Starspots: The zebra effect

Recent observations of brightness variations on the Sun during the solar cycle have motivated us to re-examine the widely held view that cool, dark starspots, covering a significant fraction of the star, are the centers of magnetic activity on BY Dra stars. We propose that the magnetic regions are better described by a bright facular network, and that the dark areas which give rise to photometric rotational modulation are actually regions where the underlying quiet photosphere is seen. This interpretation is consistent with recent observations of late-type stars that show that bright areas covering much of the star have magnetic fields with strengths of several thousand gauss. It resolves several problems with the current model, including the size, location, and stability of the starspots required to match photometric and Doppler-imaging observations. It also has interesting observational implications for the correlation of photometric rotational modulation and long term brightness variations with other surface activity, and for the positions of magnetically active stars in the H-R diagram.Hubble Fellow.     

Rotation effects in classical T Tauri stars

Surface temperature inhomogeneities in classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) induced by magnetic activity andmass accretion lead to rotationalmodulation of both photometric and spectroscopic parameters of these stars. Using the extended photometric catalogue byGrankin et al., we have derived the periods and amplitudes of the rotational modulation of brightness and color for 31 CTTS; for six of them, the periods have been revealed for the first time. The inclinations of the rotation axis and equatorial rotational velocities of CTTS have been determined. We show that the known periods of brightness variations for some of the CTTS are not the axial rotation periods but are the Keplerian periods near the inner boundary of the dusty disk. We have found that the angular velocity of CTTS with a mass of 0.3?3M _?? in the Taurus-Auriga complex remains constant in the age range 1?C10 Myr. CTTS on radiative evolutionary tracks rotate faster than completely convective CTTS. The specific angular momentum of CTTS depends on the absolute luminosity in the H?? line.     

Pulsations and long-term photometric variability of three candidates for protoplanetary nebulae

We present new photometric data and analyze long-term UBV observations of three candidates for protoplanetary nebulae—F supergiants with infrared excesses at high Galactic latitudes—IRAS 18095+2704, IRAS 19386+0155, and IRAS 19500-1709. All these stars exhibit quasi-periodic low-amplitude variations caused by pulsations against the background of long-term brightness trends. For IRAS 18095+2704=V887 Her, we have found a pulsation period of 109 days and revealed a linear brightness trend—the star brightens at constant (within the limits of the measurement errors) yearly mean color indices. The light curve of IRAS 19386+0155=V1648 Aql in 2000–2008 is represented by a wave with a fundamental period of 102 days whose modulation with a close period of 98 days leads to variations with a variable amplitude. V1648 Aql also shows a systematic rise in V brightness along with a reddening. IRAS 19500–1709=V5112 Sgr exhibits irregular pulsations with periods of 39 and 47 days. The long-term variability component of V5112 Sgr may indicate that the star is binary.     

Photometric, spectroscopic and polarimetric variability of the weak-emission T Tauri star HD 288313

Photometric observations over three seasons show HD 288313 to be a light variable with a 2.2636-d period. The observed V amplitudes lie in the range of 0.06–0.15 mag. The star showed appreciable changes in the brightness at maximum and minimum of the light curve from season to season. The (   b − y   ) colour did not show any significant variation during the photometric cycle. The light variation appears to be caused by the rotational modulation of stellar flux by cool starspots distributed asymmetrically across the stellar longitudes. The Hα line strength in HD 288313 varied drastically from completely filled-in emission to almost full absorption, that is typical of a normal star of similar spectral type. The Hα equivalent width is found to show a clear rotational modulation only occasionally. Most of the time, chromospheric active regions are distributed well across the stellar longitudes, thereby suppressing obvious rotational modulations. Broad-band linear polarization measurements show HD 288313 to be a short period, low-amplitude polarization variable. The polarization variation is, apparently, rotationally modulated. Dust grain scattering in a non-spherical circumstellar envelope of a star with inhomogeneities in the surface brightness distribution seems to be the mechanism operating in producing the observed polarization.     

The nucleus of Deep Impact target Comet 9P/Tempel 1

On UT 2000 August 21 we obtained simultaneous visible and mid-infrared observations of Comet 9P/Tempel 1, the target of the upcoming NASA Discovery Program mission Deep Impact. The comet was still quite active while 2.55 AU from the Sun (post-perihelion). Two independent analyses of our data, one parameterizing the coma morphology and the other modeling infrared spectrophotometry, show that the nucleus's cross section at the time the data were taken corresponds to an effective radius of 3.0±0.2 km. Based on visible-wavelength photometry of the comet taken during this observing run and others in the summer of 2000, all of which show the rotational modulation of the nucleus's brightness, we find that the infrared data were obtained near the maximum of the light curve. If we assume that the nucleus's light curve had a peak-to-valley range of 0.6±0.2 mag, then the mean effective radius is 2.6±0.2 km. Visible-wavelength photometry of the nucleus, including data published by other groups, lets us constrain the nucleus's R-band geometric albedo: 0.072±0.016. The nucleus's flux contributed about 85% of the light in the mid-infrared images.     

Cyclic Changes in Solar Rotation Inferred From Temporal Changes in the Mean Magnetic Field

Time–frequency variability of the solar mean magnetic field (SMMF) was studied, based on a continuous wavelet analysis. The rotational modulation of the SMMF dominates the wavelet spectrum at 27–30 and 13.5-day time scales. The rotational variation, in turn, is amplitude-modulated by the quasi-biennial periodicity in the SMMF. This is caused by magnetic field eruptions. Rigidly rotating modes appear in the time–longitude distribution of the large-scale magnetic field that is plotted from a deconvolution of the SMMF time series with a Carrington period. These rotational modes coexist and transform into one another over an 11-yr cycle. The modes with periods of 27.8–28.0 days dominate the phase of activity rise, whereas the 27-day rotational mode dominates the declining phase of the 11-yr cycle. The rotational modes with periods of 29–30 days occurred episodically. Most of the features in the time–longitude distribution of the SMMF are identifiable with those in similar diagrams of the solar background magnetic fields. They represent a combined effect of the background magnetic fields from both hemispheres. Eruptions of magnetic fields lead to dramatic changes in the picture of solar rotation and correlate well with the polarity asymmetry in the SMMF signal. The polarity asymmetry in the SMMF time series exhibits both long-term changes and a 22-yr cyclic behaviour, depending on the reversals of the global magnetic field in cycles 20–23.     

The Blazhko behavior of RV UMa

RV UMa is one of the most extensively studied RR Lyrae stars showing Blazhko modulation. Its photometric observations cover more than 90 years. The published photoelectric observations of RV UMa obtained at the Konkoly Observatory (Kanyó 1976) were re‐considered and completed with previously unpublished data. During the time interval of the observations the periods of both the pulsation and the modulation varied within the ranges of 0.000007 and 0.9 days, respectively. We have found a definite but not strict inverse relation between the pulsation and modulation periods of RV UMa. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Magnetic field structure and accretion regimes of the asynchronous polar by Cam

Series of photometric CCD observations of the asynchronous polar BY Cam in a low accretion state (R = 14^m–16^m) were made on the K-380 telescope at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO) over 100 hours in the course of 31 nights during 2004–2005. A period of P ₁ = 0.137120±0.000002 days was found for the variations in the brightness, along with less significant periods of P ₂ = 0.139759±0.000003 and P₃ = 0.138428±0.000002 days, where P₂ and P₃ are obviously the orbital and rotation periods, while the dominant period P₁ is the sideband period. A modulation in the brightness and an amplitude of 0.137 days in the oscillations at the orbital-rotational beat period (synodic cycle) of 14.568±0.003 day are found for the first time. The profile of the modulation period is four humped. This indicates that the magnetic field has a quadrupole component, which shows up well during the low brightness state. Accretion takes place simultaneously into two or three accretion zones, but at different rates. The times of the times of maxima for the main accretion zone vary with the phase of the beat period. Three types of variation of this sort are distinguished: linear, discontinuous, and chaotic, which indicate changes in the accretion regimes. At synodic phases 0.25 and 0.78 the bulk of the stream switches by 180°, and at phase 0.55, by ∼75°. At phases of 0.25–0.55 and 0.55–0.78, the O-C shift with a period of 0.1384 days, which can be explained by a retrograde shift of the main accretion zone relative to the magnetic pole and/or a change in the angle between the field lines and the surface of the white dwarf owing to the asynchronous rotation. For phases of 0.78–1.25 the motion of the accretion zone is quite chaotic. It is found that synchronization of the components occurs at a rate of less than dP_rot/P_rot∼10⁻⁹ day/day. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 121–137 (February 2006).     

Starspot and flare activity of the dwarf system CM Dra

The spotting activity of the dwarf system CM Dra (dM4.5+dM4.5) is analyzed using new photometric observations taken in the spring of 2005 using the multichannel photometer and 70-cm telescope at the Astronomical Observatory of the Urals State University. A light curve constructed for this system revealed a rotational brightness modulation of low amplitude, 0^m.016, owing to cold spots analogous to those on the sun. The longitude of maximum spotting is found to be 263°±4° perpendicular to the line between the centers of the components. A comparison with our earlier observations in 1996-1997, as well as with published data, shows that during different epochs a spotting maximum is observed in the hemisphere of the principal component which faces the secondary component and is shifted by 30° relative to the line between the centers along the direction of rotation of the star. This may indicate a role for tidal effects in creating the magnetic activity of CM Dra. Grouping of flares in time is observed, even for long-term observations. This appears to be related to the passage of large active regions across the star’s disk and may indicate a possible cyclical activity of CM Dra.     

Asteroid 1620 Geographos: I. Rotation

This study is part of a wide investigation, the goal of which is to find out whether meteor streams genetically related to asteroid 1620 Geographos exist and when and how they were formed. One of the possible mechanisms of the particles' removal from the asteroid's surface is their throw-off caused by rotational forces. The asteroid-rotation parameters were defined using the sidereal rotation period and another period of 0.8 days, which was obtained from observations and identified as nutational. Small oscillations of the asteroid's rotation axis were revealed. It was also found that the rotary acceleration does not exceed the gravitational one for all possible modes of the asteroid's rotation. The gravitational-force moment caused by the Sun's attraction and the light-pressure torque have a weak influence on the rotational motion; they have not essentially changed the rotation-pole position over the past 30 orbital periods.     

Springtime effects in the mesosphere and ionosphere observed at northern midlatitudes

Nighttime volume emission rates and rotational temperatures, obtained from simultaneous observations of molecular oxygen and hydroxyl airglow at Almaty (43.25°N, 76.92°E) and Sierra-Nevada (37.2°N, 356.7°E), along with ionospheric density derived from foF2 in the vertical sounding ionograms over Almaty are analysed to study the variability and coupling of parameters observed in the upper mesosphere and ionosphere during the period of February - April, 2000.Ionospheric critical frequency measurements and airglow observations by the Mesopause Rotational Temperature Imager (MORTI) at Almaty and the Spectral Airglow Temperature Imager (SATI) at Sierra-Nevada Observatories show an increase in long-period planetary wave (PW) activity from the end of February until the middle of March, 2000.Very good agreement was found in the temporal variations of emission rates and rotational temperatures from March 1-15, 2000 measured at the Almaty and Sierra-Nevada sites. Similar perturbations could also be seen in the ionospheric critical frequency (ΔfoF2) obtained as a difference between current foF2 values and an ionospheric background level.The perturbations observed have been interpreted employing the Met office stratospheric model results. Latitudinal structure of a quasi 5-day wave was identified, for which the first-symmetric-mode amplitude and symmetric behaviour of phase are in good agreement with theoretical prediction. The analysis of the Met office stratospheric data indicate the presence of westward-propagating PW with periods of ∼5 and 10 days during the period of interest. The temporal correlation between planetary scale oscillations observed in the datasets examined (ionospheric, optical and meteorological) suggest dynamical coupling with the stratosphere. A negative disturbance in ΔfoF2 of ∼25% observed 1 day before a sharp increase in the MORTI mesospheric rotational temperature registered on March 10 at Almaty, is also discussed in the context of the possible stratosphere/mesosphere/ionosphere coupling.     

Long‐term photometry of three active red giants in close binary systems: V2253 Oph,IT Com and IS Vir

We present and analyze long‐term optical photometric measurements of the three active stars V2253 Oph, IT Com and IS Vir. All three systems are single‐lined spectroscopic binaries with an early K giant as primary component but in different stages of orbital‐rotational synchronization. Our photometry is supplemented by 2MASS and WISE near‐IR and mid‐IR magnitudes and then used to obtain more accurate effective temperatures and extinctions. For V2253 Oph and IT Com, we found their spectral energy distributions consistent with pure photospheric emission. For IS Vir, we detect a marginal mid‐IR excess which hints towards a dust disk. The orbital and rotational planes of IT Com appear tobe coplanar, contrary to previous findings in the literature. We apply a multiple frequency analysis technique to determine photometric periods, and possibly changes of periods, ranging from days to decades. New rotational periods of 21.55±0.03 d, 65.1±0.3 d, and 23.50±0.04 d were determined for V2253 Oph, IT Com, and IS Vir, respectively. Splitting of these periods led to tentative detections of differential surface rotations of δP/P ≈ 0.02 for V2253 Oph and 0.07 for IT Com. Using a time‐frequency technique based on short‐term Fourier transforms we present evidence of cyclic light variations of length ≈ 10 yr for V2253 Oph and 5–6 yr for IS Vir. A single flip‐flop event has been observed for IT Com of duration 2–3 yr. Its exchange of the dominant active longitude had happened close to a time of periastron passage, suggesting some response of the magnetic activity from the orbital dynamics. The 21.55‐d rotational modulation of V2253 Oph showed phase coherence also with the orbital period, which is 15 times longer than the rotational period, thus also indicating a tidal feedback with the stellar magnetic activity. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spectra and variability of a sample of polar sources

The results of 154 daily observations of 33 sources in the declination interval 70°–84.° 5 (J 2000), made in 2009, are reported. Four objects are found to exhibit variations with typical time scales ranging from 8 to 35 days and modulation indices 2.1–5.6%. The spectra of the variable components are obtained. The same sources were observed again after six months, in 2010, for a duration of up to 55 days. The 11.1 GHz flux densities of one third of the sources varied by more than 10% between the two data sets.     

The dwarf nova WX Cet: a clone of WZ Sge or a pretender?

We present charge-coupled device (CCD) photometry of WX Cet in quiescence. Apart from the flickering which is characteristic to cataclysmic binaries, our data also reveal the periodic modulation of the brightness of WX Cet with a period of 0.058 27±0.000 02, with further restrictions on it. This period is derived from our data alone, but it agrees, within errors, with the spectroscopic period of Thorstensen et al. Hence the most likely spectroscopic and photometric periods are identical and correspond to the orbital motion. Our data were obtained during two observational seasons in 1990 and 1998. In the former season we observed what appears to be the ordinary orbital hump. However, in 1998 we observed both single- and double-hump orbital modulation. Several authors have noted the similarities between WX Cet and WZ Sge: the occurrence of rare, large-amplitude, long-lasting superoutbursts with superhump modulation, and the slow rate of decline. Both stars have similar, extremely short orbital periods. We recorded further similarities: the orbital modulation of brightness, with switching between single- and double-hump light curves. Patterson noticed that superhump excesses in WX Cet and WZ Sge are different in that they may fall on different evolutionary branches (pre-period minimum versus post-period minimum). We demonstrate that the masses of their white dwarfs differ by a factor of two.     

Magnetically active stars in Taurus-Auriga: Photometric variability and basic physical parameters

We have analyzed homogeneous long-term photometric observations of 28 well-known weakline T Tauri stars (WTTS) and 60 WTTS candidates detected by the ROSAT observatory toward the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region. We show that 22 known WTTS and 39 WTTS candidates exhibit periodic light variations that are attributable to the phenomenon of spotted rotational modulation. The rotation periods of these spotted stars lie within the range from 0.5 to 10 days. Significant differences between the long-term photometric behaviors of known WTTS and WTTS candidates have been found. We have calculated accurate luminosities, radii, masses, and ages for 74 stars. About 33% of the sample of WTTS candidates have ages younger than 10 Myr. The mean distance to 24 WTTS candidates with reliable estimates of their radii is shown to be 143 ± 26 pc. This is in excellent agreement with the adopted distance to the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region.     

First lightcurve observations and rotation of minor planet 127 Johanna

Photoelectric observations of the minor planet 127 Johanna were made in the UBV (RI)_c photometric system during its apparition in 1991 at the Piszkéstetõ mountain-station of Konkoly Observatory from August to December, when it showed a brightness variation with an amplitude of about 0.2 magnitude. The derived H, G values in the two-parameter magnitude system in V are 8.459 ± 0.013 and 0.114 ± 0.020, respectively. The determined V linear phase coefficient is of 0.036 ± 0.001 (mag/deg). The value of G and the observed values of color indices (U-B), (B-V) confirm that this asteroid belongs to the C taxonomic class as it was previously classified. The estimated effective diameter is between 96 and 118 km if the assumed V geometric albedo is of 0.06 and 0.04, respectively. The available data suggest a pure principal axis rotation mode. The mean synodic rotational period of the asteroid 127 Johanna is 6.94 ± 0.29 h. The uncertainty is due to the changing of aspect geometry. This value of the synodic rotation period means that this asteroid has an intermediate rotation period. The sense of rotation is prograde as indicated by the temporal evolution of the time derivative of the ecliptic longitude of the phase angle bisector as well as with the increasing synodic period of rotation during the same interval (October/November and December in 1991). The composite lightcurves created for short arc time data reveal structures with breakings and linear portions in V; this fact and the Fourier coefficients indicate a probably irregularly shaped body. There are slight indications that the B-V is redder close to the brightness minimum and the V-R_c is redder at the brightness maximum, and the periodic behavior cannot be proved in V-I_c. The less full rotational phase coverage of the observational data is insufficient to construct a shape model. The accurate pole orientation obviously cannot be determined using one opposition lightcurve data only. Further observations are required to get a more accurate knowledge of the physical parameters of this asteroid. For this purpose, a good opportunity to perform observations arose in December 1996, when this asteroid was in opposition at the northernmost declination.     

The rotational and physical properties of the Centaur (32532) 2001 PT13

We present observations of the Centaur (32532) 2001 PT₁₃ taken between September 2000 and December 2000. A multi-wavelength lightcurve was assembled from V-, R- and J-band photometry measurements. Analysis of the lightcurve indicates that there are two peaks of slightly different brightness, a rotation period of 0.34741±0.00005 day, and a maximum photometric range of 0.18 mag. We obtained VRJHK colors (V-R=0.50±0.01, V-J=1.69±0.02, V-H=2.19±0.04, and V-K=2.30±0.04) that are consistent with the grey KBO/Centaur population. The V-R color shows no variation as a function of rotational phase; however, we cannot exclude the possibility that rotational variations are present in the R-J color. Assuming a 4% albedo, we estimate that 2001 PT₁₃ has an effective diameter of 90 km and a minimum axial ratio a/b of 1.18. We find no evidence of a coma and place an upper limit of 15 g s⁻¹ on the dust production rate.     

57-second oscillations in Nova Centauri 1986 (V842 Cen)

High-speed photometry in 2008 shows that the light curve of V842 Cen possesses a coherent modulation at 56.825 s, with sidebands at 56.598 and 57.054 s. These have appeared since this nova remnant was observed in 2000 and 2002. We deduce that the dominant signal is the rotation period of the white dwarf primary and the sidebands are caused by reprocessing from a surface moving with an orbital period of 3.94 h. Thus, V842 Cen is an intermediate polar (IP) of the DQ Herculis subclass, is the fastest rotating white dwarf among the IPs and is the third fastest known in a cataclysmic variable. As in other IPs, we see no dwarf nova oscillations, but there are often quasi-periodic oscillations in the range 350–1500 s. There is a strong brightness modulation with a period of 3.78 h, which we attribute to negative superhumps, and there is an even stronger signal at 2.886 h which is of unknown origin but is probably a further example of that seen in GW Lib and some other systems. We used the Swift satellite to observe V842 Cen in the ultraviolet and in X-rays, although no periodic modulation was detected in the short observations. The X-ray luminosity of this object appears to be much lower than that of other IPs in which the accretion region is directly visible.     

The development and structure of bright active regions at 2.8 cm

The development of three intense active centers during their appearance on the solar disk is examined using high resolution observations at 2.8 cm. Each region shows a very bright component with brightness temperature > 10⁶ K and size smaller than 20.The development of the bright components have been investigated on different time scales. Intensity fluctuations on a time scale of minutes are within the instrumental accuracy while the evolution over periods of days shows a variation of the flux density up to 30–40% per day.The problem of the bright cores height is discussed. Heights within 10 × 10³ and 40 × 10³ km are found using their apparent displacement on the disk.     

Change in the activity character of the coronae of low-mass stars of various spectral types

We study the dependence of the coronal activity index on the stellar rotation velocity. This question has been considered previously for 824 late-type stars on the basis of a consolidated catalogue of soft X-ray fluxes. We carry out a more refined analysis separately for G, K, and M dwarfs. Two modes of activity are clearly identified in them. The first is the saturation mode, is characteristic of young stars, and is virtually independent of their rotation. The second refers to the solar-type activity whose level strongly depends on the rotation period. We show that the transition from one mode to the other occurs at rotation periods of 1.1, 3.3, and 7.2 days for stars of spectral types G2, K4, and M3, respectively. In light of the discovery of superflares on G and K stars from the Kepler spacecraft, the question arises as to what distinguishes these objects from the remaining active late-type stars. We analyze the positions of superflare stars relative to the remaining stars observed by Kepler on the “amplitude of rotational brightness modulation (ARM)—rotation period” diagram. The ARM reflects the relative spots area on a star and characterizes the activity level in the entire atmosphere. G and K superflare stars are shown to be basically rapidly rotating young objects, but some of them belong to the stars with the solar type of activity.