Beta Pic observations requested for BRITE-Constellation

PTS

AAVSO Alert Notice 566

January 31, 2017  

Beta Pic observations requested for BRITE-Constellation

The BRIght Target Explorer-Constellation (BRITE-Constellation)
satellite is obtaining high-precision photometry of selected very
bright (mv < 4) stars. Its purpose is to investigate the "stellar
structure and evolution of the brightest stars in the sky and their
interaction with the local environment." The AAVSO is part of the
BRITE-Constellation Ground Based Observations Team (GBOT),
supporting cutting-edge science from the BRITE-Constellation
satellites and coordinating with BRITE-Constellation scientist
Dr. Konstanze Zwintz (Universitaet Innsbruck) and her team.

The delta Scuti star beta Pic (NSV 16683) (3.80-3.86V) is one of
the BRITE stars being focused on during this season. Bet Pic is
particularly interesting now because a transit of the star's
planet's Hill sphere (the region around a planet in which it
dominates the attraction of satellites) is predicted to occur
during 2017-2018. Ongoing observations beginning now are valuable
to establish a baseline prior to the transit.

The AAVSO’s webpage on the BRITE target stars
(https://www.aavso.org/aavso-brite-targets) was updated in November
with information on bet Pic from Dr. Zwintz. AAVSO observers with
appropriate equipment and located at a southern enough latitude are
encouraged to observe bet Pic. Its brightness makes bet Pic well
suited to PEP and DSLR photometry; CCD photometry is also possible.  
However, great care must be taken by all observers, especially those
using CCD, to avoid saturation. As the amplitude of this star is
very small, visual observations are very difficult, but they are
welcome.

Multicolor (BVR) photometry better than 0.01 magnitude and
time-series observations with a cadence of a few minutes (less than
10 minutes) are requested beginning now and continuing at least
through 2017 and likely through 2018. The precision and cadence
required are essential in order for the data to be most useful for
studying the transit.

Spectroscopists wishing to participate should submit their spectra
directly to Dr. Konstanze Zwintz ([email protected]).

Another campaign on bet Pic that is underway is being coordinated
by Dr. Iva Laginja (Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands), and AAVSO
observations are invited. For details, please see
http://home.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~laginja/documents/beta%20Pic%20photometry_ENG.pdf

Coordinates for bet Pic: 05 47 17.09 -51 03 59.4  (2000.0)

Charts: Charts with a comparison star sequence for bet Pic may be
created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP) at
https://www.aavso.org/vsp.

Please submit observations to the AAVSO International Database
using the name BET PIC.

This campaign is being monitored on the AAVSO Observing Campaigns
webpage at https://www.aavso.org/observing-campaigns and is being
followed on the Campaigns and Observation Reports Forum at
https://www.aavso.org/content/bet-pic-brite-observing-campaign.


This AAVSO Alert Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.

----------------------------------
SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO

Information on submitting observations to the AAVSO may be found at:
https://www.aavso.org/webobs

ALERT NOTICE ARCHIVE AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

An Alert Notice archive is available at the following URL:
https://www.aavso.org/alert-notice-archive

Subscribing and Unsubscribing may be done at the following URL:
https://www.aavso.org/observation-notification#alertnotices

-------------------------------------------------