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R Ophiuchi , A Mira-Type Variable Star

R Ophiuchi , A Mira-Type Variable Star. Astrophysics Group Projects. Major projects: Variable star photometry Asteroid astrometry (IASC) General stargazing, telescope use, astrophotography Outreach : Solar observing for Sensing the Cosmos; Observatory visit for iLED

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R Ophiuchi , A Mira-Type Variable Star

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  1. R Ophiuchi, A Mira-Type Variable Star

  2. Astrophysics Group Projects • Major projects: • Variable star photometry • Asteroid astrometry (IASC) • General stargazing, telescope use, astrophotography • Outreach: Solar observing for Sensing the Cosmos; Observatory visit for iLED • Field Trips: Adler Planetarium, Kalamazoo Air Zoo, Joshua Tree Museum

  3. Variable Stars • Stars that change brightness over time • Project: Measure the brightness (magnitude) of one or more variable stars • Collect and submit data to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

  4. CCD Photometry • Photometry: The measurement of the brightness of stars • Use telescope and CCD camera to determine the brightness of variable stars • Values estimated in “magnitude”

  5. CCD & Telescope • Telescope: Celestron CPC 1100, 11-inch Schmidt-Casssegrain reflector, located at Morrison Observatory, Notre Dame • CCD: SBIG ST8-XE • Software: • CCDSoft: Take and combine images • MaximDL: Photometry tool to measure stellar magnitudes

  6. Raw images Dark fields Flat fields + = Image for photometry 

  7. Estimating Magnitude • For our unknown variable star, we compare its brightness to nearby stars of known magnitude (arrows) contained within the CCD image area • Use MaximDL software to perform magnitude measurements • Submitted magnitude measurements to AAVSO (observer MMAE)

  8. R R

  9. AAVSO Screenshot

  10. R Ophiuchi • We selected R Ophiuchi, a variable star in the constellation Draco • R Ophiuchi is a “Mira-type” or long-peroid variable star • Star changes on average from magnitude 7 to 13.8 over a period of 10 months (306.5 days) • R Ophiuchi was predicted to peak around June 20 (Sky & Telescope, July 2013)

  11. Ophiuchus R Oph Newsworthy in 2011 [click]

  12. AAVSO Star Chart

  13. *7—13.8 **1/SNR R Ophiuchi Results

  14. R Ophiuchi Light Curve

  15. SS Cygni • SS Cygni, a well-known variable star in the constellation Cygnus • Cataclysmic variable (dwarf nova class) • Magnitude 12.2 to 8.3 • Outburst every 4-10 weeks, duration of 1-2 weeks • Consists of red dwarf and white dwarf in fast orbit (6.5 hours) • Newsworthy [click]

  16. *7—13.8 **1/SNR SS Cygni Results

  17. SS Cygni Light Curve

  18. Barnard’s Star • One of the nearest stars to earth (6 LY) • Exhibits greatest proper motion of any star • Project: Take images of Barnard’s Star each summer, record its proper motion

  19. Barnard’s Star July 2013

  20. Asteroid Astrometry • Goal: Measure the position of known asteroids • Provide reports of asteroid position to the Minor Planet Center • We worked as a group within the International Asteroid Search Collaboration (IASC)

  21. Procedure • Obtain CCD images of predicted NEO asteroid positions • Stack images, search for moving objects using Astrometrica software • Prepare reports in a standard format, submit to Dr. Patrick Miller at IASC

  22. Weather

  23. Clear Sky Charts [click]

  24. Sensing the Cosmos

  25. L to R: Emily, Vikas, & Linda

  26. Field Trips

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