Studying Variable Stars Discovered Through Exoplanet-Transit Surveys: A "Research Opportunity Program" Project

Volume 36 number 1 (2008)

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John R. Percy

Rahul Chandra

Mario Napoleone

Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto ON,

Abstract

We discuss the study and classification of variable stars discovered as a by-product of searches for exoplanet transits—slight dimmings of stars by planets in orbit around them. We describe two specific projects carried out by undergraduate students in the University of Toronto's Research Opportunity Program. We discuss the nature of this program, in which second-year (sophomore) students can complete a research project for course credit.