Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T02:37:38.904Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Accuracy in variable star work: The three-star single-channel technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Michel Breger*
Affiliation:
Institute of Astronomy, University of Vienna, Austria

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The three-star technique for photoelectric photometers is discussed. The technique is used to study millimag variations of variable stars with periods in the range of 30 minutes to a few days. It is emphasized that for highest precision two comparison stars should be used and observed as often as the variable star. The different types of numbers used to express the precision of measurement are discussed together with possible misinterpretations.

Finally, the successful use of an extinction coefficient derived from differential extinction between the three stars is illustrated with measurements showing an extreme amount of instrumental sensitivity drift.

Type
Session 2 High Precision Photometry
Copyright
Copyright © C.J. Butler and I. Elliottt 1993

References

Breger, M. 1966, ApJ 146, 958 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Breger, M., Balona, L.A. and Grothues, H.-G. 1991, A&A 243, 160 Google Scholar
Gilliland, R.L. and Brown, T.M. 1992, PASP 104, 582 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kjeldsen, H. and Frandsen, S. 1992, PASP 104, 413 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, A.T., Genet, R.M., Boyd, L.J., Borucki, W.J., Lockwood, G.W., Henry, G.W., Hall, D.S., Pyper Smith, D., Baliunas, S.J., Donahue, R., Epand, D.H. 1991, PASP 103, 221 CrossRefGoogle Scholar