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The All-sky GEOS RR Lyr Survey with the TAROT Telescopes: Analysis of the Blazhko Effect
We used the GEOS database to study the Blazhko effect of galactic RRabstars. The database is continuously enriched by maxima supplied byamateur astronomers and by a dedicated survey by means of the two TAROTrobotic telescopes. The same value of the Blazhko period is observed atdifferent values of the pulsation periods and different values of theBlazhko periods are observed at the same value of the pulsation period.There are clues suggesting that the Blazhko effect is changing from onecycle to the next. The secular changes in the pulsation and Blazhkoperiods of Z CVn are anticorrelated. The diagrams of magnitudes againstphases of the maxima clearly show that the light curves of Blazhkovariables can be explained as modulated signals, both in amplitude andin frequency. The closed curves describing the Blazhko cycles in suchdiagrams have different shapes, reflecting the phase shifts between theepochs of the brightest maximum and the maximum O - C. Our sampleshows that both clockwise and counterclockwise directions are possiblefor similar shapes. The improved observational knowledge of the Blazhkoeffect, in addition to some peculiarities of the light curves, has yetto be explained by a satisfactory physical mechanism.
| The CoRoT star 105288363: strong cycle-to-cycle changes of the Blazhko modulation
We present an analysis of the COnvection, ROtation and planetaryTransits (CoRoT) star 105288363, a new Blazhko RR Lyrae star of typeRRab (f0= 1.7623 d-1), observed with the CoRoTspacecraft during the second long run in the direction of the GalacticCentre (LRc02, time-base 145 d). The CoRoT data are characterized by anexcellent time-sampling and a low noise amplitude of 0.07 mmag in the2-12 d-1 range and allow us to study not only the finedetails of the variability of the star, but also long-term changes inthe pulsation behaviour and the stability of the Blazhko cycle. We use,among other methods, standard Fourier analysis techniques and O-Cdiagrams to investigate the pulsational behaviour of the Blazhko star105288363. In addition to the frequency pattern expected for a BlazhkoRR Lyrae star, we find an independent mode (f1= 2.984d-1) showing a f0/f1 ratio of 0.59which is similar to that observed in other Blazhko RR Lyrae stars. Thebump and hump phenomena are also analysed, with their variations overthe Blazhko cycle. We carefully investigated the strong cycle-to-cyclechanges in the Blazhko modulation (PB= 35.6 d), which seem tohappen independently and partly diametrically in the amplitude and phasemodulations. Furthermore, the phasing between the two types ofmodulations is found to change during the course of the observations.
| Random forest automated supervised classification of Hipparcos periodic variable stars
We present an evaluation of the performance of an automatedclassification of the Hipparcos periodic variable stars into 26 types.The sub-sample with the most reliable variability types available in theliterature is used to train supervised algorithms to characterize thetype dependencies on a number of attributes. The most useful attributesevaluated with the random forest methodology include, in decreasingorder of importance, the period, the amplitude, the V-I colour index,the absolute magnitude, the residual around the folded light-curvemodel, the magnitude distribution skewness and the amplitude of thesecond harmonic of the Fourier series model relative to that of thefundamental frequency. Random forests and a multi-stage scheme involvingBayesian network and Gaussian mixture methods lead to statisticallyequivalent results. In standard 10-fold cross-validation (CV)experiments, the rate of correct classification is between 90 and 100per cent, depending on the variability type. The main mis-classificationcases, up to a rate of about 10 per cent, arise due to confusion betweenSPB and ACV blue variables and between eclipsing binaries, ellipsoidalvariables and other variability types. Our training set and thepredicted types for the other Hipparcos periodic stars are availableonline.
| Periodicity search as a tool for disentangling the contaminated colour light curve of CoRoT 102781750
Context. The CoRoT space mission (COnvection, ROtation and planetaryTransits) launched in December 2006, aims at finding transitingexoplanets and investigating stellar oscillation in adjacent stellarfields, called exo- and seismofields, respectively. Besides theseismofields, CoRoT has a strong potential for seismological research onthe exofields. Up to now, only a limited number of RR Lyrae stars havebeen classified among the CoRoT targets. Knowing the astrophysicalimportance of the RR Lyrae stars, we attempted to get useful informationeven from a contaminated light curve of a possible RR Lyrae pulsator. Aims: The star CoRoT 102781750 reveals a puzzle, showing a verycomplex and altering variation in different "CoRoT colours". Weestablished without doubt that more than a single star was situatedwithin the CoRoT mask. Using a search for periodicity as a tool, our aimis to disentangle the composite light curve and identify the type ofsources behind the variability. Methods: Both flux and magnitudelight curves were used. Conversion was applied after a jump- andtrend-filtering algorithm. We applied different types of period-findingtechniques including MuFrAn and Period04. Results: The amplitudeand phase peculiarities obtained from the independent analysis of CoRoTr, g, and b colours and ground-based follow-up photometric observationsruled out the possibility of either a background monoperiodic or aBlazhko type RR Lyrae star being in the mask. The main target, an activestar, shows at least two spotted areas that reveal a Prot =8.8 h (f0 = 2.735 c d-1) mean rotation period. Theevolution of the active regions helped to derive a period change ofdP/dt = 1.6 × 10-6 (18 s over the run) and adifferential rotation of ? = ??/? = 0.0074. The0.015m linear decrease and a local 0.005m increase in the dominantperiod's amplitude are interpreted as a decay of the old spotted regionand an appearance of a new one, respectively. A star that is detectedonly in the CoRoT b domain shows a f1 = 7.172 cd-1 pulsation connected to a 14.83d periodicity via anequidistant triplet structure. The best explanation for our observationis a ? Cep star with a corotating dust disk.The CoRoT space mission was developed and is operated by the Frenchspace agency CNES, with participation of ESA's RSSD and ScienceProgrammes, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, and Spain. Follow-upobservations were obtained at Piszkéstet?, the mountainstation of Konkoly Observatory.
| Kepler photometry of the prototypical Blazhko star RR Lyr: an old friend seen in a new light
We present our analysis of the long-cadence Kepler data for thewell-studied Blazhko star RR Lyr, gathered during the first two quartersof the satellite's observations and covering a total of 127 d. Besidesbeing of great importance for our understanding of RR Lyrae stars ingeneral, these RR Lyr data can be regarded as a case study forobservations of bright stars with Kepler. Kepler can performhigh-precision photometry on targets like RR Lyr, as the saturated fluxis conserved to a very high degree. The Kepler data on RR Lyr arerevolutionary in several respects. Even with long-cadence sampling (onemeasurement per 29.4 min), the unprecedented precision (< mmag) ofthe Kepler photometry allows the study of the star's extreme light-curvevariations in detail. The multiplet structures at the main frequency andits harmonics, typical for Blazhko stars, are clearly detected up to thequintuplets. For the first time, photometric data of RR Lyr reveal thepresence of half-integer frequencies, linked to a period-doublingeffect. This phenomenon may be connected to the still unexplainedBlazhko modulation. Moreover, with three observed Blazhko cycles at ourdisposal, we observe that there is no exact repetition in thelight-curve changes from one modulation cycle to the next for RR Lyr.This may be due to additional periodicities in the star, or to transientor quasi-periodic changes.
| Recent Maxima of 64 Short Period Pulsating Stars
This paper contains times of maxima for 64 short period pulsating stars(primarily RR Lyrae and d Scuti stars). This represents a portion of theCCD observations received by the AAVSO Short Period Pulsator (SPP)section through December 2009.
| Observational Evidence of Convective Cycles as the Cause of the Blazhko Effect in RR Lyrae Stars
Among RR Lyrae stars displaying the Blazhko effect, a few show no periodmodulation in spite of striking changes in their light amplitudes. Thisanomalous behavior and the mean period of the affected variables arepredicted correctly by the theory of slow convective cycles in thestellar envelope.
| An extensive photometric study of the Blazhko RR Lyrae star DM Cyg
DM Cyg, a fundamental mode RRab star, was observed in the 2007 and 2008seasons in the framework of the Konkoly Blazhko Survey. Very smallamplitude light-curve modulation was detected with 10.57d modulationperiod. The maximum brightness and phase variations do not exceed0.07mag and 7min, respectively. In spite of the very small amplitude ofthe modulation, beside the frequency triplets characterizing the Fourierspectrum of the light curve, two quintuplet components were alsoidentified. The accuracy and the good phase coverage of our observationsmade it possible to analyse the light curves at different phases of themodulation separately. Utilizing the inverse photometric Baade-Wesselinkmethod, we could detect very small systematic changes in the global meanphysical parameters of DM Cyg during its Blazhko cycle. The detectedchanges are similar to what we have already found for a large modulationamplitude Blazhko variable, MW Lyrae. The amplitudes of the detectedchanges in the physical parameters of DM Cyg are only about 10 per centof those that have been found in MW Lyr. This is in accordance with itssmall modulation amplitude being about one-tenth of the modulationamplitude of MW Lyr.The pulsation period of DM Cyg has been increasing by a rate of ? =0.091dMyr-1 during the hundred-year time base of theobservations. Konkoly archive photographic observations indicate thatwhen the pulsation period of the variable was shorter by?ppuls = 5 × 10-6d the modulationperiod was longer by ?pmod = 0.066d than today.Based on observations collected with the automatic 60cm telescope ofKonkoly Observatory, Svábhegy, Budapest.E-mail: jurcsik@konkoly.hu
| A photometric study of the southern Blazhko star SS For: unambiguous detection of quintuplet components
We present our analysis of photometric data in the Johnson B and Vfilter of the southern Blazhko star SS For. In parallel, we analysed theV observations obtained with the All Sky Automated Survey-3 photometryof the star gathered between 2000 and 2008. In the frequency spectraresulting from a Fourier analysis of our data, the triplet structure isdetectable up to high order, both in the B and V data. Moreover, we findevidence for quintuplet components. We confirm from our data that themodulation components decrease less steeply than the harmonics of themain frequency. We derived the variations of the Fourier parametersquantifying the light-curve shape over the Blazhko cycle. There is goodagreement between the spectroscopic abundance and the metallicitydetermined from the Fourier parameters of the average light curve. SSFor is peculiar as a Blazhko star because of its strong variationsaround minimum light.
| Observational constraints on the magnetic field of RR Lyrae stars
Context: A high percentage of the astrophysically important RR Lyraestars show a periodic amplitude and/or phase modulation of theirpulsation cycles. More than a century after its discovery, this“Blazhko effect” still lacks acceptable theoreticalunderstanding. In one of the plausible models for explaining thephenomenon, the modulation is caused by the effects of a magnetic field.So far, the available observational data have not allowed us to eithersupport nor rule out the presence of a magnetic field in RR Lyrae stars.Aims: We intend to determine whether RR Lyrae stars are generallycharacterized by the presence of a magnetic field organized on a largescale. Methods: With the help of the FORS1 instrument at the ESOVLT we performed a spectropolarimetric survey of 17 relatively brightsouthern RR Lyrae stars, both Blazhko stars and non-modulated stars, anddetermined their mean longitudinal magnetic field with a typical errorbar <30 G. Results: All our measurements of the meanlongitudinal magnetic field resulted in null detections within 3?.From our data we can set an upper limit for the strength of the dipolecomponent of the magnetic fields of RR Lyrae stars to ~130 G. Because ofthe limitations intrinsic to the diagnostic technique, we cannot excludethe presence of higher order multipolar components. Conclusions:The outcome of this survey clarifies that the Blazhko modulation in thepulsation of RR Lyrae stars is not correlated with the presence of astrong, quasi-dipolar magnetic field.
| The luminosities and distance scales of type II Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables
Infrared and optical absolute magnitudes are derived for the type IICepheids κ Pav and VY Pyx using revised Hipparcos parallaxes andfor κ Pav, V553 Cen and SW Tau from pulsational parallaxes.Revised Hipparcos and HST parallaxes for RR Lyrae agree satisfactorilyand are combined in deriving absolute magnitudes. Phase-corrected J, Hand Ks mags are given for 142 Hipparcos RR Lyraes based onTwo-Micron All-Sky Survey observations. Pulsation and trigonometricalparallaxes for classical Cepheids are compared to establish the bestvalue for the projection factor (p) used in pulsational analyses.The MV of RR Lyrae itself is 0.16 +/- 0.12 mag brighter thanpredicted from an MV-[Fe/H] relation based on RR Lyrae starsin the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) at a modulus of 18.39 +/- 0.05 asfound from classical Cepheids. This is consistent with the prediction ofCatelan & Cortés that it is overluminous for its metallicity.The results for the metal- and carbon-rich Galactic disc stars, V553 Cenand SW Tau, each with small internal errors (+/-0.08 mag) have a meandeviation of only 0.02 mag from the period-luminosity (PL) relationestablished by Matsunaga et al. for type II Cepheids in globularclusters and with a zero-point based on the same LMC-scale. Comparingdirectly the luminosities of these two stars with published data on typeII Cepheids in the LMC and in the Galactic bulge leads to an LMC modulusof 18.37 +/- 0.09 and a distance to the Galactic Centre of R0= 7.64 +/- 0.21kpc. The data for VY Pyx agree with these results withinthe uncertainties set by its parallax. Evidence is presented thatκ Pav may have a close companion and possible implications of thisare discussed. If the pulsational parallax of this star is incorporatedin the analyses, the distance scales just discussed will be increased by~0.15 +/- 0.15 mag. V553 Cen and SW Tau show that at optical wavelengthsPL relations are wider for field stars than for those in globularclusters. This is probably due to a narrower range of masses in thelatter case.
| Johnson photometry of southern Blazhko targets
We report on differential photomultiplier photometry in the Johnson Band V filters of five southern Blazhko stars (RU Cet, RY Col, V674 Cen,AR Ser, RV Cap). The data were gathered from the South AfricanAstronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Sutherland, South Africa, in thecourse of 2004 and 2005. To find the most reliable values for theperiods, we combined our V data with ASAS photometry. For some stars,this enabled us to constrain their Blazhko period with unprecedentedaccuracy.
| The Extinction Toward the Galactic Bulge from RR Lyrae Stars
We present mean reddenings toward 3525 RR0 Lyrae stars from the Galacticbulge fields of the MACHO Survey. These reddenings are determined usingthe color at minimum V-band light of the RR0 Lyrae stars themselves andare found to be in general agreement with extinction estimates at thesame location obtained from other methods. Using 3256 stars located inthe Galactic Bulge, we derive the selective extinction coefficientRV,VR = AV/E(V - R) = 4.3 ± 0.2. This valueis what is expected for a standard extinction law with RV,BV= 3.1 ± 0.3.
| Multiperiodic Galactic field RR Lyrae stars in the ASAS catalogue
The All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) monitors bright stars (8 < V <14 mag) south of declination +28°. The ASAS Catalogue of VariableStars (ACVS) presently contains 50099 objects; among them are 2212objects classified as RR Lyrae pulsating variables. We use ASASphotometric V-band data to search for multiperiodicity in those stars.We find that 73 of 1435 RRab stars and 49 of 756 RRc stars exhibit theBlazhko effect. We observe a deficiency of RRab Blazhko variables withmain pulsation periods greater than 0.65 d. The Blazhko periods of RRcstars exhibit a strongly bimodal distribution. During our study wediscovered the Blazhko effect with multiple periods in object ASAS050747-3351.9 = SU Col. Blazhko periods of 89.3 and 65.8 d and acandidate of 29.5 d were identified with periodogram peaks near thefirst three harmonics of the main pulsation. These observations mayinspire new models of the Blazhko effect, which has eluded a consistenttheory since its discovery about one hundred years ago. Long-term lightcurve changes were found in 29 stars. We also found 19 Galactic doublemode pulsators (RRd), of which four are new discoveries, raising thenumber of ASAS discoveries of such objects to 16, out of 27 known in thefield of our Galaxy.
| The GEOS RR Lyr Survey
Not Available
| Photoelectric Minima of Selected Eclipsing Binaries and Maxima of Pulsating Stars
Not Available
| The moving bump in the light curves of SS For and RR Lyr
High-precision multisite photometry was used to investigate the bumpoccurring before minimum light in the light curves of the two RRabBlazhko stars RR Lyr and SS For. For both stars the phase of the bumpwas found to be variable with a period equal to the Blazhko period.There seems to be a direct connection between the behavior of the bumpand the Blazhko effect. As most models connect the phase of the bump tothe stellar radius, a variable bump phase may provide constraints to themodels for explaining the bump.
| A catalogue of RR Lyrae stars from the Northern Sky Variability Survey
A search for RR Lyrae stars has been conducted in the publicly availabledata of the Northern Sky Variability Survey. Candidates have beenselected by the statistical properties of their variation; the standarddeviation, skewness and kurtosis with appropriate limits determined froma sample 314 known RRab and RRc stars listed in the General Catalogue ofVariable Stars. From the period analysis and light-curve shape of over3000 candidates 785 RR Lyrae have been identified of which 188 arepreviously unknown. The light curves were examined for the Blazhkoeffect and several new stars showing this were found. Six double-mode RRLyrae stars were also found of which two are new discoveries. Somepreviously known variables have been reclassified as RR Lyrae stars andsimilarly some RR Lyrae stars have been found to be other types ofvariable, or not variable at all.
| Southern RR Lyrae Stars Exhibiting the Blazhko Effect
Blazhko periods are given for 43 RRab stars based on data from ASAS3.
| Proper identification of RR Lyrae stars brighter than 12.5 mag
RR Lyrae stars are of great importance for investigations of Galacticstructure. However, a complete compendium of all RR-Lyraes in the solarneighbourhood with accurate classifications and coordinates does notexist to this day. Here we present a catalogue of 561 local RR-Lyraestars (V_max ≤ 12.5 mag) according to the magnitudes given in theCombined General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) and 16 fainter ones.The Tycho2 catalogue contains ≃100 RR Lyr stars. However, manyobjects have inaccurate coordinates in the GCVS, the primary source ofvariable star information, so that a reliable cross-identification isdifficult. We identified RR Lyrae from both catalogues based on anintensive literature search. In dubious cases we carried out photometryof fields to identify the variable. Mennessier & Colome (2002,A&A, 390, 173) have published a paper with Tyc2-GCVSidentifications, but we found that many of their identifications arewrong.
| RR Lyrae stars: kinematics, orbits and z-distribution
RR Lyrae stars in the Milky Way are good tracers to study the kinematicbehaviour and spatial distribution of older stellar populations. Arecently established well documented sample of 217 RR Lyr stars withV<12.5 mag, for which accurate distances and radial velocities aswell as proper motions from the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues areavailable, has been used to reinvestigate these structural parameters.The kinematic parameters allowed to calculate the orbits of the stars.Nearly 1/3 of the stars of our sample have orbits staying near the MilkyWay plane. Of the 217 stars, 163 have halo-like orbits fulfilling one ofthe following criteria: Θ < 100 km s-1, orbiteccentricity >0.4, and normalized maximum orbital z-distance>0.45. Of these stars roughly half have retrograde orbits. Thez-distance probability distribution of this sample shows scale heightsof 1.3±0.1 kpc for the disk component and 4.6±0.3 kpc forthe halo component. With our orbit statistics method we found a(vertical) spatial distribution which, out to z=20 kpc, is similar tothat found with other methods. This distribution is also compatible withthe ones found for blue (HBA and sdB) halo stars. The circular velocityΘ, the orbit eccentricity, orbit z-extent and [Fe/H] are employedto look for possible correlations. If any, it is that the metal poorstars with [Fe/H] <1.0 have a wide symmetric distribution aboutΘ=0, thus for this subsample on average a motion independent ofdisk rotation. We conclude that the Milky Way possesses a halo componentof old and metal poor stars with a scale height of 4-5 kpc having randomorbits. The presence in our sample of a few metal poor stars (thus partof the halo population) with thin disk-like orbits is statistically notsurprising. The midplane density ratio of halo to disk stars is found tobe 0.16, a value very dependent on proper sample statistics.
| Iron abundances derived from RR Lyrae light curves and low-dispersion spectroscopy
With the aid of the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) database on theGalactic field, we compare the iron abundances of fundamental mode RRLyrae stars derived from the Fourier parameters with those obtained fromlow-dispersion spectroscopy. We show from a set of 79 stars, distinctfrom the original calibrating sample of the Fourier method and selectedwithout quality control, that almost all discrepant estimates are theresults of some defects or peculiarities either in the photometry or inthe spectroscopy. Omitting objects deviating by more than 0.4 dex, theremaining subsample of 64 stars yields Fourier abundances that fit thespectroscopic ones with σ=0.20 dex. Other, more stringentselection criteria and different Fourier decompositions lead to smallersubsamples and concomitant better agreement, down to σ=0.16 dex.Except perhaps for two variables among the 163 stars, comprised of theASAS variables and those of the original calibrating set of the Fouriermethod, all discrepant values can be accounted for by observationalnoise and insufficient data coverage. We suggest that the agreement canbe further improved when new, more accurate spectroscopic data becomeavailable for a test with the best photometric data. As a by-product ofthis analysis, we also compute revised periods and select Blazhkovariables.
| The Metallicity Dependence of the Fourier Components of RR Lyrae Light Curves Is the Oosterhoff-Arp-Preston Period Ratio Effect in Disguise
The correlation of particular Fourier components of the light curves ofRR Lyrae variables with metallicity, discovered by Simon and later byKovacs and his coworkers, is shown to have the same explanation as theperiod ratios (period shifts in logP) between RRab Lyrae variables thathave the same colors, amplitudes, and light-curve shapes but differentmetallicities. A purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the modelthat predicts the period-metallicity relations in the mediatingparameters of colors, amplitudes, and light-curve shapes also explainsthe Simon-Kovacs et al. correlation between period, φ31,and metallicity. The proof is made by demonstrating that the combinationof the first- and third-phase terms in a Fourier decomposition of RRablight curves, called φ31 by Simon & Lee, variesmonotonically across the RR Lyrae instability strip in the same way thatamplitude, color, and rise time vary with period within the strip. Thepremise of the model is that if horizontal branches at the RR Lyraestrip are stacked in luminosity according to the metallicity, then therenecessarily must be a logperiod shift between RR Lyrae stars withdifferent metallicities at the same φ31 values. However,there are exceptions to the model. The two metal-rich globular clustersNGC 6388 and NGC 6441, with anomalously long periods of their RR Lyraestars for their amplitudes, violate the period-metallicity correlationsboth in amplitudes and in φ31 values (for NGC 6441 whereφ31 data exist). The cause must be related to theanomalously bright horizontal branches in these two clusters for theirmetallicities. The effect of luminosity evolution away from the zero-agehorizontal branch, putatively causing noise in the metallicity equation,is discussed. It is clearly seen in the amplitude-period correlationsbut apparently does not exist in the φ31-periodcorrelation in the data for the globular cluster M3 analyzed by Jurcsikand coworkers and by Cacciari and Fusi Pecci, for reasons not presentlyunderstood. Clarification can be expected from study of precisionphotometric data of evolved RR Lyrae stars in globular clusters ofdifferent metallicity when their Fourier components are known.
| BVI Time-Series Data of the Galactic Globular Cluster NGC 3201. I. RR Lyrae Stars
We present Johnson BV- and Kron-Cousins I-band time-series datacollected over three consecutive nights in a region of 13arcmin2 centered on the Galactic globular cluster (GGC) NGC3201. The time sampling of current CCD data allowed us to deriveaccurate light curves and, in turn, mean magnitudes and colors for asample of 53 RR Lyrae stars. To overcome the thorny problem ofdifferential reddening affecting this cluster, we derived new empiricalrelations connecting the intrinsic B-V and V-I colors of fundamental(RRab) RR Lyrae stars to the luminosity amplitude, the metallicity, andthe pulsation period. The key features of these relations are thefollowing: (1) they rely on stellar parameters, which are not affectedby reddening; (2) they supply accurate estimates of intrinsic colorsacross the fundamental instability strip and cover a wide metallicityrange; (3) they were derived by neglecting the RR Lyrae stars that areaffected by amplitude modulation. Moreover, the zero point of the E(B-V)reddening scale was empirically checked using the large sample of RRLyrae stars in M3 from Corwin & Carney, a GGC affected by avanishing reddening. According to these relations we estimatedindividual reddenings for RR Lyrae stars in our sample and the mainresults we found are the following: (1) The mean cluster reddening basedon E(B-V) color excesses is =0.30+/-0.03. This estimate isslightly higher than the mean reddening evaluations available in theliterature or based on the dust infrared map by Schlegel, Finkbeiner,& Davis, i.e., =0.26+/-0.02. Note that the angularresolution of this map is ~6', whereas for current reddening map it is~1'. (2) The mean cluster reddening based on E(V-I) color excesses is=0.36+/-0.05. This estimate is only marginally inagreement with the mean cluster reddening obtained using the reddeningmap by von Braun & Mateo and derived by adopting cluster turnoffstars, i.e., =0.25+/-0.07. On the other hand, currentintrinsic spread among individual reddenings (~0.2 mag) agrees quitewell with the estimate provided by previous authors. It is noteworthythat previous mean cluster reddenings are in very good agreement withvalues obtained using the empirical relations for intrinsic RR Lyraecolors provided by Kovacs & Walker. (3) According to currentindividual E(B-V) and E(V-I) reddenings and theoretical predictions forhorizontal-branch stars, we found that the true distance modulus forthis cluster is 13.32+/-0.06 mag. This determination is somehowsupported by the comparison between predicted and empirical pulsationamplitudes. (4) The comparison between present luminosity amplitudes andestimates available in the literature discloses that approximately 30%of fundamental RR Lyrae stars are affected by amplitude modulation (theBlazhko effect). This finding confirms empirical evidence originallybrought out by Szeidl and by Smith. Based on observations collected atthe European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile.
| Subsystems of RR Lyrae Variable Stars in Our Galaxy
We have used published, high-accuracy, ground-based and satelliteproper-motion measurements, a compilation of radial velocities, andphotometric distances to compute the spatial velocities and Galacticorbital elements for 174 RR Lyrae (ab) variable stars in the solarneighborhood. The computed orbital elements and published heavy-elementabundances are used to study relationships between the chemical,spatial, and kinematic characteristics of nearby RR Lyrae variables. Weobserve abrupt changes of the spatial and kinematic characteristics atthe metallicity [Fe/H]≈-0.95 and also when the residual spatialvelocities relative to the LSR cross the critical value V res≈290km/s. This provides evidence that the general population of RR Lyraestars is not uniform and includes at least three subsystems occupyingdifferent volumes in the Galaxy. Based on the agreement between typicalparameters for corresponding subsystems of RR Lyrae stars and globularclusters, we conclude that metal-rich stars and globular clusters belongto a rapidly rotating and fairly flat, thick-disk subsystem with a largenegative vertical metallicity gradient. Objects with larger metaldeficiencies can, in turn, be subdivided into two populations, but usingdifferent criteria for stars and clusters. We suggest that field starswith velocities below the critical value and clusters with extremelyblue horizontal branches form a spherical, slowly rotating subsystem ofthe protodisk halo, which has a common origin with the thick disk; thissubsystem has small but nonzero radial and vertical metallicitygradients. The dimensions of this subsystem, estimated from theapogalactic radii of orbits of field stars, are approximately the same.Field stars displaying more rapid motion and clusters with redderhorizontal branches constitute the spheroidal subsystem of the accretedouter halo, which is approximately a factor of three larger in size thanthe first two subsystems. It has no metallicity gradients; most of itsstars have eccentric orbits, many display retrograde motion in theGalaxy, and their ages are comparatively low, supporting the hypothesisthat the objects in this subsystem had an extragalactic origin.
| Bias Properties of Extragalactic Distance Indicators. XI. Methods to Correct for Observational Selection Bias for RR Lyrae Absolute Magnitudes from Trigonometric Parallaxes Expected from the Full-Sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer Satellite
A short history is given of the development of the correction forobservation selection bias inherent in the calibration of absolutemagnitudes using trigonometric parallaxes. The developments have beendue to Eddington, Jeffreys, Trumpler & Weaver, Wallerstein,Ljunggren & Oja, West, Lutz & Kelker, after whom the bias isnamed, Turon Lacarrieu & Crézé, Hanson, Smith, andmany others. As a tutorial to gain an intuitive understanding of severalcomplicated trigonometric bias problems, we study a toy bias model of aparallax catalog that incorporates assumed parallax measuring errors ofvarious severities. The two effects of bias errors on the derivedabsolute magnitudes are (1) the Lutz-Kelker correction itself, whichdepends on the relative parallax error δπ/π and the spatialdistribution, and (2) a Malmquist-like ``incompleteness'' correction ofopposite sign due to various apparent magnitude cutoffs as they areprogressively imposed on the catalog. We calculate the bias propertiesusing simulations involving 3×106 stars of fixedabsolute magnitude using Mv=+0.6 to imitate RR Lyraevariables in the mean. These stars are spread over a spherical volumebounded by a radius 50,000 pc with different spatial densitydistributions. The bias is demonstrated by first using a fixed rmsparallax uncertainty per star of 50 μas and then using a variable rmsaccuracy that ranges from 50 μas at apparent magnitude V=9 to 500μas at V=15 according to the specifications for the Full-SkyAstrometric Mapping Explorer (FAME) satellite to be launched in 2004.The effects of imposing magnitude limits and limits on the``observer's'' error, δπ/π, are displayed. We contrast themethod of calculating mean absolute magnitude directly from theparallaxes where bias corrections are mandatory, with an inverse methodusing maximum likelihood that is free of the Lutz-Kelker bias, althougha Malmquist bias is present. Simulations show the power of the inversemethod. Nevertheless, we recommend reduction of the data using bothmethods. Each must give the same answer if each is freed from systematicerror. Although the maximum likelihood method will, in theory, eliminatemany of the bias problems of the direct method, nevertheless the biascorrections required by the direct method can be determined empiricallyvia Spaenhauer diagrams immediately from the data, as discussed in theearlier papers of this series. Any correlation of the absolute(trigonometric) magnitudes with the (trigonometric) distances is thebias. We discuss the level of accuracy that can be expected in acalibration of RR Lyrae absolute magnitudes from the FAME data over themetallicity range of [Fe/H] from 0 to -2, given the known frequency ofthe local RR Lyrae stars closer than 1.5 kpc. Of course, use will alsobe made of the entire FAME database for the RR Lyrae stars over thecomplete range of distances that can be used to empirically determinethe random and systematic errors from the FAME parallax catalog, usingcorrelations of derived absolute magnitude with distance and position inthe sky. These bias corrections are expected to be much more complicatedthan only a function of apparent magnitude because of variousrestrictions due to orbital constraints on the spacecraft.
| The photometric behaviour of SU Dra, 1955-2000
A multicolour photometric data basis is compiled for SUDra from 356 Johnson UBV and 228 UBV(RI)_C observationsreported in this paper, in addition to 483 BV, 289 UBV, and 85 UBVRIobservations found in the literature. Mean period, period change(4.40+/-.14)x 10-10 day/day, and phase noise are derived fromthe V light curves by a variational procedure minimizing the length ofthe folded light curve (string length minimization, SLM). From variationof string length in the neighbourhood of minimum, observational error ofphotometry, observed amplitude, number of observations formulae arederived for the error of period and phase noise by statistical andanalytical considerations. Secondary periodic variations are excluded toa few mmag level, indication of amplitude variation (Blazhko-effect) hasnot been found, however, systematic segregation of light curve segmentsis reported from different epochs in the descending branch before thebrightness rise. Mean light and colour curves are derived fromphotometry and they are compared with those from integration ofspectrophotometric observations. The period change is interpreted interms of mixing events in the stellar interior.
| Absolute Magnitudes and Kinematic Parameters of the Subsystem of RR Lyrae Variables
The statistical parallax technique is applied to a sample of 262 RRabLyrae variables with published photoelectric photometry, metallicities,and radial velocities and with measured absolute proper motions.Hipparcos, PPM, NPM, and the Four-Million Star Catalog (Volchkov et al.1992) were used as the sources of proper motions; the proper motionsfrom the last three catalogs were reduced to the Hipparcos system. Wedetermine parameters of the velocity distribution for halo [(U_0, V_0,W_0) = (-9 +/- 12, -214 +/- 10, -16 +/- 7) km/s and (sigma_U, sigma_V,sigma_W) = (164 +/- 11, 105 +/- 7, 95 +/- 7) km/s] and thick-disk [(U_0,V_0, W_0) = (-16 +/- 8, -41 +/- 7, -18 +/- 5) km/s and (sigma_U,sigma_V, sigma_W) = (53 +/- 9, 42 +/- 8, 26 +/- 5) km/s] RR Lyrae, aswell as the intensity-averaged absolute magnitude for RR Lyrae of thesepopulations: = 0.77 +/- 0.10 and = +1.11 +/-0.28 for the halo and thick-disk objects, respectively. The metallicitydependence of the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae is analyzed(=(0.76 +/- 0.12) + (0.26 +/- 0.26) x ([Fe/H] + 1.6) = 1.17 +0.26 x [Fe/H]). Our results are in satisfactory agreement with the_(RR)-[Fe/H] relation from Carney et al. (1992)(_(RR) = 1.01 + 0.15 x [Fe/H]) obtained by Baade-Wesselink'smethod. They provide evidence for a short distance scale: the LMCdistance modulus and the distance to the Galactic center are 18.22 +/-0.11 and 7.4 +/-±0.5 kpc, respectively. The zero point ofthe distance scale and the kinematic parameters of the RR Lyraepopulations are shown to be virtually independent of the source ofabsolute proper motions used and of whether they are reduced to theHipparcos system or not.
| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| Revised Prediction Elements For 33 Southern RR Lyrae Stars
Visual observations in the AAVSO International Database of 23 RR Lyraestars of southern declination have been reduced; revised maximaprediction elements are given for 21 of these stars. Maxima predictionelements are established for RZ Cap and AN Cap.
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