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Searching for binary central stars of planetary nebulae with Kepler

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2012

Dimitri Douchin
Affiliation:
Macquarie University Research Centre in Astronomy, Astrophysics & Astrophotonics Department of Physics & Astronomy, Macquarie University Australia GRAAL, UniversitéMontpellier 2, France
George H. Jacoby
Affiliation:
Giant Magellan Telescope, USA
Orsola De Marco
Affiliation:
Macquarie University Research Centre in Astronomy, Astrophysics & Astrophotonics Department of Physics & Astronomy, Macquarie University Australia
Steve B. Howell
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center, USA
Mattias Kronberger
Affiliation:
Deep Sky Hunters Collaboration
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Abstract

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The Kepler Observatory offers unprecedented photometric precision (<1 mmag) and cadence for monitoring the central stars of planetary nebulae, allowing the detection of tiny periodic light curve variations, a possible signature of binarity. With this precision free from the observational gaps dictated by weather and lunar cycles, we are able to detect companions at much larger separations and with much smaller radii than ever before. We have been awarded observing time to obtain light-curves of the central stars of the six confirmed and possible planetary nebulae in the Kepler field, including the newly discovered object Kn 61, at cadences of both 30 min and 1 min. Of these six objects, we could confirm for three a periodic variability consistent with binarity. Two others are variables, but the initial data set presents only weak periodicities. For the central star of Kn 61, Kepler data will be available in the near future.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2012

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