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A Search for Variable Stars at the Galactic Center

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2016

Joseph W. Haller  and
Marcia J. Rieke
Joseph W. Haller
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721
Marcia J. Rieke
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721

Abstract

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A study of the Galactic Center stellar population is continuing with a sensitive 2μm CCD camera. Using a 64 × 64 detector array, background limited images are recorded with modest amounts of observing time (tobs ≈ 20 sec to reach K=13). Magnitudes have been extracted using DAOPHOT from repeated imaging of the central 5′ × 5′ to search among approximately 1500 stars for long period variables (LPV's, P > 200d), particularily Miras. Miras have a well defined period-luminosity relationship as well as one in period-mass. This program investigates the nature of highly luminous stars at the Galactic Center. Presently 12 variables have been found and have several characteristics consistent with Miras. They have a maximum bolometric luminosity of −4.4 mag, which supports the case that high luminosity stars in the central 6 pc are young supergiants.

Type
Stars and the Central Mass Distribution
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 136: The Galactic Center , 1989 , pp. 487 - 492
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1989 

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