NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0257
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0257 |
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PI: Idan Ginsburg, Dartmouth College, idan.ginsburg@gmail.com
Address: Physics Department, 6127 Wilder Laboratory, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
CoI: Warren Brown, Harvard University
CoI: Gary Wegner, Dartmouth College
Title: Detecting Photometric Variability of Hypervelocity Stars
Abstract:
"Hypervelocity stars" (HVSs) have sufficient velocity to escape the
Milky Way. HVSs are found in the halo but thought to be produced by the
massive black hole at the Galactic Center. The fact that HVSs have
traveled over 50 kpc from the Galactic Center, allows us to measure the
dark matter that surrounds the Milky Way. Yet, we are missing a key
piece of information: the nature and distance of these HVSs. We request
4 nights of WIYN 3.5m imaging to measure the photometric variability and
constrain the nature of 14 HVSs. This will allow for determining
whether HVSs are main sequence stars, in which case they have effective
temperatures that make them excellent candidates for being slowly
pulsating B stars. Very importantly, this will also allow accurate
distance estimates which will leverage our Hubble Space Telescope proper
motion measurements. Only by knowing the HVSs' distances and full space
trajectories can we firmly establish their nature and measure the
distribution of dark matter in the Galaxy; mapped by the HVSs'
trajectories out of the Galactic Center.
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 > 2012A-0257 |
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