Observing Variable Stars, Novae and Supernovae

Variable stars can be fascinating objects to study. This complete practical guide and resource package instructs amateur astronomers in observing and monitoring variable stars and other objects of variable brightness. Descriptions of the objects are accompanied by explanations of the background astrophysics, providing readers with a real insight into what they are observing at the telescope. The main instrumental requirements for observing and estimating the brightness of objects by visual means and by CCD photometry are detailed, and there is advice on the selection of equipment. The book contains a CD-ROM packed with resources, including hundreds of light-curves and over 600 printable finder charts. Containing extensive practical advice, this comprehensive guide is an invaluable resource for amateur astronomers of all levels, from complete beginners to more advanced observers.

Preface

ix

Acknowledgements

xi

1 Foundations, federations, and finder charts

1

(19)

1.1 Star brightnesses

2

(1)

1.2 Absolute magnitude and distance modulus

3

(1)

1.3 Variable star nomenclature

4

(4)

1.4 Variable star classification

8

(2)

1.5 The General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS)

10

(1)

1.6 Who wants your observations?

11

(2)

1.7 Finder charts and sequence charts

13

(3)

1.8 Light-curves and Julian Day Numbers

16

(4)

2 Variables in vision

20

(19)

2.1 What type of telescope is best?

20

(3)

2.2 What size of telescope is best?

23

(6)

2.3 Eyepieces and fields of view

29

(2)

2.4 Vignetting

31

(5)

2.5 Binoculars

36

(3)

3 Astrovariables reckoned

39

(20)

3.1 Preparations

39

(3)

3.2 Collimation

42

(10)

3.3 Finding your chosen variable

52

(2)

3.4 Making the magnitude estimate

54

(2)

3.5 Some difficulties and some remedies

56

(3)

4 Photometry

59

(22)

4.1 Some basic principles of CCD astrocameras

59

(4)

4.2 The imaging area and resolution of a CCD camera when used on your telescope

63

(2)

4.3 CCD astrocameras in practice

65

(2)

4.4 Getting the focused image onto the CCD and keeping it there

67

(3)

4.5 Taking the picture

70

(1)

4.6 Calibration frames

71

(3)

4.7 Obtaining magnitude measures from a CCD image

74

(4)

4.8 Filters for photometry

78

(2)

4.9 Just the beginning

80

(1)

5 Stars great and small

81

(19)

5.1 Our daytime star

81

(3)

5.2 Our stable Sun

84

(4)

5.3 Spectral lines

88

(4)

5.4 Stellar spectra

92

(2)

5.5 Information from spectra

94

(2)

5.6 Luminosity classes

96

(2)

5.7 The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram

98

(2)

6 Variable beginnings

100

(21)

6.1 Single-star variables on the H-R diagram

100

(1)

6.2 Stellar nurseries within the interstellar medium

100

(5)

6.3 An unstable start in life

105

(3)

6.4 Stellar adolescence and the ZAMS

108

(3)

6.5 Stellar adulthood and stability

111

(2)

6.6 The fate of a low-mass star

113

(4)

6.7 The evolution of a star like the Sun

117

(2)

6.8 The evolution of a massive star

119

(2)

7 Clockwork pulsators

121

(12)

7.1 A pulsating menagerie

121

(2)

7.2 The physics of stellar pulsation

123

(5)

7.3 CEP (Cepheid) and CEP(B) stars; DCEP (Classical Cepheid) and DCEPS stars; CW (W Virginis), CWA and CWB stars

128

(3)

7.4 RR (RR Lyrae), RR(B), RRAB, and RRC stars

131

(2)

8 Less regular single-star variables

133

(20)

8.1 M (Mira) stars

133

(4)

8.2 SR (semi-regular variable); SRA; SRB; SRC; SRD; and SRS stars

137

(4)

8.3 A naked-eye hypergiant variable star

141

(2)

8.4 L (slow irregular variable); LB and LC stars

143

(1)

8.5 Other pulsating variable stars

144

(2)

8.6 RCB(R Coronae Borealis) stars

146

(3)

8.7 GCAS (Gamma Cassiopeia) and B[e] stars

149

(1)

8.8 Other single-star eruptive variables

150

(1)

8.9 Rotating variable stars

151

(2)

9 Eclipsing binary stars and novae

153

(19)

9.1 A matter of gravity

153

(2)

9.2 Eclipsing binary stars

155

(4)

9.3 Introduction to interacting stars

159

(4)

9.4 N, NA and NB (classical novae), and NC stars

163

(4)

9.5 NR stars (recurrent novae)

167

(1)

9.6 Novae on the accompanying CD-ROM

168

(1)

9.7 NL stars (nova-like variables)

169

(1)

9.8 Nova hunting

170

(2)

10 Cataclysmic and symbiotic systems

172

(18)

10.1 How to make a cataclysmic variable

172

(3)

10.2 UG (U Geminorum) stars, aka dwarf novae

175

(5)

10.3 Eclipsing dwarf novae

180

(3)

10.4 Dwarf novae on the accompanying CD-ROM

183

(2)

10.5 Polars, intermediate polars, and other cataclysmic subtypes

185

(1)

10.6 ZAND (Z Andromedae) stars

186

(2)

10.7 Intense X-ray sources

188

(2)

11 The extra-galactic realm

190

(21)

11.1 Neutron stars

190

(1)

11.2 Supernovae

191

(6)

11.3 Supernovae on the accompanying CD-ROM

197

(1)

11.4 Supernova hunting

197

(2)

11.5 Black holes

199

(1)

11.6 Hypernovae

200

(3)

11.7 Quasars and active galaxies

203

(4)

11.8 Cosmic chameleons

207

(2)

11.9 Quasars and active galaxies on the accompanying CD-ROM

209

(2)

Glossary

211

(6)

Resources

217

(4)

Index

221

(8)

The accompanying CD-ROM

229

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Observing Variable Stars, Novae and Supernovae

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials