A homogeneous set of ground-based BVRI observations of ~600 Cepheids is presented to check the Cepheid period-luminosity (PL) zero point for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The sample of Cepheids is completely self-contained and has been reduced consistently to eliminate photometric differences caused by combining multiple sources of photometry. The Cepheid distances to nearby galaxies obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale were computed assuming a "standard" PL relation based on a compilation of photoelectric observations of 34 Cepheids and a standard distance modulus to the LMC of 18.50. The final Key Project results substituted a statistically stronger PL relation obtained by the OGLE collaboration. In this paper we compare our data with the OGLE PL relation; the subsample of LMC Cepheids with similar periods to those discovered in the nearby galaxies is fainter at the relevant periods by 0.04+/-0.02mag than the OGLE sample. Substituting in turn this PL relation for that of the OGLE collaboration would raise the Hubble constant by 2%+/-1%, a correction which is not significant. The multicolor data set will also be useful in considering the effects of reddening and chemical composition and deriving an improved Cepheid period-luminosity relation for the LMC.
We present results from optical photometric and spectroscopic observations of the eruptive pre-main sequence star V582 Aur. Variability of the star was reported a few years ago when it was suspected as a possible FU Orionis object. Due to the small number of currently known FUors, a new object of this type is ideal target for follow-up photometric and spectroscopic observations. We carried out BVRI CCD photometric observations in the field of V582 Aur from 2009 August to 2013 April. We acquired high-, medium-, and low-resolution spectroscopy of V582 Aur during this period. To study the pre-outburst variability of the target and construct its historical light curve, we searched for archival observations in photographic plate collections. The pre-outburst photographic observations of V582 Aur show low-amplitude light variations typical of T Tauri stars. Archival photographic observations indicate that the increase in brightness began in late 1984 or early 1985 and the star reached the maximum level of brightness at 1986 January. Our BVRI photometric observations show large amplitude variations ({Delta}V~2.8mag.) during the 3.5 year period of observations. Most of the time, however, the star remains in a state close to the maximum brightness. The deepest drop in brightness was observed in the spring of 2012, when the brightness of the star fell to a level close to the pre-outburst. The multicolor photometric data show a color reversal during the minimum in brightness, which is typical of UX Ori variables.
New CCD photometric BVRI observations of the puzzling W UMa type binary star, TZ Bootis, are presented from our observations in 2010. By using the updated version of the Wilson-Devinney code, the first modern photometric solution is deduced from new photometric observations and published spectroscopic data.
Results are presented from CCD BVRI-observations of 145 comparison stars in the neighborhoods of 14 Seyfert galaxies, 3 quasars, and 5 BL Lac objects with right ascensions of 12 to 24 hours. The magnitudes of the observed stars ranged from V=11 to V=17. The typical photometric error for stars brighter V=14 is 0.01m. The B, V, Rc, and Ic magnitudes of most of these stars were not known previously. 14'x14' finding charts are provided. These results can be used for differential photometry of the nuclei of active galaxies in the B, V, Rc, and Ic bands.
A current issue in the study of planetary nebulae with close binary central stars (CSs) is the extent to which the binaries affect the shaping of the nebulae. Recent studies have begun to show a high coincidence rate between nebulae with large-scale axial or point symmetries and close binary stars. In addition, combined binary-star and spatiokinematic modeling of the nebulae have demonstrated that all of the systems studied to date appear to have their central binary axis aligned with the primary axis of the nebula. Here we add two more systems to the list, the CSs and nebulae of NGC 6337 and Sp 1. We show both systems to be low inclination, with their binary axis nearly aligned with our line of sight. Their inclinations match published values for the inclinations of their surrounding nebulae. Including these two systems with the existing sample statistically demonstrates a direct link between the central binary and the nebular morphology. In addition to the systems' inclinations we give ranges for other orbital parameters from binary modeling, including updated orbital periods for the binary CSs of NGC 6337 and Sp 1.
We present new spectroscopic and BVRI photometric observations of the double-lined eclipsing binary AV Del (period=3.85days) conducted over six observing seasons.
Using a CCD detector, BVRI photometry has been carried out in the vicinity of nine Lynds dark nebulae. In conjunction with spectroscopic data which could be obtained at a later stage, the data listed herein could be used for possible distance determinations of the nine nebulae.
New photometric and spectroscopic observations of galaxies in the directions of three distant clusters are presented as part of our ongoing high-redshift cluster survey. The clusters are Cl 1324+3011 at z=0.76, Cl 1604+4304 at z=0.90, and Cl 1604+4321 at z=0.92. We have spectroscopically confirmed cluster membership for 2040 galaxies in each system and have also obtained spectra for over 280 field galaxies spanning the range 0<z<2.5.
We explored the regions within a radius of 25 arcsec around 473 nearby, low-metallicity G- to M-type stars using (VR)I optical filters and small-aperture telescopes. About 10% of the sample was searched up to angular separations of 90 arcsec. We applied photometric and astrometric techniques to detect true physical companions to the targets. The great majority of the sample stars was drawn from the Carney-Latham surveys; their metallicities range from roughly solar to [Fe/H]=-3.5dex. Our I-band photometric survey detected objects that are between 0 and 5mag fainter (completeness) than the target stars; the maximum dynamical range of our exploration is 9mag.
We present high-quality BVRI photometric data in the field of globular cluster NGC6496 obtained with the SOAR Telescope Adaptive Module (SAM). Our observations were collected as part of the ongoing SAM commissioning. The distance modulus and cluster color excess as found from the red clump are (m-M)_V_=15.71+/-0.02mag and E(V-I)=0.28+/-0.02mag. An age of 10.5+/-0.5Gyr is determined from the difference in magnitude between the red clump and the subgiant branch. These parameters are in excellent agreement with the values derived from isochrone fitting. From the color-magnitude diagram we find a metallicity of [Fe/H]=-0.65dex and hence support a disk classification for NGC 6496. The complete BVRI data set for NGC6469 is made available in the electronic edition of the Journal.
