A Search for Variable Stars in Ruprecht 134 (Abstract)

Volume 46 number 1 (2018)

Rachid El Hamri, Mel Blake

University of North Alabama, Physics and Earth Science Department, Box 5065, Florence, AL 35632; rmblake@una.edu

Abstract

(Abstract only) Contact binary stars have been found in many old open clusters. These stars are useful for obtaining the distances to these star clusters and for understanding the stellar populations and evolution of the old clusters. Ruprecht 134 is a relatively neglected, old open cluster with an age of about 1 Gyr. We have obtained observations of Ruprecht 134 using the 1-meter telescope at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory for the purpose of identifying candidate contact binaries. We present the preliminary results of this search and discuss future observations.