A large-amplitude photometric periodicity on a T Tauri star

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (38) References (28) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS A large amplitude photometric periodicity on a T Tauri star. Schaefer, B. E. Abstract A T Tauri star, SY Chamaeleontis, was observed to undergo strictly periodic brightness oscillations with a 1.6 mag B amplitude and a period of 6d.129. This Letter presents B, V, and R light curves for the years 1970-1972, during which these oscillations were seen. For most of its history since 1901, SY Cha showed small-amplitude irregular variability with mB ≡ 14.2. In 1970, SY Cha exhibited a roughly sinusoidal shaped light curve with a range of 13.4 mag < mB < 14.2 mag. During 1971 and 1972, the range had increased to 12.76 mag < mB < 14.34 mag. Sometimes between 1973 and 1978, the star resumed its old behavior pattern. A reasonable hypothesis is that a localized bright spot formed on or near the surface of SY Cha, and that stellar rotation caused the spot to appear and disappear as viewed from Earth. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: March 1983 DOI: 10.1086/183975 Bibcode: 1983ApJ...266L..45S Keywords: Emission Spectra; Line Spectra; Stellar Spectrophotometry; T Tauri Stars; Variable Stars; Light Curve; Periodic Variations; Power Spectra; Stellar Rotation; Ubv Spectra; Astronomy full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (1)