We present here a new major part of the OGLE Collection of Variable Stars - OGLE Collection of Galactic Cepheids. The new dataset was extracted from the Galaxy Variability Survey images - a dedicated ...large-scale survey of the Galactic disk and outer bulge conducted by the OGLE project since 2013. The OGLE collection contains 2721 Cepheids of all types - classical, type II and anomalous. It more than doubles the number of known Galactic classical Cepheids. Due to the long-term monitoring and large number of epochs the selected sample is very pure, generally free from contaminating stars of other types often mimicking Cepheids. Its completeness is high at 90% level for classical Cepheids - tested using recent samples of Galactic Cepheids: ASAS-SN, ATLAS, Gaia DR2 and Wise catalog of variable stars. Our comparisons indicate that the completeness of the two latter datasets, Gaia DR2 and Wise catalog, is very low, at <10% level in the magnitude range of the OGLE GVS survey (10.8<I<19.5 mag). Both these samples are severely contaminated by non-Cepheids (the purity is 67% and 56%, respectively). We also present several interesting objects found in the new OGLE Collection - multi-mode pulsators, first Galactic candidates for eclipsing systems containing Cepheid, a binary Cepheid candidate. New OGLE Collection of Galactic Cepheids is available for the astronomical community from the OGLE Internet Archive in similar form as previous parts of the OGLE Collection of Variable Stars.
We combine Spitzer and ground-based observations to measure the microlens parallax vector pi sub(E), and thus the mass and distance of OGLE-2014-BLG-0124L, making it the first microlensing planetary ...system with a space-based parallax measurement. The planet and star have masses of m ~ 0.5 M sub(jup) and M ~ 0.7 M sub(middot in circle) and are separated by a sub(perpendicular) ~ 3.1 AU in projection. The main source of uncertainty in all of these numbers (approximately 30%, 30%, and 20%) is the relatively poor measurement of the Einstein radius straighttheta sub(E), rather than uncertainty in pi sub(E), which is measured with 2.5% precision. This compares to 22% based on OGLE data alone, implying that the Spitzer data provide not only a substantial improvement in the precision of the pi sub(E) measurement, but also the first independent test of a ground-based pi sub(E) measurement.
We report the discovery of the first type II Cepheids (BL Herculis stars) pulsating solely in the first overtone. We found two such objects among tens of millions of stars regularly observed by the ...Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment survey in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Our classification and the pulsation mode identification is based on the position of these stars on the period-luminosity and color-magnitude diagrams and on the light-curve analysis. We discuss why single-mode first-overtone BL Her pulsators must be very rare. For the two discovered stars we present nonlinear models that successfully reproduce their light variation. These models indicate that both first-overtone pulsators should be more massive than is typically assumed for BL Her stars, i.e., their masses should be above 0.75 . However, the higher mass requires higher luminosity to match the observed periods of the stars, which is inconsistent with observations.
Abstract
The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) currently hosts around 23 high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) of which most are Be/X-ray binaries. The LMC XMM–Newton survey provided follow-up observations of ...previously known X-ray sources that were likely HMXBs, as well as identifying new HMXB candidates. In total, 19 candidate HMXBs were selected based on their X-ray hardness ratios. In this paper we present red and blue optical spectroscopy, obtained with Southern African Large Telescope and the South African Astronomical Observatory 1.9-m telescope, plus a timing analysis of the long-term optical light curves from OGLE to confirm the nature of these candidates. We find that nine of the candidates are new Be/X-ray binaries, substantially increasing the LMC Be/X-ray binary population. Furthermore, we present the optical properties of these new systems, both individually and as a group of all the BeXBs identified by the XMM–Newton survey of the LMC.
We present the discovery and statistical analysis of 12,660 spotted variable stars toward and inside the Galactic bulge from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) data that are over two ...decades long. We devise a new method of dereddening of individual stars toward the Galactic bulge where strong and highly nonuniform extinction is present. In effect, 11,812 stars were classified as giants and 848 as dwarfs. Well-defined correlations among the luminosity, variability amplitude, and rotation period were found for the giants. Rapidly rotating dwarfs with periods P ≤ 2 days show I-band amplitudes <0.2 mag, which is substantially less than the amplitudes of up to 0.8 mag observed in giants and slowly rotating dwarfs. We also notice that amplitudes of stars brighter than I0 16 mag do not exceed 0.3-0.4 mag. We divide the stars into three groups characterized by correlation between light and color variations. The positive correlation is characteristic for stars that are cooler when fainter, which results from the variable coverage of the stellar surface with spots similar to the sunspots. The variability of stars that are cooler when brighter (negative correlation) can be characterized by chemical spots with an overabundance of heavy elements inside and a variable line-blanketing effect, which is observed in chemically peculiar stars. The null correlation may result from a very high level of the magnetic activity with rapidly variable magnetic fields. This division is readily visible on the color-magnitude diagram (CMD), which suggests that it may depend on the radius of the stars. We detect 79 flaring objects and discuss briefly their properties. Among others, we find that relative brightening during flares is correlated with brightness amplitude.
Aims. We observed RX J0520.5-6932 in the X-rays and studied the optical light curve of its counterpart to verify it as a Be/X-ray binary. Methods. We performed an XMM-Newton anticipated ...target-of-opportunity observation in January 2013 during an X-ray outburst of the source in order to search for pulsations and derive its spectral properties. We monitored the source with Swift to follow the evolution of the outburst and to look for further outbursts to verify the regular pattern seen in the optical light curve with a period of ~24.4 d. Results. The XMM-Newton EPIC light curves show coherent X-ray pulsations with a period of 8.035331(15) s (1σ). The X-ray spectrum can be modelled by an absorbed power law with photon index of ~0.8, an additional black-body component with temperature of ~0.25 keV, and an Fe K line. Phase-resolved X-ray spectroscopy reveals that the spectrum varies with pulse phase. We confirm the identification of the optical counterpart within the error circle of XMM-Newton at an angular distance of ~0.8′′, which is an O9Ve star with known Hα emission. By analysing the combined data from three OGLE phases we derived an optical period of 24.43 d. Conclusions. The X-ray pulsations and long-term variability, as well as the properties of the optical counterpart, confirm that RX J0520.5-6932 is a Be/X-ray binary pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Based on the X-ray monitoring of the source, we conclude that the event in January 2013 was a moderately bright type-I X-ray outburst, with a peak luminosity of 1.79 × 1036 erg s-1.
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Context.
Eccentric ellipsoidal variables (also known as heartbeat stars) is a class of eccentric binaries in which proximity effects, and tidal distortion due to time-dependent tidal potential in ...particular, lead to measurable photometric variability close to the periastron passage. Varying tidal potential may also give rise to tidally excited oscillations (TEOs), which are forced eigenmodes with frequencies close to the integer multiples of the orbital frequency. TEOs may play an important role in the dynamical evolution of massive eccentric systems.
Aims.
Our study is aimed at detecting TEOs and characterising the long-term behaviour of their amplitudes and frequencies in the extreme-amplitude heartbeat star MACHO 80.7443.1718, consisting of a blue supergiant and a late O-type massive dwarf.
Methods.
We used two seasons of Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observations of the target to obtain new 30-min cadence photometry by means of the difference image analysis of TESS full-frame images. In order to extend the analysis to longer timescales, we supplemented the TESS data with 30-year long ground-based photometry of the target. Both TESS and ground-based photometry are carefully analysed by means of Fourier techniques in order to detect TEOs, examine the long-term stability of their amplitudes and frequencies, and characterise other types of variability in the system.
Results.
We confirm the detection of the known
n
= 23, 25, and 41 TEOs and announce the detection of two new TEOs, with
n
= 24 and 230, in the photometry of MACHO 80.7443.1718. Amplitudes of all TEOs were found to vary on a timescale of years or months. For
n
= 25, the TEO amplitude and frequency changes are related, which may indicate that the main cause of the amplitude drop in this TEO in TESS observations is the change in its frequency and increase in its detuning parameter. The light curve of the
n
= 230 TEO is strongly non-sinusoidal. Its high frequency may indicate that the oscillation is a strange mode. Stochastic variability observed in the target fits the behaviour observed in massive stars well and independently confirms that the primary is an evolved star. We also find that the orbital period of the system decreases at a rate of about 11 s (yr)
−1
. This can be explained by several phenomena: a significant mass loss, mass transfer between components, tidal dissipation, and the presence of a tertiary in the system. All of these phenomena may contribute to the observed changes.
Conclusions.
The discovery of variable amplitudes and frequencies of TEOs prompts for similar studies in other eccentric elliptical variables with TEOs. Long-term photometric monitoring of these targets is also desirable. The results we obtained pose a challenge for theory. In particular, it needs to be explained why
n
= 230 TEO is excited. In a general context, studies on the long-term behaviour of TEOs may help to explain the role of TEOs in the dynamical evolution of massive eccentric systems.
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Abstract We report the discovery of the classical Cepheid OGLE-GD-CEP-1884 (= GDS_J1535467-555656) with the longest pulsation period known in our Galaxy. The period of 78.14 days is nearly 10 days ...longer than that of the previous record-holding Cepheid, S Vulpeculae, and thus, OGLE-GD-CEP-1884 can be categorized as the first ultra-long-period Cepheid in the Milky Way. This star is present in the ASAS-SN and Gaia DR3 catalogs of variable stars, but it has been classified as a long-period variable in those catalogs. Based on more than 10 yr of the photometric monitoring of this star carried out by the OGLE project in the I and V bands and a radial velocity curve from the Gaia Focused Product Release, we unequivocally demonstrate that this object is a fundamental-mode classical Cepheid. By employing the mid-infrared period–luminosity relation, we determine the distance to OGLE-GD-CEP-1884 (4.47 ± 0.34 kpc) and place it on the Milky Way map, along with about 2400 other classical Cepheids. We also discuss the potential of finding additional ultra-long-period Cepheids in our Galaxy.
ABSTRACT
Swift J0549.7−6812 is a Be/X-ray binary system (BeXRB) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) exhibiting an ∼6 s pulse period. Like many such systems, the variable X-ray emission is believed to ...be driven by the underlying behaviour of the mass donor Be star. In this paper, we report on X-ray observations of the brightest known outburst from this system, which reached a luminosity of ∼8 × 1037 erg s−1. These observations are supported by contemporaneous optical photometric observations, the first reported optical spectrum, as well as several years of historical data from Optical Gravitational Lens Explorer (OGLE) and Gaia. The latter strongly suggest a binary period of 46.1 d. All the observational data indicate that Swift J0549.7−6812 is a system that spends the vast majority of its time in X-ray quiescence, or even switched off completely. This suggests that occasional observations may easily miss it, and many similar systems, and thereby underestimate the massive star evolution numbers for the LMC.
ABSTRACT
RX J0209.6–7427 is an X-ray source in the Magellanic Bridge that was first detected in 1993, but not seen again till 2019. It has been identified as a member of the Be/X-ray binary class, a ...category of objects that are well established as bright, often-unpredictable transients. Such systems are rarely known in the Bridge, possibly because they lie outside the area most commonly studied by X-ray telescopes. Whatever be the reason for the sparse number of such systems in the Bridge, they can provide useful tools for trying to understand the result of the tidal dynamics of the two Magellanic Clouds. In this paper, the nature of the object is explored with the help of new data obtained during the latest outburst. In particular, the first optical spectrum of the counterpart is presented to help classify the star, plus measurements of the Balmer emission lines over several years are used to investigate changes in the size and structure of the circumstellar disc.
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