Probing the circumstellar structure of Herbig Ae/Be stars

We present Hα spectropolarimetry observations of a sample of 23 Herbig Ae/Be stars. A change in the linear polarization across Hα is detected in a large fraction of the objects, which indicates that the regions around Herbig stars are flattened (disc-like) on small scales. A second outcome of our study is that the spectropolarimetric signatures for the Ae stars differ from those of the Herbig Be stars, with characteristics changing from depolarization across Hα in the Herbig Be stars, to line polarizations in the Ae group. The frequency of depolarizations detected in the Herbig Be stars (seven out of 12) is particularly interesting as, by analogy with classical Be stars, it may be the best evidence to date that the higher-mass Herbig stars are surrounded by flattened structures. For the Herbig Ae stars, nine out of 11 show a line polarization effect that can be understood in terms of a compact Hα emission that is itself polarized by a rotating disc-like circumstellar medium. The spectropolarimetric difference between the Herbig Be and Ae stars may be the first indication that there is a transition in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram from magnetic accretion at spectral type A to disc accretion at spectral type B. Alternatively, the interior polarized line emission apparent in the Ae stars may be masked in the Herbig Be stars owing to their higher levels of Hα emission.     

The stellar composition of the star formation region CMa R1 – II. Spectroscopic and photometric observations of nine young stars

We present new high- and low-resolution spectroscopic and photometric data of nine members of the young association CMa R1. All the stars have circumstellar dust at some distance, as could be expected from their association with reflection nebulosity. Four stars (HD 52721, HD 53367, LkH α  220 and LkH α  218) show H α emission and we argue that they are Herbig Be stars with discs. Our photometric and spectroscopic observations of these stars reveal new characteristics of their variability. We present first interpretations of the variability of HD 52721, HD 53367 and the two LkH α stars in terms of a partially eclipsing binary, a magnetic activity cycle and circumstellar dust variations, respectively. The remaining five stars show no clear indications of H α emission in their spectra, although their spectral types and ages are comparable with those of HD 52721 and HD 53367. This indicates that the presence of a disc around a star in CMa R1 may depend on the environment of the star. In particular we find that all H α emission stars are located at or outside the arc-shaped border of the H  ii region, which suggests that the stars inside the arc have lost their discs through evaporation by UV photons from nearby O stars, or from the nearby (<25 pc) supernova, about 1 Myr ago.     

Two-Micron All-Sky Survey J01542930+0053266: a new eclipsing M dwarf binary system

We report on Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) J01542930+0053266, a faint eclipsing system composed of two M dwarfs. The variability of this system was originally discovered during a pilot study of the 2MASS Calibration Point Source Working Data base. Additional photometry from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey yields an eight-passband light curve from which we derive an orbital period of  2.639 0157 ± 0.000 0016  d. Spectroscopic followup confirms our photometric classification of the system, which is likely composed of M0 and M1 dwarfs. Radial velocity measurements allow us to derive the masses  (M₁= 0.66 ± 0.03 M_⊙; M₂= 0.62 ± 0.03 M_⊙)  and radii  (R₁= 0.64 ± 0.08 R_⊙; R₂= 0.61 ± 0.09 R_⊙)  of the components, which are consistent with empirical mass–radius relationships for low-mass stars in binary systems. We perform Monte Carlo simulations of the light curves which allow us to uncover complicated degeneracies between the system parameters. Both stars show evidence of Hα emission, something not common in early-type M dwarfs. This suggests that binarity may influence the magnetic activity properties of low-mass stars; activity in the binary may persist long after the dynamos in their isolated counterparts have decayed, yielding a new potential foreground of flaring activity for next generation variability surveys.     

Hα long-term monitoring of the Be star β Cephei Aa

Papers published in recent years have contributed to resolve the enigma of the hypothetical Be nature of the hot pulsating star β Cephei. This star shows variable emission in the Hα line, typical for Be stars, but its projected rotational velocity is very much lower than the critical limit, contrary to what is expected for a typical Be star. The emission has been attributed to the secondary component of the β Cephei spectroscopic binary system.
In this paper, using both our and archived spectra, we attempt to recover the Hα profile of the secondary component and to analyse its behaviour with time for a long period. To accomplish this task, we first derive the atmospheric parameters of the primary,   T _eff= 24 000 ± 250 K  and  log  g = 3.91 ± 0.10  , and then we use these values to compute its synthetic Hα profile, and finally we reconstruct the secondary's profile disentangling the observed one.
The secondary's Hα profile shows the typical two-peak emission of a Be star with a strong variability. We also analysed the behaviour versus time of some linewidth parameters: equivalent width, ratio of blue to red peak intensities, full width at half-maximum, peak separation and radial velocity of the central depression.
The projected rotational velocity  ( v sin  i )  of the secondary and the dimension of the equatorial surrounding disc have also been estimated.     

Fast variability of the outflow in the Z CMa system

High-resolution, time-resolved spectroscopic observations of Z CMa carried out on 1997 January 14–17 are presented. Large night-to-night and hour-to-hour variations in Hα, Hβ and Na i D P Cygni absorptions, as well as an Hβ emission peak, were observed. Variations in the red wings of the hydrogen emission lines were also detected. The high-velocity wide-emission component on the blue side of Hα appeared on January 17. The observations are discussed in the framework of current wind models.     

A search for variable stars in the globular cluster M3

We describe here the results of a photometric time-sequence survey of the globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272), in a search for contact and detached eclipsing binary stars. We have discovered only one likely eclipsing binary and one SX Phe-type star in spite of monitoring 4077 stars with V  < 20.0 and observing 25 blue straggler stars (BSS). The newly identified SX Phe star, V237, shows a light curve with a variable amplitude. Variable V238 shows variability either with a period of 0.49 d or with a period of 0.25 d. On the cluster colour–magnitude diagram, the variable occupies a position a few hundredths of a magnitude to the blue of the base of the red giant branch. V238 is a likely descendant of a binary blue straggler.   As a side result we obtained high-quality data for 42 of the previously known RR Lyrae variables, including 33 of Bailey type ab, seven type c and two double-mode pulsators. We used equations that relate the physical properties of RRc stars to their pulsation periods and Fourier parameters in order to derive masses, luminosities, temperatures and helium parameters for five of the RRc stars. We also tested equations that relate the [Fe/H], M _V and temperature of RRab stars to pulsation period and Fourier parameters. We derived [Fe/H]= −1.42 in good agreement with spectroscopic determinations.     

Spectroscopic and photometric observations of the eclipsing star UV Leo

High-resolution spectroscopic observations around the Hα line and BVRI photometry of the eclipsing short-period RS CVn star UV Leo are presented. The simultaneous light-curve solution and radial velocity-curve solution led to the following values of the global parameters of the binary: temperatures   T ₁= 6000 ± 100 K  and   T ₂= 5970 ± 20 K  ; masses   M ₁= 0.976 ± 0.067 M_⊙  and   M ₂= 0.931 ± 0.052 M_⊙  ; separation   a = 3.716 ± 0.048 R_⊙  ; orbital inclination     ; radii   R ₁= 1.115 ± 0.052 R_⊙  and   R ₂= 1.078 ± 0.051 R_⊙  ; equatorial velocities   V ₁= 98.8 ± 2.3 km s⁻¹  and   V ₂= 89.6 ± 2.7 km s⁻¹  . These results lead to the conclusion that the two components of UV Leo are slightly oversized for their masses and lie within the main-sequence band on the mass–radius diagram, close to the isochrone 9 × 10¹⁰ yr.     

First Results from ROTES: The ROtse Telescope Eclipsing-binary Survey

Detached eclipsing binaries (EBs) provide a unique opportunity to carry out stringent tests on stellar evolution models. The value of EBs is enhanced by their membership in open clusters, but the number of known systems is still very scarce. We have started a systematic search for late-type EBs in the nearest open clusters with the fully robotic ROTSE3b telescope at McDonald Observatory in West Texas. On our first campaigns on the Hyades and Collinder 359, we have identified a number of previously unknown eclipsing binary candidates. Some of these stars have been selected for spectroscopic and photometric follow-up. Here we present details of the observing and reduction strategy as well as the first results of this ongoing survey.     

New nearby stars among bright APM high proper motion stars

As part of a new southern sky survey for faint high proper motion stars based on Automatic Plate Measuring (APM) measurements of UK Schmidt Telescope plates, we have found a large number of previously unknown brighter objects. Spectroscopic follow-up observations with the European Southern Observatory New Technology Telescope of 15 of these new, relatively bright     high proper motion stars     show one-third of them to be nearby     . Among the nearby stars is an M6 dwarf with strong emission lines at a spectroscopic distance of about 11 pc and an M4 dwarf at about 13 pc. Coupled with earlier South African Astronomical Observatory spectroscopic observations of three similar bright high proper motion stars, the success rate of finding nearby stars     is about 45 per cent. All newly discovered nearby stars have disc kinematics confirmed by radial velocity measurements from our spectra. In addition there are several high-velocity stars with halo kinematics in the sample, mainly subdwarfs, at about 60 to 110 pc distance. These high-velocity stars are interesting targets for further study of the Galactic escape velocity. One of the detected nearby high proper motion stars was formerly thought to be an M giant in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The spectrum of one M3 star shows a strong blue continuum, which is likely to signify the presence of a hot companion. Spectroscopic follow-up observations of high proper motion stars are shown to be an effective tool in the search for the missing stars in the Solar neighbourhood. Candidates for more extensive trigonometric parallax determination can be selected on the basis of the spectroscopic distance estimates.     

Physical parameters of the O6.5V+B1V eclipsing binary system LS 1135

The 'All Sky Automated Survey' (ASAS) photometric observations of LS 1135, an O-type single-lined binary (SB1) system with an orbital period of 2.7 d, show that the system is also eclipsing performing a numerical model of this binary based on the Wilson–Devinney method. We obtained an orbital inclination     . With this value of the inclination, we deduced masses   M ₁∼ 30 ± 1 M_⊙  and   M ₂∼ 9 ± 1 M_⊙  , and radii   R ₁∼ 12 ± 1 R_⊙  and   R ₂∼ 5 ± 1 R_⊙  for primary and secondary components, respectively. Both the components are well inside their respective Roche lobes. Fixing the T _eff of the primary to the value corresponding to its spectral type (O6.5V), the T _eff obtained for the secondary component corresponds approximately to a spectral type of B1V. The mass ratio   M ₂/ M ₁∼ 0.3  is among the lowest known values for spectroscopic binaries with O-type components.     

Long-term variability of the Be/X-ray binary A 0535+26 – I. Optical and UV spectroscopy

The results of a 7-yr optical and UV spectroscopic study of the high-mass X-ray binary A 0535+26 are presented. It was found that throughout the period of the observations the line profile of Hα showed considerable variability. A correlation between the equivalent width of Hα and both V -band magnitude and ( B − V ) colour excess was observed, albeit with considerable scatter present in the data set. A giant X-ray flare in early 1994 was accompanied by a fading in optical and infrared photometric bands, and a reduction in the equivalent width of Hα. When the star was observed in 1994 September, it was found to have developed a double-peaked Hα profile, and further observations saw the V/R peak ratio vary cyclically, with a period of ∼1 yr. If this is identified as a global one-armed oscillation, it becomes the shortest period ever observed in a Be star. The accompanying photometric and spectroscopic observations provide a test of any theory seeking to describe the onset and behaviour of such a density wave.     

Finding the most variable stars in the Orion Belt with the All Sky Automated Survey

We look for high‐amplitude variable young stars in the open clusters and associations of the Orion Belt. We use public data from the ASAS‐3 Photometric V ‐band Catalogue of the All Sky Automated Survey, infrared photometry from the 2MASS and IRAS catalogues, proper motions, and the Aladin sky atlas to obtain a list of the most variable stars in a survey area of side 5° centred on the bright star Alnilam (ε Ori) in the centre of the Orion Belt. We identify 32 highly variable stars, of which 16 had not been reported to vary before. They are mostly variable young stars and candidates (16) and background giants (8), but there are also field cataclysmic variables, contact binaries, and eclipsing binary candidates. Of the young stars, which typically are active Herbig Ae/Be and T Tauri stars with Hα emission and infrared flux excess, we discover four new variables and confirm the variability status of another two. Some of them belong to the well known σ Orionis cluster. Besides, six of the eight giants are new variables, and three are new periodic variables (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Eclipsing binaries in the All Sky Automated Survey catalogue

The All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) is a long-term project to monitor bright variable stars over the whole sky. It has discovered 50 099 variables brighter than   V < 14 mag  south of declination +28°, and among them 11 076 eclipsing binaries. We present a preliminary analysis of 5384 contact, 2949 semi-detached, and 2743 detached systems. The statistics of the distribution provides a qualitative confirmation of decades old idea of Flannery and Lucy that the W UMa-type binaries evolve through a series of relaxation oscillations: the ASAS finds comparable number of contact and semi-detached systems.
The most surprising result is a very small number of detached eclipsing binaries with periods   P < 1 d  , the systems believed to be the progenitors of the W UMa stars. As many (perhaps all) contact binaries have companions, there is a possibility that some were formed in a Kozai cycle, as suggested by Eggleton and his associates.     

A ROSAT observation of the eclipsing binary system XY UMa

The short-period, eclipsing, magnetically active binary system XY UMa has been observed over several orbital cycles at X-ray wavelengths. The X-ray light curves vary owing to obvious flares and other lower level activity on time-scales of days. These data caution against deducing coronal structure on the basis of a single orbit of X-ray data. In contrast to similar binary systems, XY UMa shows no significant X-ray eclipses. This is interpreted as evidence for either extended (> 1  R _⊙) coronae or a compact corona at high, uneclipsed latitudes on the primary star. The extended coronal scenario is favoured by some observational features of other systems such as extended radio coronae, long-duration X-ray flares and cool prominences, but unfavoured by others such as high coronal densities from EUV spectroscopy. A high-latitude compact corona might be associated with the high-latitude starspots seen in many active stars. Nearly simultaneous optical light curves suggest that some equatorial spots were present at the time of the X-ray observations, but fewer than in previous or subsequent years and that high-latitude spots must also be present. It is speculated that the lack of X-ray eclipses and dearth of equatorial, compact coronal regions are associated with a minimum in XY UMa's magnetic activity cycle.     

Spectroscopic survey of field Type II Cepheids

A sample of relatively bright, short- and intermediate-period ( P =1–10 d) Type II Cepheids in the Galactic field have been observed spectroscopically with an intermediate-resolution (λ/Δλ=11000) spectrograph. The wavelength region was 6500–6700 Å, including the Hα line and some photospheric iron lines. The signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) was usually between 50 and 100, depending on weather conditions and the brightness of target stars. Radial velocities were determined by cross-correlating the Cepheid spectra with those of selected IAU velocity standard stars having F–G spectral types. The internal error of the velocity determination process was calculated to be about 1 km s⁻¹. Hα emission and strong line splitting were observed in BL Her during the expansion phase, but no similar phenomenon was detected in any other stars in this programme, except for AU Peg which has an unusual Hα line showing a P Cygni-like profile. The velocity curve agrees well with recent CORAVEL measurements. The velocity gradients in Cepheid atmospheres are studied using the Hα minus metallic velocities. Similar data are collected from the literature. It seems that having large velocity differences ( v _Hα− v _metal>40 km s⁻¹) is a characteristic feature of the very short-period ( P <1.5 d) and longer period ( P >10 d) Cepheids. Between these period regions the Cepheid atmospheres exhibit smaller velocity differences. Most of the Type II Cepheids observed in the present study fall into this latter category. There might be a tendency for classical Cepheids of intermediate period to have larger maximum velocity differences.     

A comprehensive variability study of the enigmatic WN8 stars: final results

As a conclusion of our all-sky variability survey of the 'enigmatic' variable WN8 stars, we have carried out coordinated multisite photometric and spectroscopic observations of WN8 stars in 1989 and 1994–1995. We confirm the leading role of the stellar core in restructuring the whole wind. This emerges as a statistical trend: the higher the level of the ∼continuum (i.e. ∼core) light variations, the higher the variability of the P Cygni edges of the optical emission lines. However, the form of the correlation between the light and profile variations is generally different for each individual star. The high level of activity of WN8 stars may be supported/induced by pulsational instability.     

Search for transiting exoplanets and variable stars in the open cluster NGC 7243

We report results of the first five observing campaigns for the open stellar cluster NGC 7243 in the frame of project Young Exoplanet Transit Initiative (YETI). The project focuses on the monitoring of young and nearby stellar clusters, with the aim to detect young transiting exoplanets and to study other variability phenomena on time‐scales from minutes to years. After five observing campaigns and additional observations during 2013 and 2014, a clear and repeating transit‐like signal was detected in the light curve of J221550.6+495611. Furthermore, we detected and analysed 37 new eclipsing binary stars in the studied region. The best fit parameters and light curves of all systems are given. Finally, we detected and analysed 26 new, presumably pulsating variable stars in the studied region. The follow‐up investigation of these objects, including spectroscopic measurements of the exoplanet candidate, is currently planned. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Neighbourhoods of isolated star forming dwarf galaxies

We report the discovery of small groups of uncatalogued, compact, star forming (SF) dwarf galaxies (DGs) by Hα mapping of the neighbourhoods of apparently isolated, catalogued, SF DGs. Our sample consists of dwarf  ( M ≥−18 mag)  galaxies at least 2 Mpc away from any other catalogued galaxy. The galaxies were selected to exhibit Hα emission of any intensity, i.e. not selecting only strong starbursts, as an indicator of recent or on-going star formation with the goal of understanding why are they presently forming stars. We identified possible neighbours by imaging the galaxies and their surroundings through Hα filters centred at or near the redshift of the galaxy, and searching for localized Hα emission with the characteristics of the line emission from the sample galaxies.
We identified 20 possible SF neighbour galaxies, 17 of them not previously catalogued, in three of the five search fields where we had good quality data, and present here their positions and, images and morphology, as well as some indications of binarity. The relatively large number of possible neighbour candidates, combined with their relative faintness, argue that it would be virtually impossible to identify truly isolated galaxies. It seems that the objects we selected as extremely isolated are probably the brightest members of sparse groups of galaxies, where the other members are also DGs that are presently forming stars. In order to enhance the confidence of this statement regular redshifts are required for our candidate neighbours.     

UBVRI photometry and polarimetry of the young eclipsing binary EK Cep

Multicolor photometric and polarimetric observations of the eclipsing binary EK Cep at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in 1995 and 2006–2007 are reported. Polarimetric observations were made of stars in the neighborhood of EK Cep. It is shown that the observed linear polarization of EK Cep is determined by a variable circumstellar constituent, as well as by the interstellar component. Various possible mechanisms for formation of the intrinsic polarization of binary stars are discussed. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 117–126 (February 2009).