During a search for RR Lyr variable stars candidate members of the Aquarius stream, which led to the discovery of 71 such objects, we also discovered an additional 180 variables which are presented in this paper. Of them, 141 were previously reported as variables and 39 are brand new. For all 180 objects, we provide: our epoch photometry, accurate positions, mean magnitude and amplitude of variation in Landolt B,V and Sloan g, r, i bands, cross-identification with WISE, 2MASS and GALEX surveys, accurate BVRCICgri photometric sequences and finding charts identifying the variable and the stars of the photometric sequence provided to support follow-up observations. We carried out a Fourier search on all 39 new variables and found periods for 11 of them.
We have performed a search for variable stars in the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 6822 using wide-field multi-epoch VI photometry down to a limiting magnitude of ~22. A part from the Cepheid variables in this galaxy already reported in an earlier paper by Pietrzynski et al. (2004AJ....128.2815P), we have found 1019 "non-periodic" variable stars, 50 periodically variable stars with periods ranging from 0.12 to 66 days and 146 probably periodic variables. Twelve of these stars are eclipsing binaries and fifteen are likely new, low-amplitude Cepheids.
For the first time, we have detected Cepheid variables in the Sculptor Group spiral galaxy NGC 7793. From wide-field images obtained in the optical V and I bands on 56 nights in 2003-2005, we have discovered 17 long-period (24-62 days) Cepheids whose periods and mean magnitudes define tight period-luminosity relations. We use the (V-I) Wesenheit index to determine a reddening-free true distance modulus to NGC 7793 of 27.68+/-0.05mag (internal error) +/-0.08mag (systematic error).
We present near-infrared J- and K-band photometry of 77 Cepheid variables in the Local Group galaxy NGC 3109. Combining our data with the previously published optical V- and I-band photometry of Cepheids in this galaxy, we derive an accurate distance and interstellar reddening toward NGC 3109.
We have obtained mosaic images of NGC 3109 in the V and I bands on 74 nights, spanning approximately 1yr. From these data, we have conducted an extensive search for Cepheid variables over the entire field of the galaxy, resulting in the discovery of 113 variables with periods ranging from 3.4 to 31.4days. In this sample, 76 Cepheids, including many long-period variables, were not known before. For the previously known 45 Cepheids in this galaxy, our data proved that reported periods were wrong for 14 objects; for nearly all other previously known Cepheid variables, we were able to significantly improve on the periods.
We have detected, for the first time, Cepheid variables in the Sculptor Group SB(s)m galaxy NGC 55. From wide-field images obtained in the optical V and I bands during 77 nights in 2002-2003, we have found 143 Cepheids with periods ranging from 5.6 to 175.9 days; 133 of these objects have periods longer than 10 days, making NGC 55 to date the galaxy with the largest known number of long-period Cepheids in the Sculptor Group.
We have conducted an extensive wide-field imaging survey for Cepheid variables in the Local Group irregular galaxy WLM. From data obtained on 101 nights, we have discovered 60 Cepheids, which include 14 of the 15 Cepheid variables previously detected by Sandage and Carlson. Our Cepheid survey in WLM should be practically complete down to a period of 3-days. Importantly, we have found for the first time a long-period Cepheid (P=54.2-days) in this galaxy, alleviating the problem that WLM with its many blue, massive stars does not contain Cepheids with periods longer than about 10-days.
We have obtained deep images in the near-infrared J and K filters of four fields in the Sculptor group spiral galaxy NGC 55 with the ESO VLT and ISAAC camera. For 40 long-period Cepheid variables in these fields, which were recently discovered by Pietrzyski et al., we have determined mean J and K magnitudes from observations at two epochs, and derived distance moduli from the observed period-luminosity (PL) relations in these bands.
We have obtained mosaic images of NGC 6822 in the V and I bands on 77 nights. From these data, we have conducted an extensive search for Cepheid variables over the entire field of the galaxy, and we have found 116 such variables with periods ranging from 1.7 to 124 days. We used the long-period (>5.6 days) Cepheids to establish the period-luminosity (PL) relations in V, I, and in the reddening-independent Wesenheit index, which are all very tightly defined.
We have measured near-infrared magnitudes in the J and K bands for 56 Cepheid variables in the Local Group galaxy NGC 6822 with well-determined periods and optical light curves in the V and I bands. Using the template light-curve approach of Soszyski and coworkers (2005PASP..117..823S), accurate mean magnitudes were obtained from these data, which allowed us to determine with unprecedented accuracy the distance to NGC 6822 from a multi-wavelength period-luminosity solution in the VIJK bands.
