planetary systems dust production study

[PTS]

AAVSO Special Notice #408

October 2, 2015

Developing planetary systems dust production study - second segment
of observations


Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 511, issued in March 2015, Dr. George
Rieke (University of Arizona) and colleagues' campaign to monitor
planetary debris disks for variability using the Spitzer Space
Telescope continues. AAVSO observations are requested to rule out
variability of the stars themselves.

The second segment of observations of the four targets takes place
from now into January 2016 according to the schedule below.

Target SpT Age Vmag R.A. (2000) Dec. (2000) Spitzer visibility windows in 2015
(Myr) First segment Second segment
RZ Psc KOIV 35 11.29 01 09 42.06 +27 57 01.95 Mar 14-Apr 24 Oct 10-Nov 20
HD 15407A F5V 80 6.95 02 30 50.66 +55 32 54.2 Apr 5-May 24 Nov 7-Dec 28
V488 Per KOIV 60 12.83 03 28 18.68 +48 39 48.2 Apr 17-May 30 Nov 15-Dec 31
HD 23514 F5V 150 9.43 03 46 38.40 +22 55 11.2 Apr 18-May 26 Nov 13-Dec 23

Observers may recall that during the first segment, the stars were
extremely near conjunction and very difficult or impossible to
observe from the ground. During this second segment, they are much
better placed and should be straightforward targets.

As before, observations in V are requested, with a S/N of about
100 so that the accuracy will be 1-2%. Observations should begin
at least one week before the visibility window opens and finish one
week after the window closes.

No specific comparison stars are assigned for each target, but
observers are requested to use only those in the sequences available
via the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP, http://www.aavso.org/vsp).
It is essential that observers report the comparison stars used when
submitting their observations to the AAVSO.

Observations should be submitted to the AAVSO International
Database using the names RZ PSC, HD 15407A, HD 23514, and V488 PER,
respectively.

Please see AAVSO Alert Notice 511
(https://www.aavso.org/aavso-alert-notice-511) for more information
about this very interesting campaign.

During a similar campaign in 2013 (see AAVSO Alert Notice 482,
https://www.aavso.org/aavso-alert-notice-482), AAVSO observers
provided data that were critical to its success. Yesterday, Dr.
Rieke wrote: "...we really appreciate the support from AAVSO - it
is a key part of our science (and resulted in the observers who
provided data last time being co-authors of our paper, which seemed
to make them quite pleased!)."


This AAVSO Special Notice was compiled by Elizabeth Waagen.

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