NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0521
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0521 |
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PI: Michael Reed, Missouri State University, mreed@sdbv.missouristate.edu
Address: Physics Department, 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65897, USA
CoI: Simon O'Toole, Anglo-Australian Telescope
CoI: Amanda Quint, Missouri State University
Title: Constraining compact binary stars from the Kepler field.
Abstract:
The Kepler mission is obtaining stellar photometry of unprecedented
precision. One goal of the mission is to discern the interior structure
of stars via their pulsations. For compact pulsating stars, with
periods of a few minutes to a few hours, Kepler is revealing tens of
periodicities with a richness unobtainable from ground-based
observations. It is also finding many of these objects are in binary
systems. The telescope obtains photometry in one broad-band filter only
however, so is unfortunately not optimal for discerning the stars'
binary properties. Binarity is an important means to determine the mass
and size of stars, independent of their pulsation. These Kepler targets
are therefore important for two reasons: first, they provide an
independent way of finding stellar masses, which can be compared with
asteroseismic results; and second, understanding them will provide
insight into the evolutionary history of compact binary stars, in this
case, the subdwarf B stars. We will also obtain accurate effective
temperatures and surface gravities, parameters which are vital for
asteroseismic modeling.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0521 |
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