17th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Visual Observations of Long-Period Variable Stars in the Northern Sky
Ikechukwu P. Okonkwo
Dr. Matthew M. Beaky, Faculty Mentor
Variable stars are stars that change their brightness with time. The brightness changes of these stars can range from a thousandth of a magnitude to as much as twenty magnitudes over periods of a fraction of a second to years. Research was conducted at the University Observatory, and observing apparatus included a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and binoculars. The aim is to measure long-period variable star magnitudes for five stars in the observing program within the northern sky, and to submit data obtained to the international variable star database. This project is important because data on variable star periods provides information on stellar properties, such as mass, radius, luminosity, temperature, structure, composition, and evolution. Future observations will be facilitated by the use of CCD cameras and the subsequent CCD images will be analyzed with accompanying computer software to obtain more precise and accurate magnitude measurements.
Keywords: Variable Stars, magnitude, CCD images
Topic(s):Physics
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 26-25
Location: OP Lobby & Atrium
Time: 1:15