepler field of view that shows both very rapid oscillations and long term outbursts in its light curve. We present an analysis of the light curve over quarters 1 to 15 and new spectroscopy that indicates that the object is a cataclysmic variable with an orbital period of 6.108 hours. However, an even stronger signal appears in the light curve periodogram for a shorter period of 5.753 hours, and we argue that this corresponds to the modulation of flux from the hot spot region in a tilted, precessing disk surrounding the white dwarf star. We pres…
FBS0107-082 is an emission line object previously classified as a nova-like cataclysmic variable star. New optical spectroscopy shows very strong hydrogen Balmer lines, along with a nebular forbidden line spectrum and absorption features from an early-F photosphere. When combined with other IR and optical data from the literature, these data point to the object being a symbiotic nova seen in a prolonged outburst. Photometry on time scales of minutes, days, and years show only very weak variability.
V1118 Ori is a classical EXor source whose light curve has been monitored over the past thirty years (although not continuously). It underwent a powerful outburst in 2005, followed by ten years of quiescence and a less intense outburst in 2015. In 2019, a new intense brightness increase was observed ($Δg$ $\sim$ 3 mag). This new accretion episode offers the opportunity to compare the photometric and spectroscopic properties of different outbursts of the same source. This allows one to highlight differences and similarities among different events by removing any possible bias related to the int…
We study the 1.28 million short cadence {\it Kepler} data points (Q5-Q14) for RR Lyrae covering 24 cycles of the Blazhko variation, and more than one half of the 4-year modulation of the Blazhko variation. This very rich data set clearly shows variability of the 0.5667 day pulsation period (from 0.5655 to 0.5685 day) with each Blazhko cycle, as well as a variation of the Blazhko period itself (from 39.2 days at amplitude maximum to 38.4 days at amplitude minimum) during the 4 year modulation, as well as a rapid increase in Blazhko period as the new cycle commences.
Using imaging from the Pan-STARRS1 survey, we identify a precursor outburst at epochs 287 and 170 days prior to the reported explosion of the purported Type IIn supernova (SN) 2011ht. In the Pan-STARRS data, a source coincident with SN 2011ht is detected exclusively in the \zps\ and \yps-bands. An absolute magnitude of M$_z\simeq$-11.8 suggests that this was an outburst of the progenitor star. Unfiltered, archival Catalina Real Time Transient survey images also reveal a coincident source from at least 258 to 138 days before the main event. We suggest that the outburst is likely to be an intrin…
We present photometric and spectroscopic observations of a peculiar variable (designated DASCH J075731.1+201735 or J0757) discovered from our DASCH project using the digitized Harvard College Observatory archival photographic plates. It brightened by about 1.5 magnitudes in B within a year starting in 1942, and then slowly faded back to its pre-outburst brightness from 1943 to the 1950s. The mean brightness level was stable before and after the outburst, and ellipsoidal variations with a period of $P=119.18\pm0.07$ days are seen, suggesting that the star is tidally distorted. Radial-velocity m…
M31 is an ideal laboratory for observing and studying recurrent novae. To date, there have been 18 recurrent nova discovered in M31, six of which have recurrence periods less than nine years. M31N 2017-12a (AT2017jdm) is a transient that was reported near the center of M31, with the time of outburst estimated to be 2017 December 24.141 +/- 0.42 based on constraints from previous data. Here we present the photometric observations of M31N 2017-12a, which we confirm as a recurrence of M31N 2007-10b.
We present multi-epoch, multi-colour pre-outburst photometry and post-outburst light curves and spectra of the luminous blue variable (LBV) outburst Gaia16cfr discovered by the Gaia satellite on 1 December 2016. We detect Gaia16cfr in 13 epochs of Hubble Space Telescope imaging spanning phases of 10 yr to 8 months before the outburst and in Spitzer Space Telescope imaging 13 years before outburst. Pre-outburst optical photometry is consistent with an 18 Msun F8 I star, although the star was likely reddened and closer to 30 Msun. The pre-outburst source exhibited a significant near-infrared exc…
We present 100 year light curves of Kepler planet-candidate host stars from the Digital Access to a Sky Century at Harvard (DASCH) project. 261 out of 997 host stars have at least 10 good measurements on DASCH scans of the Harvard plates. 109 of them have at least 100 good measurements, including 70% (73 out of 104) of all host stars with g<=13 mag, and 44% (100 out of 228) of all host stars with g<=14 mag. Our typical photometric uncertainty is ~0.1-0.15 mag. No variation is found at 3-sigma level for these host stars, including 21 confirmed or candidate hot Jupiter systems which might be exp…
We have determined the rate of large accretion events in class I and II young stellar objects (YSOs) by comparing the all-sky digitised photographic plate surveys provided by SuperCOSMOS with the latest data release from Gaia (DR2). The long mean baseline of 55 years along with a large sample of class II YSOs ($\simeq$15,000) allows us to study approximately 1 million YSO-years. We find 139 objects with $ΔR\geq1$~mag, most of which are found at amplitudes between 1 and 3 mag. The majority of YSOs in this group show irregular variability or long-lasting fading events, which is best explained as…
Kepler 1627A is a G8V star previously known to host a 3.8 Earth-radius planet on a 7.2 day orbit. The star was observed by the Kepler space telescope because it is nearby (d=329 pc) and it resembles the Sun. Here we show using Gaia kinematics, TESS stellar rotation periods, and spectroscopic lithium abundances that Kepler 1627 is a member of the 38 $\pm$ 6 Myr old $δ$ Lyr cluster. To our knowledge, this makes Kepler 1627Ab the youngest planet with a precise age yet found by the prime Kepler mission. The Kepler photometry shows two peculiarities: the average transit profile is asymmetric, and t…
With years of Kepler data currently available, it can now be attempted to measure variations in planetary transit depths over time. To do so, it is of primary importance to understand which systematic effects may affect the measurement of transits. We aim to measure the stability of Kepler measurements over years of observations. We present a study of the depth of about 500 transit events of the Hot Jupiter HAT-P-7b, using 14 quarters (Q0-Q13) of data from the Kepler Satellite. We find a systematic variation in the depth of the primary transit, related to quarters of data and recurring yearly.…
We explore the accretion mechanisms in EX Lupi, prototype of EXor variables, during its quiescence and outburst phases. We analyse high-resolution optical spectra taken before, during, and after its 2008 outburst. In quiescence and outburst, the star presents many permitted emission lines, including typical CTTS lines and numerous neutral and ionized metallic lines. During the outburst, the number of emission lines increases to over a thousand, with narrow plus broad component structure (NC+BC). The BC profile is highly variable on short timescales (24-72h). An active chromosphere can explain …
Stellar positions and velocities from Gaia are yielding a new view of open cluster dispersal. Here we present an analysis of a group of stars spanning Cepheus to Hercules, hereafter the Cep-Her complex. The group includes four Kepler Objects of Interest: Kepler-1643 b ($2.32 \pm 0.13$ Earth-radii, 5.3 day orbital period), KOI-7368 b ($2.22 \pm 0.12$ Earth-radii, 6.8 days), KOI-7913 Ab ($2.34 \pm 0.18$ Earth-radii, 24.2 days), and Kepler-1627 Ab ($3.85 \pm 0.11$ Earth-radii, 7.2 days). The latter Neptune-sized planet is in part of the Cep-Her complex called the $δ$ Lyr cluster (Bouma et al. 202…
