Variable red- and blue-shifted absorption features observed in the CaII K line towards the A-type shell star {phi} Leo have been suggested by us in a previous work to be likely due to solid, comet-like bodies in the circumstellar (CS) environment. Our aim is to expand our observational study of this object to other characteristic spectral lines of A-type photospheres as well as to lines arising in their CS shells. We have obtained more than 500 high-resolution optical spectra collected at different telescopes during 37 nights in several observing runs from December 2015 to January 2019. Time series consecutive spectra were taken, covering intervals of up to ~9 hours in some nights. We have analysed some photospheric lines, in particular CaI 4226{AA} and MgII 4481{AA}, as well as the circumstellar shell lines CaII H&K, CaII IR triplet, FeII 4924, 5018 and 5169{AA}, TiII 3685, 3759 and 3761{AA}, and the Balmer lines H{alpha} and H{beta}. Our observational study reveals that {phi} Leo is a variable delta Scuti star whose spectra show remarkable dumps and bumps superimposed on the photospheric line profiles, which vary their strength and sharpness, propagate from blue- to more red-shifted radial velocities and persisting during a few hours. Similarly t o other delta Scuti stars, these features are likely produced by non-radial pulsations. At the same time, all shell lines present an emission at ~3km/s centered at the core of the CS features, and two variable absorption minima at both sides of the emission; those absorption minima occur at practically the same velocity for each line, i.e., no apparent dynamical evolution is observed. The variations observed in the CaII H&K, FeII and TiII lines occur at any time scale from minutes to days and observing run, but without any clear correlation or recognizable temporal pattern among the different lines. In the case of H{alpha} the CS contribution is also variable in just one of the observing runs. Summarizing, we suggest that {phi} Leo is a rapidly rotating delta Scuti star surrounded by a variable, (nearly) edge-on CS disk possibly re-supplied by the delta Scuti pulsations. The behaviour of the CS shell lines is reminiscent of the one observed in rapidly rotating Be shell stars with an edge-on CS disk, and clearly points out that the variations observed in the CS features of {phi} Leo are highly unlikely to be produced by exocomets. In addition, the observational results presented in this work, together with some recent results concerning the shell star HR 10, suggest the need of a critical revision of the CaII K features which have been attributed to exocomets in other shell stars.
The Phoenix Deep Survey is a multiwavelength survey based on deep 1.4GHz radio imaging, reaching well into the sub-100uJy level. One of the aims of this survey is to characterize the submillijansky radio population, exploring its nature and evolution. In this paper we present the catalog and results of the spectroscopic observations aimed at characterizing the optically "bright" (R<~21.5mag) counterparts of faint radio sources. Of 371 sources with redshift determination, 21% have absorption lines only, 11% show active galactic nucleus signatures, 32% are star-forming galaxies, 34% show narrow emission lines that do not allow detailed spectral classification (owing to poor signal-to-noise ratio and/or lack of diagnostic emission lines), and the remaining 2% are identified with stars.
Transition type dwarf galaxies are thought to be systems undergoing the process of transformation from a star-forming into a passively evolving dwarf, which makes them particularly suitable to study evolutionary processes driving the existence of different dwarf morphological types. Here we present results from a spectroscopic survey of ~200 individual red giant branch stars in the Phoenix dwarf, the closest transition type with a comparable luminosity to 'classical' dwarf galaxies. We measure a systemic heliocentric velocity Vhelio=-21.2+/-1.0km/s. Our survey reveals the clear presence of prolate rotation that is aligned with the peculiar spatial distribution of the youngest stars in Phoenix. We speculate that both features might have arisen from the same event, possibly an accretion of a smaller system. The evolved stellar population of Phoenix is relatively metal-poor (<[Fe/H]>=-1.49+/-0.04dex) and shows a large metallicity spread (sigma_[Fe/H]_=0.51+/-0.04dex), with a pronounced metallicity gradient of -0.13+/-0.01dex/arcmin similar to luminous, passive dwarf galaxies. We also report a discovery of an extremely metal-poor star candidate in Phoenix and discuss the importance of correcting for spatial sampling when interpreting the chemical properties of galaxies with metallicity gradients. This study presents a major leap forward in our knowledge of the internal kinematics of the Phoenix transition type dwarf galaxy and the first wide area spectroscopic survey of its metallicity properties.
The aim of this work was to use a multi-approach technique to derive the most accurate values possible of the physical parameters of the delta Sct star HD 174966, which was observed with the CoRoT satellite. In addition, we searched for a periodic pattern in the frequency spectra with the goal of using it to determine the mean density of the star. First, we extracted the frequency content from the CoRoT light curve. Then, we derived the physical parameters of HD 174966 and carried a mode identification out from the spectroscopic and photometric observations. We used this information to look for the models fulfilling all the conditions and discussed the inaccuracies of the method because of the rotation effects. In a final step, we searched for patterns in the frequency set using a Fourier transform, discussed its origin, and studied the possibility of using the periodicity to obtain information about the physical parameters of the star.
The supernova (SN) PTF11iqb was initially classified as a Type IIn event caught very early after explosion. It showed narrow Wolf-Rayet (WR) spectral features on day 2 (as in SN 1998S and SN 2013cu), but the narrow emission weakened quickly and the spectrum morphed to resemble Types II-L and II-P. At late times, H{alpha} exhibited a complex, multipeaked profile reminiscent of SN 1998S. In terms of spectroscopic evolution, we find that PTF11iqb was a near twin of SN 1998S, although with somewhat weaker interaction with circumstellar material (CSM) at early times, and stronger interaction at late times. We interpret the spectral changes as caused by early interaction with asymmetric CSM that is quickly (by day 20) enveloped by the expanding SN ejecta photosphere, but then revealed again after the end of the plateau when the photosphere recedes. The light curve can be matched with a simple model for CSM interaction (with a mass-loss rate of roughly 10^-4^ M_{sun}_/yr) added to the light curve of a normal SN II-P. The underlying plateau requires a progenitor with an extended hydrogen envelope like a red supergiant at the moment of explosion, consistent with the slow wind speed (<80 km/s) inferred from narrow H{alpha} emission. The cool supergiant progenitor is significant because PTF11iqb showed WR features in its early spectrum - meaning that the presence of such WR features does not necessarily indicate a WR-like progenitor. Overall, PTF11iqb bridges SNe IIn with weaker pre-SN mass-loss seen in SNe II-L and II-P, implying a continuum between these types.
We present new photometric data and LAMOST spectra for the W UMa binaries UV Lyn, V781 Tau, NSVS 4484038, and 2MASS J15471055+5302107. The orbital and starspot parameters are obtained using the Wilson-Devinney program. Comparing the starspot parameters at different times, there are magnetic activities in these four binaries. The orbital period of UV Lyn is increasing at a rate of dP/dt=+8.9(5)x10^-8^d/yr, which maybe due to mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive component (dM1/dt=-6.4x10^-8^M_{sun}_/yr). The period variation of 2MASSJ15471055+5302107 is also increasing at a rate of 6.0(4)x10^-7^d/yr, which can be explained by mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive component (dM1/dt=-2.8x10^-7^M_{sun}_/yr). The period variation of V781 Tau presents the downward parabola superimposed the cyclic oscillation. The period of V781 Tau is decreasing (dP/dt=-3.2(4)x10^-8^d/yr), which can be explained by mass transfer from the more massive component to the less massive component (dM2/dt=-2.2x10^-8^M_{sun}_/yr). The cyclic oscillation may be due to the magnetic activity with a period of 30.8(5)yr rather than a third body. The period variation of NSVS4484038 also shows the cyclic oscillation, which could be explained by the magnetic activity with 10.8(1)yr or a black hole candidate. Interestingly, there is a depth variation between the light minimum times of NSVS 4484038, which may also be caused by stellar magnetic activity.
We present a catalog of 1172157 quasar candidates selected from the photometric imaging data of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The objects are all point sources to a limiting magnitude of i=21.3 from 8417deg^2^ of imaging from SDSS Data Release 6 (DR6). This sample extends our previous catalog by using the latest SDSS public release data and probing both ultraviolet (UV)-excess and high-redshift quasars. While the addition of high-redshift candidates reduces the overall efficiency (quasars:quasar candidates) of the catalog to ~80%, it is expected to contain no fewer than 850000 bona fide quasars, which is ~8 times the number of our previous sample and ~10 times the size of the largest spectroscopic quasar catalog. Cross-matching between our photometric catalog and spectroscopic quasar catalogs from both the SDSS and 2dF survey yields 88879 spectroscopically confirmed quasars. For judicious selection of the most robust UV-excess sources (~500000 objects in all), the efficiency is nearly 97% -more than sufficient for detailed statistical analyses. The catalog's completeness to type 1 (broad-line) quasars is expected to be no worse than 70%, with most missing objects occurring at z<0.7 and 2.5<z<3.0. In addition to classification information, we provide photometric redshift estimates (typically good to {Delta}z+/-0.3[2{sigma}]) and cross-matching with radio, X-ray, and proper-motion catalogs. Finally, we consider the catalog's utility for determining the optical luminosity function of quasars and are able to confirm the flattening of the bright-end slope of the quasar luminosity function at z~4 as compared to z~2.
Photometric & spectroscopic obs. of TOI-954 and K2-329
Short Name:
J/AJ/161/82
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We report the discovery of two short-period Saturn-mass planets, one transiting the G subgiant TOI-954 (TIC44792534, V=10.343, T=9.78) observed in TESS sectors 4 and 5 and one transiting the G dwarf K2-329 (EPIC246193072, V=12.70, K=10.67) observed in K2 campaigns 12 and 19. We confirm and characterize these two planets with a variety of ground-based archival and follow-up observations, including photometry, reconnaissance spectroscopy, precise radial velocity, and high-resolution imaging. Combining all available data, we find that TOI-954b has a radius of 0.852_-0.062_^+0.053^R_Jup_ and a mass of 0.174_-0.017_^+0.018^M_Jup_ and is in a 3.68day orbit, while K2-329b has a radius of 0.774_-0.024_^+0.026^R_Jup_ and a mass of 0.260_-0.022_^+0.020^M_Jup_ and is in a 12.46day orbit. As TOI-954b is 30 times more irradiated than K2-329b but more or less the same size, these two planets provide an opportunity to test whether irradiation leads to inflation of Saturn-mass planets and contribute to future comparative studies that explore Saturn-mass planets at contrasting points in their lifetimes.
Photometric & spectroscopic study of AF And in M31
Short Name:
J/AJ/158/175
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We present a photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the Hubble-Sandage variable star AF And in M31. The data have been taken under the Nainital Microlensing Survey during 1998-2002, and follow-up observations were carried out until 2011. During this period, photometric observations in Cousins R and I bands were obtained for 169 nights spanning about 5000 days. AF And showed a prominent outburst around 1999 mid-January, followed by a gradual decrease in brightness of about 1.5 mag in the next 3 yr with a declining rate of ~0.0015 mag/day, leading to a quiescent phase at the end of 2001. After lying low for about 9 yr, AF And again went through a secondary outburst phase in late 2010 with an amplitude of 0.44 mag, where it lasted for one year before fading back to its quiescent phase. Spectroscopic observations of AF And show prominent Balmer and He I emission lines along with the comparatively weaker Fe II and [Fe II] emissions. Asymmetric emission line profiles in its spectrum imply a mass-loss rate of about 2.2x10^-4^ M_{sun}_/yr through the stellar winds in the photosphere. Using spectral energy distribution fitting, we find a photospheric temperature of 33000+/-3000 K during the visual minimum. Using a weak P Cygni profile of the He I emission line, the wind terminal velocity for AF And is found to be around 280-300 km/s.