Variable Stars

HT Cas eclipse (2010)
HT Cas eclipse (2010)
HT Cas eclipse (2010)

HT Cas eclipse (2010)

Likely, variable stars are the most studied objects at the Virtual Telescope facility, mainly cataclysmic systems, also known as dwarf novae. Over the years, we literally did tens of thousands of measurements, often discovering the SU UMa nature of a given cataclysmic variable.

As for dwarf novae, we intensively collaborate with the Astronomy Department of Kyoto University (Japan)  and the Center for Backyard Astrophysics of Columbia University (NY, USA).

Thanks to the very short activation time of the Virtual Telescope system, it is possible to start the photometric coverage of a given target as soon as an alert is received. This way, the facility provided early, precious coverage in many cases, often being the first to spot and report important features (superhumps, eclipses, unusual periods).

Since Jan. 2011, the SU UMa/WZ Sge nature of 48 cataclysmic variable stars has been discovered, a truly outstanding result, making the Virtual Telescope the most productive facility in this kind of work.

Here it is a list of our most recent results.

2019
– TCP J06373299-0935420: discovery of superhumps (Feb. 2019)
2015
– ASASSN-15po: discovery of early superhumps (Sept. 2015)
2014 
2013 (total: 5)
– MASTER OT J005740.99+443101.5: discovery of early superhumps (Nov. 2013)
– MASTER OT J234843.23+250250.4: discovery of  superhumps in a likely AM CVn system (Oct. 2013)
– MASTER OT J061335.30+395714.7: discovery of superhumps (Oct. 2013)
– ASASSN-13ck: discovery of superhumps (Sept. 2013)
– CSS130106:112619+084651: discovery of early superhumps (Jan. 2013)
2012 (total: 31)
– MASTER OT J162314.36+650038.2: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Dec. 2012)
– MASTER OT J105025.99+332811.4: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Dec. 2012)
– MASTER OT J030128.77+401104.9: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Dec. 2012)
– CSS 100317:041637+292806: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Dec. 2012)
– CSS 081026:015321+340857: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap! (Dec. 2012)
– MASTER OT J203749.39+552210.3: discovery of early superhumps (Oct. 2012)
– MASTER OT J081110.46+660008.5: discovery of (early) superhumps (Oct. 2012)
– CSS 110921:220641+301436: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Oct. 2012)
– SDSS J080033.86+192416.5: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Oct. 2012)
– MASTER OT J001952.31+464933.0: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Oct. 2012)
– MASTER OT J000820.50+773119.1: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Oct. 2012)
– CSS J214934.6-121909: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Sept. 2012)
– OT J23272715+0855391: discovery of superhumps in this peculiar WZ Sge system (Sept. 2012)
– TCP J17521907+5001155: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Aug. 2012)
– MASTER OT J211258.65+242145.4: discovery of early superhumps (Jun. 2012)
– OT J231142.8+204036: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jun. 2012)
– OT J224736.4+250436: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jun. 2012)
– OT J135418.8+273603: discovery of its likely SU UMa nature (Jun. 2012)
– SDSS J172102.48+273301.2: discovery of superhymps in this AM CVn system (Jun 2012)
– V611 Her: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jun. 2012)
– MASTER OT J221811.12+654219.9: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jun. 2012)
– MASTER OT J221621.91+705415.5: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jun. 2012)
– MASTER OT J182201.93+324906.7: discovery of its SU UMa nature (May 2012)
– CSS120424:125906+242634: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Apr. 2012)
– OT J160410.6+145618: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Mar. 2012)
– OT J084127.4+210053: discovery of its SU UMa nature (into the period gap?) (Mar. 2012)
– OT J131625.7-151313: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap! (Mar. 2012)
– OT J084616.9+311555: discovery of SU UMa, eclipsing nature, period gap (Mar. 2012)
– CSS120315:094854+014911: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Mar. 2012)
– OT J050716.2+125314: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jan. 2012)
– OT J011516.5+245530: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jan. 2012)
2011 (total: 16)
– OT J064608.2+403305: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Dec. 2011)
– OT J221232.0+160140: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap! (Dec. 2011)
– OT J184228.1+483742: discovery of superhumps of this rare WZ Sge star! (Oct. 2011)
– OT J214738.4+244553: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap! (Oct. 2011)
– OT J232022.36+444330.8: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap!  (Aug. 2011)
– SV Ari (first outburst ever since 1905!): discovery of its SU UMa nature (Aug. 2011)
– SSS110729:161221-150939: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jul. 2011)
– SDSS J162830.89+240259.1: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jul. 2011)
– OT J142548.1+151502: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap! (Jun. 2011)
– OT J231308.1+233702: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jun. 2011)
– OT J145921.8+354806: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap! (Jun. 2011)
– OT J162806.15+065315.2: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Jun. 2011)
– Wils_SDSSJ080306.99+284855.8: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Apr. 2011)
– OT J120052.9-152620: discovery of its SU UMa nature into the period gap! (Feb. 2011)
– OT J044216.0-002334: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Feb. 2011)
– OT J043112.5-031452: discovery of its SU UMa and eclipsing nature (Jan. 2011)
2010
– OT J234440.5-001206: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Sept. 2010)
– Wils_SDSSJ162520.29+120308.7: discovery of SU UMa nature in the period gap! (Jul. 2010)

 

Some discoveries before 2010:

EG Aqr (discovery of its SU UMa nature)
V1006 Cyg (discovery of its probable SU UMa Nature)
V455 And (excellent photometry during its extremely rare 2007 superoutburst)
– OT_J170343.3+090835 (discovery of its SU UMa nature, 2009)
– OT_J223003.0-145835 (discovery of its SU UMa nature, 2009)
– New cataclysmic variable in Auriga: discovery of its SU UMa nature (Nov. 2009)

 

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