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STEREO observations of long period variables
Observations from the Heliospheric Imagers (HI-1) on both the STEREOspacecrafts have been analysed to search for very long period largeamplitude stellar variability, finding six new candidates. A total of 85objects, mostly previously known Mira variables, were found to showconvincing variability on time-scales of over a 100 days. These objectsrange in peak brightness from about fourth magnitude to 10th magnitudein R and have periods between about 170 and 490 d. There is a period gapbetween 200 and 300 d where no objects were found and this is discussed.15 of the Miras in the sample are previously recorded as having variableperiods and the possibility for these and two other stars to haveundergone a period change or to be irregular is discussed. In additionto the six stars in the sample not previously recorded as variable,another seven are recorded as variable but with no classification. Ourperiod determination is the first to be made for 19 of these 85 stars.The sample represents a set of very long period variables that would bechallenging to monitor from the Earth, or even from Earth orbit, owingto their position on the ecliptic plane and that their periods are oftenclose to a year or an integer fraction thereof. The possibility for thenew candidates to possess circumstellar shells is discussed.
| Random forest automated supervised classification of Hipparcos periodic variable stars
We present an evaluation of the performance of an automatedclassification of the Hipparcos periodic variable stars into 26 types.The sub-sample with the most reliable variability types available in theliterature is used to train supervised algorithms to characterize thetype dependencies on a number of attributes. The most useful attributesevaluated with the random forest methodology include, in decreasingorder of importance, the period, the amplitude, the V-I colour index,the absolute magnitude, the residual around the folded light-curvemodel, the magnitude distribution skewness and the amplitude of thesecond harmonic of the Fourier series model relative to that of thefundamental frequency. Random forests and a multi-stage scheme involvingBayesian network and Gaussian mixture methods lead to statisticallyequivalent results. In standard 10-fold cross-validation (CV)experiments, the rate of correct classification is between 90 and 100per cent, depending on the variability type. The main mis-classificationcases, up to a rate of about 10 per cent, arise due to confusion betweenSPB and ACV blue variables and between eclipsing binaries, ellipsoidalvariables and other variability types. Our training set and thepredicted types for the other Hipparcos periodic stars are availableonline.
| 3.6 Years of DIRBE Near-infrared Stellar Light Curves
The weekly averaged near-infrared fluxes for 2652 stars were extractedfrom the cold and warm era all-sky maps of the Diffuse InfraredBackground Experiment (DIRBE). Since the DIRBE program only archived theindividual Calibrated Infrared Observations for the 10 month cold eramission, the weekly averaged fluxes were all that were available for thewarm era. The steps required to extract stellar fluxes are described asare the adjustments that were necessary to correct the results forseveral systematic effects. The observations are at a cadence of once aweek for 3.6 years (~1300 days), providing continuous sampling onvariable stars that span the entire period for the longest fundamentalpulsators. The stars are divided into three categories: those with largeamplitude of variability, smaller amplitude variables, and sources whosenear-infrared brightness do not vary according to our classificationcriteria. We show examples of the results and the value of the addedbaseline in determining the phase lag between the visible and infrared.
| Simultaneous Observations of SiO and H2O Masers Toward Known Stellar SiO and H2O Maser Sources. I.
We present the results of simultaneous observations of both SiO andH2O masers toward 166 known SiO and H2O masersources using the Korean VLBI Network Yonsei 21 m radio telescope during2009 June. Both SiO and H2O maser emission were detected from112 sources giving a detection rate of 67% at one epoch observation.SiO-only maser emission was detected from 42 sources, whileH2O-only maser emission was detected from four sources. Mostof the SiO masers appear around the stellar velocity, whileH2O masers show different characteristics compared with SiOmasers. There are more than 20 sources that show a one-way peak ordouble peaks with respect to the stellar velocity and SiO maser peakvelocity. The H2O maser peak and integrated intensity ratioswith respect to those of SiO (v = 1) show increasingly larger valuesfrom Mira variables, to OH/IR stars, to semi-regular variables. Inaddition, the IRAS two-color diagram of SiO and H2O maserobservational results is discussed.
| Observations of SiO J = 3-2 and J = 2-1 Emission in Late-Type Stars. II.
Second observations of SiO v = 1, 2, J = 3-2 transitions, together withSiO v = 1, J = 2-1 transitions, have been performed toward 42 programlate-type stars, using the 14 m radio telescope at Taeduk RadioAstronomy Observatory, from 1997 February to 1998 March. The v = 1, J =3-2 maser was detected from 24 stars giving a detection rate of 57%,which is slightly higher than that of the first observations of1995-1996. Four of these are new detections. For the v = 2, J = 3-2maser, the line was detected from six stars including two newdetections. The peak velocities and the velocity patterns of the v = 1,J = 3-2 masers are different from those of the v = 1, J = 2-1 indicatinga difference in the traced regions. The average total photon flux of thev = 1, J = 3-2 maser is estimated to be 1042.7, that of the v= 2, J = 3-2 maser 1042.2, and that of the v = 1, J = 2-1maser 1043.2 photons s-1. In addition, weconfirm that the v = 2, J = 4-3 maser is stronger than the v = 1, J =4-3.
| Statistical Properties of Stellar H2O Masers --- Results of Three-Year Single-Dish Observations with the VERA Iriki Telescope
We report on the results of monitoring observations of 242 stellarH2O masers, which have been made with the Iriki 20m telescopeof the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) from 2003 July to2006 November. The present paper mainly focuses on 85 stellarH2O masers that have been tightly observed with a timespacing of typically 1--2 months. In particular, 46 masers out of themhave been recognized concerning their periodic flux variation and havelight-curve data of stellar visual light. Thus, the present paper showssome statistical views of the observed time variability properties ofstellar H2O masers. We found a good correlation between atime delay of the variation in the H2O masers flux withrespect to that in the stellar visual light and the stellar pulsationperiod. The corresponding phase lags are mildly scattered, but aremainly concentrated in the range, 0.7 ≤ Δφ ≤ 1.5. Wealso measured line-of-sight velocity drifts of the individual spectralpeaks of H2O maser emission, which indicate radialacceleration of mass-loss outflows from the evolved stars. We discusspossible pulsation-driven shock waves that are enhanced near the stellarsurface, and are propagating outwards in the circumstellar envelope.
| AGB variables and the Mira period-luminosity relation
Published data for large-amplitude asymptotic giant branch variables inthe Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) are re-analysed to establish theconstants for an infrared (K) period-luminosity relation of the formMK = ρ[logP - 2.38] + δ. A slope of ρ = -3.51+/- 0.20 and a zero-point of δ = -7.15 +/- 0.06 are found foroxygen-rich Miras (if a distance modulus of 18.39 +/- 0.05 is used forthe LMC). Assuming this slope is applicable to Galactic Miras we discussthe zero-point for these stars using the revised Hipparcos parallaxestogether with published very long baseline interferometry (VLBI)parallaxes for OH masers and Miras in globular clusters. These result ina mean zero-point of δ = -7.25 +/- 0.07 for O-rich Galactic Miras.The zero-point for Miras in the Galactic bulge is not significantlydifferent from this value.Carbon-rich stars are also discussed and provide results that areconsistent with the above numbers, but with higher uncertainties. Withinthe uncertainties there is no evidence for a significant differencebetween the period-luminosity relation zero-points for systems withdifferent metallicity.
| Pulkovo compilation of radial velocities for 35495 stars in a common system.
Not Available
| First Surface-resolved Results with the Infrared Optical Telescope Array Imaging Interferometer: Detection of Asymmetries in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
We have measured nonzero closure phases for about 29% of our sample of56 nearby asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, using the three-telescopeInfrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) interferometer at near-infraredwavelengths (H band) and with angular resolutions in the range 5-10 mas.These nonzero closure phases can only be generated by asymmetricbrightness distributions of the target stars or their surroundings. Wediscuss how these results were obtained and how they might beinterpreted in terms of structures on or near the target stars. We alsoreport measured angular sizes and hypothesize that most Mira stars wouldshow detectable asymmetry if observed with adequate angular resolution.
| Full polarization study of SiO masers at 86 GHz
Aims.We study the polarization of the SiO maser emission in arepresentative sample of evolved stars in order to derive an estimate ofthe strength of the magnetic field, and thus determine the influence ofthis magnetic field on evolved stars. Methods: .We madesimultaneous spectroscopic measurements of the 4 Stokes parameters, fromwhich we derived the circular and linear polarization levels. Theobservations were made with the IF polarimeter installed at the IRAM 30m telescope. Results: . A discussion of the existing SiO masermodels is developed in the light of our observations. Under the Zeemansplitting hypothesis, we derive an estimate of the strength of themagnetic field. The averaged magnetic field varies between 0 and 20Gauss, with a mean value of 3.5 Gauss, and follows a 1/r law throughoutthe circumstellar envelope. As a consequence, the magnetic field mayplay the role of a shaping, or perhaps collimating, agent of thecircumstellar envelopes in evolved objects.
| Secular Evolution in Mira Variable Pulsations
Stellar evolution theory predicts that asymptotic giant branch (AGB)stars undergo a series of short thermal pulses that significantly changetheir luminosity and mass on timescales of hundreds to thousands ofyears. These pulses are confirmed observationally by the existence ofthe short-lived radioisotope technetium in the spectra of some of thesestars, but other observational consequences of thermal pulses are subtleand may only be detected over many years of observations. Secularchanges in these stars resulting from thermal pulses can be detected asmeasurable changes in period if the star is undergoing Mira pulsations.It is known that a small fraction of Mira variables exhibit largesecular period changes, and the detection of these changes among alarger sample of stars could therefore be useful in evolutionary studiesof these stars. The American Association of Variable Star Observers(AAVSO) International Database currently contains visual data for over1500 Mira variables. Light curves for these stars span nearly a centuryin some cases, making it possible to study the secular evolution of thepulsation behavior on these timescales. In this paper we present theresults of our study of period change in 547 Mira variables using datafrom the AAVSO. We use wavelet analysis to measure the period changes inindividual Mira stars over the span of available data. By making linearfits to the period versus time measurements, we determine the averagerates of period change, dlnP/dt, for each of these stars. We findnonzero dlnP/dt at the 2 σ significance level in 57 of the 547stars, at the 3 σ level in 21 stars, and at the level of 6 σor greater in eight stars. The latter eight stars have been previouslynoted in the literature, and our derived rates of period change largelyagree with published values. The largest and most statisticallysignificant dlnP/dt are consistent with the rates of period changeexpected during thermal pulses on the AGB. A number of other starsexhibit nonmonotonic period change on decades-long timescales, the causeof which is not yet known. In the majority of stars, the periodvariations are smaller than our detection threshold, meaning theavailable data are not sufficient to unambiguously measure slowevolutionary changes in the pulsation period. It is unlikely that morestars with large period changes will be found among heretoforewell-observed Mira stars in the short term, but continued monitoring ofthese and other Mira stars may reveal new and serendipitous candidatesin the future.
| Statistical Constraints for Astrometric Binaries with Nonlinear Motion
Useful constraints on the orbits and mass ratios of astrometric binariesin the Hipparcos catalog are derived from the measured proper motiondifferences of Hipparcos and Tycho-2 (Δμ), accelerations ofproper motions (μ˙), and second derivatives of proper motions(μ̈). It is shown how, in some cases, statistical bounds can beestimated for the masses of the secondary components. Two catalogs ofastrometric binaries are generated, one of binaries with significantproper motion differences and the other of binaries with significantaccelerations of their proper motions. Mathematical relations betweenthe astrometric observables Δμ, μ˙, and μ̈ andthe orbital elements are derived in the appendices. We find a remarkabledifference between the distribution of spectral types of stars withlarge accelerations but small proper motion differences and that ofstars with large proper motion differences but insignificantaccelerations. The spectral type distribution for the former sample ofbinaries is the same as the general distribution of all stars in theHipparcos catalog, whereas the latter sample is clearly dominated bysolar-type stars, with an obvious dearth of blue stars. We point outthat the latter set includes mostly binaries with long periods (longerthan about 6 yr).
| Aus der Sektion 'Karten". Neues aus der AAVSO zum Thema Umgebungskarten !
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| Sektion "Mirasterne": Beobachtungsplanung 2004.
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| Reprocessing the Hipparcos data of evolved stars. III. Revised Hipparcos period-luminosity relationship for galactic long-period variable stars
We analyze the K band luminosities of a sample of galactic long-periodvariables using parallaxes measured by the Hipparcos mission. Theparallaxes are in most cases re-computed from the Hipparcos IntermediateAstrometric Data using improved astrometric fits and chromaticitycorrections. The K band magnitudes are taken from the literature andfrom measurements by COBE, and are corrected for interstellar andcircumstellar extinction. The sample contains stars of several spectraltypes: M, S and C, and of several variability classes: Mira, semiregularSRa, and SRb. We find that the distribution of stars in theperiod-luminosity plane is independent of circumstellar chemistry, butthat the different variability types have different P-L distributions.Both the Mira variables and the SRb variables have reasonablywell-defined period-luminosity relationships, but with very differentslopes. The SRa variables are distributed between the two classes,suggesting that they are a mixture of Miras and SRb, rather than aseparate class of stars. New period-luminosity relationships are derivedbased on our revised Hipparcos parallaxes. The Miras show a similarperiod-luminosity relationship to that found for Large Magellanic CloudMiras by Feast et al. (\cite{Feast-1989:a}). The maximum absolute Kmagnitude of the sample is about -8.2 for both Miras and semi-regularstars, only slightly fainter than the expected AGB limit. We show thatthe stars with the longest periods (P>400 d) have high mass lossrates and are almost all Mira variables.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA \cite{Hipparcos}).Table \ref{Tab:data1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/403/993
| How many Hipparcos Variability-Induced Movers are genuine binaries?
Hipparcos observations of some variable stars, and especially oflong-period (e.g. Mira) variables, reveal a motion of the photocentercorrelated with the brightness variation (variability-induced mover -VIM), suggesting the presence of a binary companion. A re-analysis ofthe Hipparcos photometric and astrometric data does not confirm the VIMsolution for 62 among the 288 VIM objects (21%) in the Hipparcoscatalogue. Most of these 288 VIMs are long-period (e.g. Mira) variables(LPV). The effect of a revised chromaticity correction, which accountsfor the color variations along the light cycle, was then investigated.It is based on ``instantaneous'' V-I color indices derived fromHipparcos and Tycho-2 epoch photometry. Among the 188 LPVs flagged asVIM in the Hipparcos catalogue, 89 (47%) are not confirmed as VIM afterthis improved chromaticity correction is applied. This dramatic decreasein the number of VIM solutions is not surprising, since the chromaticitycorrection applied by the Hipparcos reduction consortia was based on afixed V-I color. Astrophysical considerations lead us to adopt a morestringent criterion for accepting a VIM solution (first-kind risk of0.27% instead of 10% as in the Hipparcos catalogue). With this moresevere criterion, only 27 LPV stars remain VIM, thus rejecting 161 ofthe 188 (86%) of the LPVs defined as VIMs in the Hipparcos catalogue.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).Table 1 is also available in electronic form at the CDS, via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/399/1167
| Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997
| Beobachtungsegebnisse Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemainschaft fur Veranderliche Sterne e.V.
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| Beobachtungsergebnisse Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Veraenderliche Sterne e.V.
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| SiO maser survey of AGB stars in the North Galactic Cap
A SiO maser survey in the J=1-0, v=1 and 2 transitions has been made forIRAS sources in the North Galactic Cap b > 30o) with theNobeyama 45 m radio telescope. The sources were selected on the basis oftheir IRAS 12/25-μm and 25/60-μm flux ratios as likely oxygen-richAGB candidates. SiO masers were detected from 24 out of the 97 selectedsources, where 17 were new detections. The distances and heights abovethe Galactic plane are calculated. The Galactic distribution of detectedand undetected stars indicates that metallicity is likely to govern thedetection rate. The Galactocentric angular velocities of the subsampledstars are derived and their variation with the Galactic height isdiscussed. Based on observations at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory(NRO). NRO is a branch of the National Astronomical Observatory, aninter-university research institute, operated by the Ministry ofEducation, Science and Culture, Japan.
| Long period variable stars: galactic populations and infrared luminosity calibrations
In this paper HIPPARCOS astrometric and kinematic data are used tocalibrate both infrared luminosities and kinematical parameters of LongPeriod Variable stars (LPVs). Individual absolute K and IRAS 12 and 25luminosities of 800 LPVs are determined and made available in electronicform. The estimated mean kinematics is analyzed in terms of galacticpopulations. LPVs are found to belong to galactic populations rangingfrom the thin disk to the extended disk. An age range and a lower limitof the initial mass is given for stars of each population. A differenceof 1.3 mag in K for the upper limit of the Asymptotic Giant Branch isfound between the disk and old disk galactic populations, confirming itsdependence on the mass in the main sequence. LPVs with a thin envelopeare distinguished using the estimated mean IRAS luminosities. The levelof attraction (in the classification sense) of each group for the usualclassifying parameters of LPVs (variability and spectral types) isexamined. Table only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/374/968 or via ASTRIDdatabase (http://astrid.graal.univ-montp2.fr).
| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| Infrared colours for Mira-like long-period variables found in the (Mȯ<~10-7 Msolar yr-1) Hipparcos Catalogue
Near-infrared, JHKL, photometry is presented for 193 Mira andsemi-regular variables that were observed by Hipparcos; periods,bolometric magnitudes and amplitudes are derived for 92 of them. Becauseof the way in which the Hipparcos targets were selected, this group ofstars provides a useful data base of Miras with low mass-loss rates(Mȯ<~10-7Msolaryr-1).Various period-colour relationships are discussed in detail. The colour,particularly BCK = 10.86 - 38.10 K (J - K)0 +64.16(J - K)20 - 50.72(J -K)30 + 19, K-L, at a given period is found todepend on the pulsation amplitude of the star. A comparison with modelssuggests that this is a consequence of atmospheric extension, in thesense that large-amplitude pulsators have very extended atmospheres andredder Mȯ<10-7Msolaryr-1, K-L and H-K but bluerJ-H than their lower amplitude counterparts. The stars with veryextended atmospheres also have higher values of K-[12] and hence highermass-loss rates. This finding provides further evidence for the causalconnection between pulsation and mass loss. Two sequences are identifiedin the Hp-K versus logP diagram (where Hp is the Hipparcos broad-bandmagnitude) at short periods (logP<2.35). At a given period these twogroups have, on average, the same pulsation amplitude, but differentJHKL colours and spectral types. The short-period stars in the bluersequence have similar near-infrared colours to the Miras found inglobular clusters. Long-term trends in the infrared light curves arediscussed for stars that have sufficient data.
| Mira kinematics from Hipparcos data: a Galactic bar to beyond the Solar circle
The space motions of Mira variables are derived from radial velocities,Hipparcos proper motions and a period-luminosity relation. Thepreviously known dependence of Mira kinematics on the period ofpulsation is confirmed and refined. In addition, it is found that Miraswith periods in the range 145-200d in the general Solar neighbourhoodhave a net radial outward motion from the Galactic Centre of75+/-18kms-1. This, together with a lag behind the circularvelocity of Galactic rotation of 98+/-19kms-1, is interpretedas evidence for an elongation of their orbits, with their major axesaligned at an angle of ~17° with the Sun-Galactic Centre line,towards positive Galactic longitudes. This concentration seems to be acontinuation to the Solar circle and beyond of the bar-like structure ofthe Galactic bulge, with the orbits of some local Miras probablypenetrating into the bulge. These conclusions are not sensitive to thedistance scale adopted. A further analysis is given of the short-period(SP) red group of Miras discussed in companion papers in this series. InAppendix A the mean radial velocities and other data for 842 oxygen-richMira-like variables are tabulated. These velocities were derived frompublished optical and radio observations.
| Period-Luminosity-Colour distribution and classification of Galactic oxygen-rich LPVs. I. Luminosity calibrations
The absolute K magnitudes and kinematic parameters of about 350oxygen-rich Long-Period Variable stars are calibrated, by means of anup-to-date maximum-likelihood method, using Hipparcos parallaxes andproper motions together with radial velocities and, as additional data,periods and V-K colour indices. Four groups, differing by theirkinematics and mean magnitudes, are found. For each of them, we alsoobtain the distributions of magnitude, period and de-reddened colour ofthe base population, as well as de-biased period-luminosity-colourrelations and their two-dimensional projections. The SRa semiregulars donot seem to constitute a separate class of LPVs. The SRb appear tobelong to two populations of different ages. In a PL diagram, theyconstitute two evolutionary sequences towards the Mira stage. The Mirasof the disk appear to pulsate on a lower-order mode. The slopes of theirde-biased PL and PC relations are found to be very different from theones of the Oxygen Miras of the LMC. This suggests that a significantnumber of so-called Miras of the LMC are misclassified. This alsosuggests that the Miras of the LMC do not constitute a homogeneousgroup, but include a significant proportion of metal-deficient stars,suggesting a relatively smooth star formation history. As a consequence,one may not trivially transpose the LMC period-luminosity relation fromone galaxy to the other Based on data from the Hipparcos astrometrysatellite. Appendix B is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Long-Term Changes in Mira Stars. III. Multiperiodicity in Mira Stars
The maximum magnitudes of many Mira stars fluctuate from cycle to cycle.In some cases, this may be due to multiperiodicity. We have analyzed themaximum magnitudes of a large sample of bright Mira stars, using aportion of the American Association of Variable Star Observersinternational database of variable star observations: times andmagnitudes of maximum and minimum of 391 bright Mira stars over 75years. We find many whose behavior can be interpreted as due tomultiperiodicity, with either a secondary period that is an order ofmagnitude longer than the primary period or a secondary periodcomparable with the primary one. In the former case, the nature of thelong secondary period is not clear, although, in some cases, it may berelated to episodic dust emission. In the latter case, the behavior ismost consistent with the hypothesis that the primary period is the firstovertone period and the secondary period is another radial mode.
| The Infrared Spectral Classification of Oxygen-rich Dust Shells
This paper presents infrared spectral classifications for a flux-limitedsample of 635 optically identified oxygen-rich variables includingsupergiants and sources on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). Severalclasses of spectra from oxygen-rich dust exist, and these can bearranged in a smoothly varying sequence of spectral shapes known as thesilicate dust sequence. Classification based on this sequence revealsseveral dependencies of the dust emission on the properties of thecentral star. Nearly all S stars show broad emission features fromalumina dust, while most of the supergiants exhibit classic featuresfrom amorphous silicate dust. Mira variables with symmetric light curvesgenerally show broad alumina emission, while those with more asymmetriclight curves show classic silicate emission. These differences may arisefrom differences in the photospheric C/O ratio.
| Near-infrared photometry and analysis of SiO maser stars
Near-infrared photometry of 35 SiO maser stars (v = 1, J = 1 - 0) ofvarious types is presented in this paper. Combining the JHK fluxdensities from IRAS, the distributions of the stars on two color-colordiagrams are obtained. The spectral slopes, equivalent black-bodytemperatures, maser luminosities and mass-loss rates of the centralstars are calculated from the infrared or radio data. These parametersare then analysed together with the integrated SiO fluxes. The resultsshow that SiO masers are common in AGB stages. The integrated SiO maserflux is only weakly correlated with the mass-loss rate, and increaseslowly along the sequence from Mira stars to OH/IR stars. It is moreclosely correlated with the near-infrared colors and the equivalentblack-body temperatures. Also, its upper limit is correlated with12μm and 25μm fluxes. We also briefly discusses the generalfunction and specific role of SiO maser in the evolution of AGB stars.
| Near-infrared photometry and analysis of SiO maser stars of different types.
Not Available
| On the origin of the high velocity SiO maser emission from late-type stars
We have undertaken toward 30 Mira or semi-regular variables and oneOH/IR object highly sensitive observations of the v=1, J=2 -> 1 and 3-> 2 transitions of SiO simultaneously with observations of the J = 2-> 1 transition of CO during three observing sessions in the period1995 to 1996. As in our previous observations of 1994, we observe thatfor several stars the SiO profiles exhibit unusually broad wings whichsometimes exceed the terminal velocity of the expanding circumstellarenvelope traced by the thermal CO emission. We have discovered a cleardependence of the SiO wing emission on the optical phase. These wingsare probably due to peculiar gas motions and varying physical conditionsin relation with the stellar pulsation. However, we cannot exclude othermechanisms contributing to the observed wings. In particular, SiOturbulent motions for the semi-regular variables or the asymmetric massloss mechanism may play a role. We conclude that the SiO wing emissionis due to masing processes and that this emission very likely arisesfrom the inner part of the circumstellar envelope.
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Cancer |
| Right ascension: | 09h09m52.62s |
| Declination: | +25°14'53.8" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 10.053 |
| Proper motion RA: | -15.7 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -11.8 |
| B-T magnitude: | 11.054 |
| V-T magnitude: | 10.136 |
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INHABITED SKY
