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Binary star research using
„microtelescopes“
Miloslav Zejda, Zdeněk Mikulášek, Jiří Liška
Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
Petr Svoboda
private observatory, Brno, Czech Republic
KOLOS 2011, Kolonica, December 1, 2011
first telescopes – diameter only several cm!
Galileo & Castelli:
discoveries of binaries or multiple systems:
Mizar (1616),
J1 Orionis – Trapez (1617)
b Scorpii …
Variable stars observations (in modern history since 1596)
Means:
• naked eye – limits – 6-7 mag, • telescope + eye – 1844 Argelander• telescope + photography – 1881 Draper – 14.7 mag• telescope + photoelectric photometer
1892 Monck, 1907 Stebinns• 1946 Kron, early 50‘s Johnson & Morgan UBV• telescope + CCD – 1979 – Kitt Peak NO
Silicon age
spread of objective measurements among many observatories and amateur astronomers
increasing number of photometric measurements
observing of fainter and fainter objects
HOWEVER
stars brighter than 6 mag are too bright
=> lack of observations of bright stars!
Do we need observations of bright stars?
yes, indeed!
Why?
• variability of bright stars is usually known for a long time => unique possibility to study long-term variations
• usage of different methods except photometry
objections?
surveys – ASAS… - monochromatic, unsatisfactory time resolution
space missions – Hipparcos – good, but old, time resolution
Kepler, COROT – excellent jobs, but …
GAIA – bright limit 6 mag
nano-satellite – BRITE project
solution?
• return to Galileo‘s size telescopes
=> usage of micro/nanotelescopes• „windows astronomy“• „balcony astronomy“
• break down the prejudices• suitable for amateurs and small
observatories
Advantages: • cheap acquisition• cheap and efficient practise• excellent opportunity to obtain unique
long sets of observations • possibility for students and travellers
suggestions?
• to equip the observers with a kit (CCD, photometric filters, nanotelescope)
• tell them what and how they should observe (targets, filters, time resolutions…)
• establish a network of observers – see for an example http://var.astro.cz
Examples of usage nanotelescopes
Minima timings of eclipsing binaries
J. Liška: RF 0.04m + CCD ATIK 16IcP. Svoboda; 0.035m refractorCCD SBIG ST7 filter I
TW Dra
NO Pup
Phe
DI = 0.15 mag
SAAO 0,5m + single-channel PEPMJUO 0,6m + single-channel PEP
L. C. Watson, J. D. Pritchard, J. B. Hearnshaw,P P. M. Kilmartin and A. C. Gilmore: MNRAS 325, 143–150 (2001)
J. Liška: 0.04m refractor + CCD G2-0402
Light curves
P. Svoboda; 0.035m refractor, CCD SBIG ST7
amplitude DV≈ 0.02 mag
P. Svoboda; 0.035m refractor, CCD SBIG ST7
HD 1438 (And)
It is worth to do it!
Thank you for your attention!
In the presentation we used observations and materials from:
VSES archiveNYX archivepersonal archives of authorsMNRAS 325, 143–150 (2001)NASA ADS servisewebpages: http://ccd.mii.cz
http://var.astro.czhttp://www.astronomie2009.czhttp://en.wikipedia.org
and others
Your notes are welcome!
