A photometric survey of three Southern target fields with BEST II yielded the
detection of 2,406 previously unknown variable stars and an additional 617
stars with suspected variability. This study presents a catalog including their
coordinates, magnitudes, light curves, ephemerides, amplitudes, and type of
variability. In addition, the variability of 17 known objects is confirmed,
thus validating the results. The catalog contains a number of known and new
variables that are of interest for further astrophysical investigations, in
order to, e.g., search for additional bodies in eclipsing binary systems, or to
test stellar interior models.
Altogether, 209,070 stars were monitored with BEST II during a total of 128
nights in 2009/2010. The overall variability fraction of 1.2-1.5% in these
target fields is well comparable to similar ground-based photometric surveys.
Within the main magnitude range of R∈[11,17], we identify
0.67(3)% of all stars to be eclipsing binaries, which indicates a completeness
of about one third for this particular type in comparison to space surveys.Comment: accepted to A
