Published February 1991 | Version v1
Journal article

Time-resolved CCD photometry of an ensemble of stars in the open cluster M67

  • 1. Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ (USA)
  • 2. Observatorio Interamericano de Cerro Tololo, La Serena (Chile)
  • 3. High Altitude Observatory, Boulder, CO (USA)
  • 4. Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD (USA)

Description

Stars in the central region of the old open cluster M67 were monitored for stability using CCD, time-resolved photometry. Five sites with 1 m class telescopes participated in an intensive monitoring effort, yielding contiguous 14 night coverage with 1 min temporal resolution. Noise levels to 0.0008 mag variation relative to an ensemble mean were attained at 13th mag over 9 hr time series. Limits to detection of coherent oscillations with periods of 3-20 min, assuming a solarlike spectrum of frequencies, are 100 micromag (30 times solar amplitude) for the best cases. Evidence suggestive of p-mode oscillations is shown for a few stars, but an unambiguous detection is not claimed. Serendipitous detection was made of two new W UMa stars in M67, two oscillating blue stragglers (with multiple modes) a likely AM Her cataclysmic variable with a 2.091 hr period, and several stars with low-amplitude intensity changes over timescales of 1-10 days, that presumably result from rotation or orbital motion. 40 refs

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astronomical Journal
Journal Volume
101
Series
Astron. J.
Journal Page Range
541-561
ISSN
0004-6256
CODEN
ANJOA