Optical photometry of GM Cep: evidence for UXor type of variability

Results from optical photometric observations of the pre-main sequence star GM Cep are reported in the paper. The star is located in the field of the young open cluster Trumpler 37—a region of active star formation. GM Cep shows a large amplitude rapid variability interpreted as a possible outburst from EXor type in previous studies. Our data from BVRI CCD photometric observations of the star are collected from June 2008 to February 2011 in Rozhen observatory (Bulgaria) and Skinakas observatory (Crete, Greece). A sequence of sixteen comparison stars in the field of GM Cep was calibrated in the BVRI bands. Our photometric data for a 2.5 years period show a high amplitude variations ($\Delta V \sim2\mbox{$\Delta V \sim2\mbox{) and two deep minimums in brightness are observed. The analysis of collected multicolor photometric data shows the typical of UX Ori variables a color reversal during the minimums in brightness. On the other hand, high amplitude rapid variations in brightness typical for the Classical T Tauri stars also present on the light curve of GM Cep. Comparing our results with results published in the literature, we conclude that changes in brightness are caused by superposition of both: (1) magnetically channeled accretion from the circumstellar disk, and (2) occultation from circumstellar clouds of dust or from features of a circumstellar disk.     

Variability of the period of the star DU Monocerotis,an RR Lyrae variable with the Blazhko effect

In 2012–2014 we obtained 3641 CCD frames of the fields of the RR Lyrae (AB subtype, P = 0.583 days) variable DU Mon with BV I _c filters using the 76-cm telescope of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and the 1-m telescopes of the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT). Our observations confirmed the presence of the Blazhko effect that we suspected previously and allowed its period to be determined, \({P_{Bl}} = 60_ \cdot ^d52 \pm 0_ \cdot ^d03\). Using all of the available observations, we constructed an O–C diagram spanning a time interval of 86 years that revealed at least one abrupt change in the pulsation period (a decrease by 15.26 s).     

近地天体望远镜配置大阵面CCD后轴外像差的校正

近地天体望远镜由SI600S (4k×4k) CCD升级为STA1600LN (10k×10k) CCD后,观测视场由4 deg~2增至9 deg~2,可用视场直径由望远镜原设计视场的3.14°增至4.28°,超出原设计36%,同时作为CCD密封窗的场镜增厚8.75 mm;两个因素导致10k CCD成像的轴外像差增大,视场外围的像质变差.依据望远镜原始设计光学参数,借助光学设计软件ZEMAX进行像质改善尝试,最终选择在10k CCD场镜前插入一个由两片球面透镜组成的场改正镜,使10k CCD的轴外像差得到校正.同时还提出了一个进一步拓展近地天体望远镜观测能力的设计方案,将望远镜的可用视场从目前的14.38 deg~2扩展至28.27 deg~2.     

Optical monitoring of the central region of the globular cluster M 15 = NGC 7078: New variable stars

We obtained a series of more than two hundred R-band CCD images for the crowded central (115″×77″) region of the metal-poor globular cluster M 15 with an angular resolution of \(0\mathop .\limits^{''} 5 - 0\mathop .\limits^{''} 9\) in most images. Optimal image subtraction was used to identify variable stars. Brightness variations were found in 83 stars, 55 of which were identified with known cluster variables and the remaining 28 are candidates for new variables. Two of them are most likely SX Phe variables. The variability type of two more stars is uncertain. The remaining stars were tentatively classified as RR Lyrae variables. A preliminary analysis of published data and our results shows that the characteristics of RR Lyrae variables in the densest part (r<35″) of the cluster probably change. More specifically, the maximum of the period distribution of first-and second-overtone (RR1, RR2) pulsating stars shifts toward shorter periods; i.e., there is an increase in the fraction of stars pulsating with periods \( < 0\mathop .\limits^d 3\) and a deficiency of stars with \(0\mathop .\limits^d 35 - 0\mathop .\limits^d 40\). The ratio of the number of these short-period RR Lyrae variables to the number of fundamental-tone (RR0) pulsating variables changes appreciably. We found and corrected the error of transforming the coordinates of variables V128–155 in M 15 into the coordinate system used in the catalog of variable stars in globular clusters.     

Photometric Study of Comet C/2014 S2 (PANSTARRS) After the Perihelion

We analyzed the BVR photometry of comet C/2014 S2 obtained between March and June 2016, in observatories installed in Europe and the United States. Using the Lomb–Scargle periodogram, we found that the most probable periodicity deduced from the V-band magnitudes is 2.70 days, suggesting that it is the period of rotation of the nucleus of this comet is \(2.70 \pm 0.07\) days or \(68 \pm 2\) h, with a peak-to-peak light curve amplitude of \(0.4 \pm 0.1\) magnitudes. We verify that the absolute magnitude \(H_0\) and the activity index n differ from each other when they are calculated from the visual or CCD magnitudes. Considering the absolute magnitude \(H_{v0}=\) 6.0, obtained from visual magnitudes, we estimate that the lower limit of nuclear radius is 1.3 km. Analyzing the variation of magnitude R with the photometric aperture, we suggest that the coma of this object was in steady-state within the time limits of our observational interval. The coma had a mean color index B–V\(=0.79\pm 0.22\), which is typical of active comets. Additionally, we have shown that the use of a variable photometric aperture, linked to geocentric distance, is probably unnecessary for the comet PANSTARRS .     

温度等因素对CCD数据采集电路性能影响的研究

CCD以其诸多优点，在天文观测中得到广泛应用。为了提高CCD性能，在实验室条件下，对国家天文台已有的CCD控制系统BIRAC，进行了温度对CCD采集电路性能影响的实验，以及板上A／D转换器误差校正，参考电压对噪声影响的研究。根据实验数据，得到上述各因素对CCD最终输出结果的影响程度，并提出与之对应的解决和优化方法。     

Correcting CCD photometry of stars for seeing effects

Systematic variability in stellar magnitudes, as derived from profile fitting to CCD images, may in some instances be due to variable seeing. It is suggested that this happens in cases where the stars are unresolved pairs, typically with sub-arcsecond separation between the components. It is shown that the fitting of suitable Generalised Additive Models to time series photometry can disentangle intrinsic stellar variability and seeing-induced brightness changes. It is possible that there will be a fixed seeing response associated with a given star which exhibits the effect: estimation of this response from several long photometric runs is demonstrated.     

The Ursa Major supercluster of galaxies: I. The luminosity function

Catalogs of bright galaxies in the central regions of 11 clusters in the Ursa Major supercluster are presented. Absolute and relative coordinates and total B and R magnitudes are given for each galaxy. Plates taken with the 2-m Tautenburg Observatory telescope and CCD images obtained with the 6-m and 1-m SAO telescopes are used. The luminosity functions (LFs) for galaxies in the cluster nuclei (3 Mpc×3 Mpc) and the composite LF for the supercluster are constructed. The composite LF is well fitted by a Schechter function with $M_B^ * = - 20\mathop .\limits^m 91$ , α=?1.02 and with $M_R^ * = - 22\mathop .\limits^m 39$ , α=?1.06. A comparison with the LFs of field galaxies and of various samples of clusters and superclusters shows that the Ursa Major supercluster have LF parameters characteristic of the field and, thus, differ from those of the Corona Borealis supercluster, which is apparently at a later stage of dynamical evolution.     

CCD联合平差方法及其初步实例检验

在常规照相天体测量工作中 ,对暗天体的定位是采用逐级定标星过渡的方法实现的。由于星表系统差和局部差的存在 ,最终定位结果可能包含难以把握的误差积累。在CCD小视场观测情况下时常难以找到足够数量的定标星。鉴于此 ,推导了CCD观测联合平差方法的严格矢量表达式 ,以期通过共同星的过渡 ,实现大天区统一平差。原理上此方法可实现相对于河外天体的定位 ,以削弱星表系统差和局部差对定位结果的影响。讨论了CCD联合平差方法实现中的问题 ,包括底片常数模型选择、切点位置改正、共同星的较差改正和法方程解算方法等 ,并分析了具体的处理措施。用实例初步检验了CCD联合平差方法的效果 ,表明通过对多张CCD观测的联合平差 ,可以削弱单张CCD观测参考星数目过少、单张CCD观测参考星分布不均、个别参考星存在位置偏差和局部区域参考星存在系统性位置偏差等不利因素对归算结果的影响 ,进而达到扩大视场和提高归算精度的目的     

CCD <Emphasis Type="Italic">UBV</Emphasis> photometric study of five open clusters—Dolidze 36, NGC 6728, NGC 6800, NGC 7209, and Platais 1

In this study, we present CCD UBV photometry of poorly studied open star clusters, Dolidze 36, NGC 6728, NGC 6800, NGC 7209, and Platais 1, located in the first and second Galactic quadrants. Observations were obtained with T100, the 1-m telescope of the TÜB?TAK National Observatory. Using photometric data, we determined several astrophysical parameters such as reddening, distance, metallicity and ages and from them, initial mass functions, integrated magnitudes and colours. We took into account the proper motions of the observed stars to calculate the membership probabilities. The colour excesses and metallicities were determined independently using two-colour diagrams. After obtaining the colour excesses of the clusters Dolidze 36, NGC 6728, NGC 6800, NGC 7209, and Platais 1 as \(0.19\pm0.06\), \(0.15\pm0.05\), \(0.32\pm0.05\), \(0.12\pm 0.04\), and \(0.43\pm0.06\) mag, respectively, the metallicities are found to be \(0.00\pm0.09\), \(0.02\pm0.11\), \(0.03\pm0.07\), \(0.01\pm0.08\), and \(0.01\pm0.08\) dex, respectively. Furthermore, using these parameters, distance moduli and age of the clusters were also calculated from colour-magnitude diagrams simultaneously using PARSEC theoretical models. The distances to the clusters Dolidze 36, NGC 6728, NGC 6800, NGC 7209, and Platais 1 are \(1050\pm90\), \(1610\pm190\), \(1210\pm150\), \(1060\pm90\), and \(1710\pm250\) pc, respectively, while corresponding ages are \(400\pm100\), \(750\pm150\), \(400\pm100\), \(600\pm100\), and \(175\pm50\) Myr, respectively. Our results are compatible with those found in previous studies. The mass function of each cluster is derived. The slopes of the mass functions of the open clusters range from 1.31 to 1.58, which are in agreement with Salpeter’s initial mass function. We also found integrated absolute magnitudes varying from ?4.08 to ?3.40 for the clusters.     

厚片CCD标准谱线证认及光栅转角测定

自1987年以来,云台库特摄谱仪改装使用了CCD相机,将可测波段扩展到红外。本文经实测证认了适用于扩展后的7000—11700埃的Fe-Ar比较光源的标准光谱谱线表。并精确测定了仪器改装后的光栅转角计算公式,还讨论了仪器综合效率、光栅定位精度、滤光片的使用等问题。     

The Preflight Photometric Calibration of the Extreme-Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope EIT

This paper presents the preflight photometric calibration of the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). The EIT consists of a Ritchey–Chrétien telescope with multilayer coatings applied to four quadrants of the primary and secondary mirrors, several filters and a backside-thinned CCD detector. The quadrants of the EIT optics were used to observe the Sun in 4 wavelength bands that peak near 171, 195, 284, and 304 Å. Before the launch of SOHO, the EIT mirror reflectivities, the filter transmissivities and the CCD quantum efficiency were measured and these values are described here. The instrumental throughput in terms of an effective area is presented for each of the various mirror quadrant and filter wheel combinations. The response to a coronal plasma as a function of temperature is also determined and the expected count rates are compared to the count rates observed in a coronal hole, the quiet Sun and an active region.     

低纬子午环CCD芯片跟踪单片机控制系统

本文提出了低纬子午环 (LLMC)配备CCD后的CCD芯片跟踪运动的控制方案 ,讨论了CCD芯片的预置位置及跟踪扫描速度的计算问题 ,并介绍了实现这一控制方案的系统硬件构成及软件设计方法。     

Charge coupled devices (CCDs) in X-ray astronomy

The application of CCDs to X-ray imaging and spectroscopy for astronomy is described. The requirements which differ markedly from those of traditional optical applications are highlighted. Results of recent research programs to optimize CCD X-ray response are presented. It is shown that very high quantum efficiencies and Fano noise limited energy resolutions can be obtained. A number of issues related to the practical implementation of future instruments are reviewed.     

A Performance Study of the CCD Cameras of the Joint Laboratory of Optical Astronomy

A performance study of several CCD cameras of the Chinese Joint Laboratory of Optical Astronomy (CJLOA) is presented. The main results are: 1) We propose a modified classical method to analyse the linearity of CCD cameras. This method is more sensitive and accurate as well as more intuitive, especially in measuring around the 0.1%-0.2% range of nonlinearity. 2) To illustrate the advantage of the method, the linearity performance of the CCD cameras at CJLOA has been measured and analysed. 3) For the CCD systems tested, there is no unique formula to represent the correlation over the entire CCD frame between the deviation from linearity and the pixel value, i.e., different pixel has different correction even though their pixel values are the same. 4) For the BFOSC (BAO Faint Object Spectrograph Camera) Loral CCD camera and the Tek CCD camera at the 1.56-m reflector, blooming (bleeding) happens long before saturation, and we suspect whether it could have resulted from the charge transfer efficiency (CTE) n     

施密特望远镜CCD BVRI测光系统的初步研究

本文利用Thomson CCD,在北京天文台兴隆站施密特望远镜上进行BVRI四色测光,得到了该测光系统的颜色转换方程,并对所得结果进行了分析探讨。同时论证了BAO-CCD系统在施密特望远镜上用于测光的可行性。     

天王星卫星位置可视化软件设计

为了满足大行星卫星的高精度CCD位置观测与运动理论研究工作的需要 ,采用天王星 5颗主要卫星摄动理论模型 (Gust86 )作为核心 ,设计了一个天王星视位置可视化软件。该软件具有卫星证认 ,最佳观测时段选取 ,精确模拟卫星视运动和实时引导CCD精密定位观测等功能。     

天文CCD片内放大器的噪声特性及其抑制方法

分析了低光度天文应用时CCD器件的主要噪声源的噪声特性和三种典型CCD读出信号处理方式的噪声抑制效果;提出了天文CCD读出信号的相关多次采样(CMS)处理新方法,并分析了四次采样抑制CCD读出噪声的实验结果。     

低纬子午环配备科学CCD的必要性和可行性

从基本天体测量学科的发展趋势和低纬子午环的课题目标出发，叙述了该仪器配备科学ＣＣＤ的必要性和对仪器性能的相应要求，并根据仪器的各种误差的测定方法和测定精度的分析，论述了该仪器配备科学ＣＣＤ后对天体位置作高精度绝对测定的可行性，文中还提出了对配备科学ＣＣＤ的总体要求。     

CCD离焦对现代日晕光度计测量结果影响分析

现代日晕光度计（Sky Brightness Monitor,SBM）是一种测定天文址点白昼大气参量的精密仪器,它已成为国际上太阳选址工作的重要设备之一。与国外同类设备不同的是,云南天文台研制的现代日晕光度计上的CCD相机系统可以被简单拆卸并保存,有利于选址踏勘阶段的携带和运输。为获取组装现代日晕光度计设备时可能存在的CCD离焦所导致的测量误差,于2011年6月在新疆奇台县和宁夏石嘴山市利用当地稳定的日照条件做了多次CCD大离焦量快变试验。统计结果表明,现代日晕光度计的CCD显著离焦可造成的相对测量误差约在6％之内。在正常情况下,即观测者基本按照物镜旋筒刻线标志在望远镜上安装CCD设备时,日晕测量的相对误差一般远小于6％。因此认为这种系统误差对优良址点的测量影响基本可以忽略。