79 research outputs found
AM:PM, automatic astrometry and photometry of asteroids
Разработан пакет программ AM:PM для автоматической фотометрии и астрометрии астероидов. Автоматизированная обработка включает в себя подготовку калибровочных кадров, первичную калибровку, астрометрию, измерение положения и блеска объекта, привязку к каталогам из базы Vizier. Пакет программ тестировался в операционных системах Win10 и Ubuntu 16.04 с использованием кадров, полученных на телескопах SBG и MASTER Коуровской астрономической обсерватории.A software package AM:PM was developed for automatic photometry and astrometry of asteroids. Automated processing includes preparation of calibration frames, dark-frame/flat-field reduction, astrometry, measurement of position and brightness of the object and referencing relative to catalogs from the Vizier database. The software package was tested inWin 10 and Ubuntu 16.04 operating systems using frames obtained at the SBG and MASTER telescopes of the Kourovka Astronomical Observatory and artificial datasets.Работа выполнена при поддержке гранта РФФИ № 18-02-00015
Astrokit -- an Efficient Program for High-Precision Differential CCD Photometry and Search for Variable Stars
Having a need to perform differential photometry for tens of thousands stars
in a several square degrees field, we developed Astrokit program. The software
corrects the star brightness variations caused by variations of atmospheric
transparency: to this end, the program selects for each star an individual
ensemble of reference stars having similar magnitudes and positions in the
frame. With ten or more reference stars in the ensemble, the differences
between their spectral types and the spectral type of the object studied become
unimportant. Astrokit searches for variable stars using Robust Median
Statistics criterion, which allows candidate variables to be selected more
efficiently than by analyzing the standard deviation of star magnitudes. The
software allows very precise automatic analysis of long inhomogeneous sets of
photometric observations of a large number of objects to be performed, making
it possible to find "hot Jupiter" type exoplanet transits and low-amplitude
variables. We describe the algorithm of the program and the results of its
application to reduce the data of the photometric sky survey in Cygnus as well
as observations of the open cluster NGC188 and the transit of the exoplanet
WASP-11 b / HAT-P-10 b, performed with the MASTER-II-URAL telescope of the
Kourovka Astronomical Observatory of the Ural Federal University.Comment: to be published in Astrophysical Bulletin, Vol. 69, No.
Modern approaches for extraterrestrial matter collection
Представлены результаты работы, направленной на повышение эффективности поиска внеземного вещества с использованием методов наблюдательной астрономии. Описываются методика проведения наблюдений, принципы построения болидной сети и особенности ее организации. Обсуждаются вопросы сбора вещества в холодных и горячих пустынях.We present results of the activity aimed at increase in search efficiency of extraterrestrial matter collection, using methods of observational astronomy. Approaches for observations and technical features of appropriate fireball network structure are described. Results of traditional meteorite collection in cold and hot deserts with accumulation mechanisms are compared to modern methods.Работа выполнена в рамках государственного задания ФАНО России (тема «Деформация», №01201463327), проекта УрО РАН №15-17-2-11 при финансовой поддержке Министерства образования и науки Российской Федерации (базовое финансирование по проекту № 5162) и Правительства Российской Федерации (постановление №211, контракт №02.А03.21.0006)
Discovery of an unusual bright eclipsing binary with the longest known period: TYC 2505-672-1 / MASTER OT J095310.04+335352.8
We report on the MASTER Global Robotic Net discovery of an eclipsing binary,
MASTER OT J095310.04+335352.8, previously known as unremarkable star TYC
2505-672-1, which displays extreme orbital parameters. The orbital period
P=69.1 yr is more than 2.5 times longer than that of epsilon-Aurigae, which is
the previous record holder. The light curve is characterized by an extremely
deep total eclipse with a depth of more than 4.5 mag, which is symmetrically
shaped and has a total duration of 3.5 yrs. The eclipse is essentially gray.
The spectra acquired with the Russian 6 m BTA telescope both at minimum and
maximum light mainly correspond to an M0-1III--type red giant, but the spectra
taken at the bottom of eclipse show small traces of a sufficiently hot source.
The observed properties of this system can be better explained as the red giant
eclipsed by a large cloud (the disk) of small particles surrounding the
invisible secondary companion.Comment: 8 figures, 9 pages, Astronomy and astrophysics in prin
Optical polarization observations with the MASTER robotic net
We present results of optical polarization observations performed with the
MASTER robotic net for three types of objects: gamma-ray bursts, supernovae,
and blazars. For the Swift gamma-ray bursts GRB100906A, GRB110422A, GRB121011A,
polarization observations were obtained during very early stages of optical
emission. For GRB100906A it was the first prompt optical polarization
observation in the world. Photometry in polarizers is presented for Type Ia
Supernova 2012bh during 20 days, starting on March 27, 2012. We find that the
linear polarization of SN 2012bh at the early stage of the envelope expansion
was less than 3%. Polarization measurements for the blazars OC 457, 3C 454.3,
QSO B1215+303, 87GB 165943.2+395846 at single nights are presented. We infer
the degree of the linear polarization and polarization angle. The blazars OC
457 and 3C 454.3 were observed during their periods of activity. The results
show that MASTER is able to measure substantially polarized light; at the same
time it is not suitable for determining weak polarization (less than 5%) of dim
objects (fainter than 16). Polarimetric observations of the optical
emission from gamma-ray bursts and supernovae are necessary to investigate the
nature of these transient objects.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables; Exposure times in Table 2 have been
correcte
Photometry, spectroscopy, and polarimetry of distant comet C/2014 A4 (SONEAR)
Context. The study of distant comets, which are active at large heliocentric distances, is important for a better understanding of their physical properties and mechanisms of long-lasting activity. Aims. We analyzed the dust environment of the distant comet C/2014 A4 (SONEAR), with a perihelion distance near 4.1 au, using comprehensive observations obtained by different methods. Methods. We present an analysis of spectroscopy, photometry, and polarimetry of comet C/2014 A4 (SONEAR), which were performed on November 5–7, 2015, when its heliocentric distance was 4.2 au and phase angle was 4.7◦. Long-slit spectra and photometric and linear polarimetric images were obtained using the focal reducer SCORPIO-2 attached to the prime focus of the 6 m telescope BTA (SAO RAS, Russia). We simulated the behavior of color and polarization in the coma presenting the cometary dust as a set of polydisperse polyshapes rough spheroids. Results. No emission features were detected in the 3800–7200 Å wavelength range. The continuum showed a reddening effect with the normalized gradient of reflectivity 21.6 ± 0.2% per 1000 Å within the 4650–6200 Å wavelength region. The fan-like structure in the sunward hemisphere was detected. The radial profiles of surface brightness differ for r-sdss and g-sdss filters, indicating a predominance of submicron and micron-sized particles in the cometary coma. The dust color (g–r) varies from 0.75 ± 0.05m to 0.45 ± 0.06m along the tail. For an aperture radius near 20 000 km, the dust productions in various filters were estimated as Afρ = 680 ± 18 cm (r-sdss) and 887 ± 16 cm (g-sdss). The polarization map shows spatial variations in polarization over the coma from about −3% near the nucleus to −8% at a cometocentric distance of about 150 000 km. Our simulations show that the dust particles are dominated (or covered) by ice and tholin-like organics. Spatial changes in the color and polarization can be explained by particle fragmentation. © ESO 2019
Trajectory Retrieval and Component Investigations of Southern Polar Stratosphere Based on High Resolution Spectroscopy of Totally Eclipsed Moon Surface
Abstract. In this paper we present the high resolution spectral observations of the fragment of lunar surface during the total lunar eclipse of December 10, 2011. The observations were carried out with the fiber-fed echelle spectrograph at 1.2-m telescope in Kourovka Astronomical observatory (Ural mountains, central Russia). The observed radiation is transferred by tangent trajectory through the southern polar stratosphere before the reflection from the Moon and spectra contain a number of absorption bands of atmospheric gases (O 2 , O 3 , O 4 , NO 2 , H 2 O). High resolution analysis of three O 2 bands and O 4 absorption effects is used to trace the effective trajectory of solar emission through the stratosphere and to detect the contribution of scattered light. Bands of other gases allow us to measure their abundances along the trajectory
First results of the Kourovka Planet Search: discovery of transiting exoplanet candidates in the first three target fields
We present the first results of our search for transiting exoplanet
candidates as part of the Kourovka Planet Search (KPS) project. The primary
objective of the project is to search for new hot Jupiters which transit their
host stars, mainly in the Galactic plane, in the magnitude range of 11 to
14 mag. Our observations were performed with the telescope of the MASTER
robotic network, installed at the Kourovka astronomical observatory of the Ural
Federal University (Russia), and the Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph,
installed at the private Acton Sky Portal Observatory (USA). As test
observations, we observed three celestial fields of size deg
during the period from 2012 to 2015. As a result, we discovered four transiting
exoplanet candidates among the 39000 stars of the input catalogue. In this
paper, we provide the description of the project and analyse additional
photometric, spectral, and speckle interferometric observations of the
discovered transiting exoplanet candidates. Three of the four transiting
exoplanet candidates are most likely astrophysical false positives, while the
nature of the fourth (most promising) candidate remains to be ascertained.
Also, we propose an alternative observing strategy that could increase the
project's exoplanet haul.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figures; Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of
the Royal Astronomical Society 201
Supernova search with active learning in ZTF DR3
We provide the first results from the complete SNAD adaptive learning
pipeline in the context of a broad scope of data from large-scale astronomical
surveys. The main goal of this work is to explore the potential of adaptive
learning techniques in application to big data sets. Our SNAD team used Active
Anomaly Discovery (AAD) as a tool to search for new supernova (SN) candidates
in the photometric data from the first 9.4 months of the Zwicky Transient
Facility (ZTF) survey, namely, between March 17 and December 31 2018 (58194 <
MJD < 58483). We analysed 70 ZTF fields at a high galactic latitude and
visually inspected 2100 outliers. This resulted in 104 SN-like objects being
found, 57 of which were reported to the Transient Name Server for the first
time and with 47 having previously been mentioned in other catalogues, either
as SNe with known types or as SN candidates. We visually inspected the
multi-colour light curves of the non-catalogued transients and performed
fittings with different supernova models to assign it to a probable photometric
class: Ia, Ib/c, IIP, IIL, or IIn. Moreover, we also identified unreported
slow-evolving transients that are good superluminous SN candidates, along with
a few other non-catalogued objects, such as red dwarf flares and active
galactic nuclei. Beyond confirming the effectiveness of human-machine
integration underlying the AAD strategy, our results shed light on potential
leaks in currently available pipelines. These findings can help avoid similar
losses in future large-scale astronomical surveys. Furthermore, the algorithm
enables direct searches of any type of data and based on any definition of an
anomaly set by the expert.Comment: 22 pages with appendix, 12 figures, 2 tables, accepted for
publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
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