Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Observation Runs

The scientific main interest of our telescope group is the determination of orbital periods of binary systems, especially of cataclysmic variables. These are close binary systems in which matter from one star (donor) flows to the other star (accretor). Normally an accretion disk is built around the accretor. These systems show many astrophysical phenomena which often lead to a variability of their light curve. One observes for example nova outbursts (thermonuclear explosions on the surface of the accretor) and dwarf nova outbursts (strong increase of the temperature and luminosity of the accretion disk) or variable mass transfer from the donor onto the accretor.

Furthermore we try to determine pulsation periods of pulsating stars. From those pulsation periods one can learn much about the inner structure of the star (asteroseismology).

The basis for the determination of orbital and pulsation periods is the generation of the light curve of an object. During the night, or several nights, one takes exposures of the object and determines the brightness of the object in every single exposure, dependent on the time, to get the light curve. This light curve is analysed with software packages, developed at our institute, to detect periodic variabilities.

Date Object Program Results
February 2012 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
November/December 2011 WET XCov28 Asteroseismology
July 2011 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
April-June 2011 WET/Damp04: GD358 Asteroseismology
February 2011 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
January-March 2011 Spectroscopy beta Aur spectroscopic binaries
July-September 2010 Spectroscopy eps Her and theta Aql spectroscopic binaries
July 2010 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
April/May/June 2010 WET/Damp03: GD358 Asteroseismology Plots
March 2010 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
September 2009 SDSS J212531.92-010745.9 Orbital period
August/September 2009 CH Cas, CY Cas Pulsation period Plots
August/September 2009 RX J1940.1-1025 Orbital period
July 2009 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
May/June 2009 Gaseous nebulae Spektroskopie diverser Gasnebel im Rahmen einer Vorlesung
May 2009 WET XCov 27 Asteroseismology
February 2009 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
October/November 2008 Photometry Mond Teil einer Diplomarbeit
September/October 2008 GD29-38 WET-Kampagne, Pulsation period Paper in prep.
July 2008 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
May 2008 HE1429-1209 Pulsation period Paper in prep.
February 2008 HS0702+6043 Pulsation period Langzeitprojekt
February 2008 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
December 2007 sdB Stars Pulsation period Langzeitprojekt
September/October 2007 SDSS J212531.92-010745.9 Orbital period A new period determination for the close PG1159 binary SDSS J212531.92-010745.9
Schuh, S.; Traulsen, I.; Nagel, T. et al. 2008, AN, 329, 376S
July 2007 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
June/July 2007 Gaseous nebulae Spektroskopie diverser Gasnebel im Rahmen einer Vorlesung
April/May 2007 HE1429-1209 Pulsation period Paper in prep.
February 2007 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
December 2006 HS0444+0453 Pulsation period nichts signifikantes gefunden
December 2006 HS0704+6153 Pulsation period nichts signifikantes gefunden
December 2006 EQ Peg Suche nach Flareausbrüchen Service für Uni Göttingen
September/October 2006 SDSS J212531.92-010745.9 Orbital period Periode und Amplitude genauer bestimmt
August 2006 CSPN NGC7094 Pulsation period nichts signifikantes gefunden
July 2006 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
May/June 2006 WET XCov25:GD358 Asteroseismology Plots
Whole Earth Telescope Observations Of GD358: A New Look At The Prototype DBV, ApJ, 693, 564
February 2006 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
September 2005 SDSS J212531.92-010745.9 Orbital period Plots

SDSS J212531.92-010745.9 - the first definite PG1159 close binary system
Nagel, T., Schuh, S. et al. 2006, A&A, 448, L25
July/August 2005 RX J1940.1-1025 Orbital period
July 2005 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
March 2005 SS UMi Orbital period
February 2005 Spectroscopy and Photometry Fortgeschrittenenpraktikum
July/August 2004 RX J1940.1-1025 Orbital period Plots
May 2004 HE1429-1209 Pulsation period Plots

Discovery of stellar pulsations in the new identified PG1159 star HE1429-1209
Nagel, T. & Werner, K. 2004, A & A, 426, p.L45-L48
February 2004 HS0702+6043 Pulsation period Plots