Identification of ASAS Ellipsoidal Variables Misclassified as Miscellaneous in VSX (Poster abstract)

Volume 44 number 2 (2016)

Kristine Larsen

Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06053; Larsen@ccsu.edu

Corwin Hoover

Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06053

Abstract

(Abstract only) Over 25,000 variable stars found in VSX were classified as miscellaneous by the automated analysis program for ASAS (All Sky Automated Survey) light curve data. As has been demonstrated by other authors, many of these stars can be classified as one of a number of standard variable classes through human analysis. Among the types of variable stars mislabeled as miscellaneous are ellipsoidal variable stars (ELL’s). These are close binary systems in which the stars do not eclipse; the changes in brightness are due to the nonspherical shape of the stars. This project identified and then analyzed ELL candidates in the spreadsheet of ASAS “miscellaneous stars,” specifically concentrating on early spectral class variables with periods of less than 15 days. ASAS data of the candidates was analyzed using vstar in order to generate phase plots and determine periods. The goal of this project has been to identify ELL’s from this sample in order to update the VSX (Variable Star Index). This poster will describe the process used to identify and analyze 540 candidates as well as preliminary results.