Discoveries for δ Scuti Variable Stars in the NASA Kepler 2 Mission (Abstract)

Volume 47 number 1 (2019)

Joyce A. Guzik

432 Pruitt Avenue, White Rock, NM 87547; jguzik@mindspring.com

Jorge Garcia

address correspondence to J. A. Guzik, 432 Pruitt Avenue, White Rock, NM 87547; jguzik@mindspring.com

Jason Jackiewicz

address correspondence to J. A. Guzik, 432 Pruitt Avenue, White Rock, NM 87547; jguzik@mindspring.com

Abstract

(Abstract only) The NASA Kepler spacecraft launched nearly ten years ago has been observing fields along the ecliptic plane for about 90 days each to detect planets and monitor stellar variability. We analyzed the light curves of thousands of main-sequence stars observed as part of the Kepler Guest Observer program. Here we summarize the statistics of discovery and properties of the pulsation amplitude spectra for about 250 δ Scuti variable stars found in Kepler 2 Campaigns 4 through 17. These stars are about twice as massive as the Sun, pulsating in many simultaneous radial and nonradial pulsation modes, with periods of about two hours. We discuss the potential and challenges for these stars of using pulsations to constrain stellar interior properties.