Gamma Doradus variables are variable stars which display variations in luminosity due to non-radial pulsations of their surface. The stars are typically young, early F or late A type main sequence stars, and typical brightness fluctuations are 0.1 magnitudes with periods on the order of one day. This class of variable stars is relatively new, having been first characterized in the second half of the 1990s, and details on the underlying physical cause of the variations remains under investigation.
The star 9 Aurigae was first noticed to be variable in 1990. However, none of the currently-accepted explanations were adequate: it pulsated too slowly and was outside of the Delta Scuti instability strip, and there was no evidence for any eclipsing material, although Gamma Doradus and HD 96008 were noted to be similar. [2] These three stars, as well as HD 224638, were soon hypothesized to belong to a new class of variable stars in which variability was produced by g-mode pulsations rather than the p-mode pulsations of Delta Scuti variables. [3] HD 224945 and HD 164615 were noticed to be similar as well, while HD 96008 was ruled out on the basis of its more regular period. [4] Eclipses and starspots were soon ruled out as the cause of the Gamma Doradus' variability, [5] and the variability of 9 Aurigae was confirmed to be caused by g-mode pulsations a year later, thus confirming the stars as the prototypes of a new class of variable stars. [6] Over ten more candidates were quickly found, [7] and the discoverers dubbed the group the Gamma Doradus stars, after the brightest member and the first member found to be variable. [8]
Designation (name) [9] | Constellation | Discovery | Maximum Apparent magnitude (mV) [10] | Minimum Apparent magnitude (mV) [10] | Period (days) [9] | Spectral class | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HD 8801 A (V529 And) | Andromeda | Henry & Fekel (2005) [11] | 6m.48 (Hipparcos) | 6m.51 (Hipparcos) | 0.40331 | A7Vm | First discovered hybrid Gamma Doradus/Delta Scuti variable [11] |
V872 Ara [12] | Ara | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 6m.37 (Hipparcos) | 6m.39 (Hipparcos) | 0.4266 | A9V | |
9 Aur A | Auriga | Krisciunas (1993) [3] | 4m.93 | 5m.50 | 1.2582 | F2V | One of the original stars classified [6] |
17 CVn | Canes Venatici | Henry et al. (2011) [9] | 5m.91 | 0.8862 | F0:V | Spectroscopic binary; unclear which component is variable | |
HD 108100 (DD CVn) | Canes Venatici | Breger et al. (1996) [13] | 7m.15 | 0.7541 | F2V | ||
V350 CMa A | Canis Major | Eyer & Aerts (2000) [14] | 6m.18 | 6m.27 | 0.7750 10.959 | F2V | Has two distinct periods |
V1026 Cen [12] | Centaurus | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 9m.33 (Hipparcos) | 9m.38 (Hipparcos) | 1.1857 | A3:m | |
HD 17163 | Cetus | Henry et al. (2011) [9] | 6m.04 | 0.42351 | F1V | ||
HD 14940 [12] (EP Cet) | Cetus | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 6m.74 | 6m.77 | 0.5004 | F0IV/V | |
43 Cyg | Cygnus | Henry et al. (2005) [15] | 5m.75 (Hipparcos) | 5m.84 (Hipparcos) | 0.79955 | F0V | |
γ Dor | Dorado | Krisciunas (1993) [3] | 4m.23 | 4m.27 | 0.7570 | F1V | One of the original stars classified [6] |
8 Dra | Draco | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 5m.26 (Hipparcos) | 5m.34 (Hipparcos) | 0.42450 | F1VmA7(n) | |
DI Gru [12] | Grus | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 8m.68 | 8m.76 | 0.8668 | F3IV | |
V1325 Her | Hercules | Kaye et al. (1998) [16] | 6m.38 | 0.4210 | F0V | ||
80 Leo | Leo | Henry & Fekel (2002) [17] | 6m.34 | 6m.37 | 0.45286 | F3IV | |
HD 40745 (AC Lep) | Lepus | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 6m.28 (Hipparcos) | 6m.30 (Hipparcos) | 0.82427 | F2IV | |
HD 69682 | Lynx | Henry et al. (2011) [9] | 6m.50 | 0.53189 | A9V | ||
DO Lyn | Lynx | Kaye et al. (1999) [18] | 7m.17 | 0.62447 | F0V | ||
HD 50747 [19] | Monoceros | Dolez et al. (2009) [19] | 5m.45 | 4.865 0.956 | A4IV | Triple star; unknown which component is variable | |
HD 49434 | Monoceros | Bruntt et al. (2002) [20] | 5m.75 | 0.57644 | F1V | Hybrid Gamma Doradus/Delta Scuti variable [21] | |
HD 41547 A | Monoceros | Henry et al. (2007) [22] | 5m.87 | 0.81123 | F4V | ||
α Oph [23] (Rasalhague) | Ophiuchus | Monnier et al. (2010) [23] | 2m.08 | 0.5850 | A5IV | Hybrid Gamma Doradus/Delta Scuti variable | |
73 Oph A | Ophiuchus | Fekel & Henry (2003) [24] | 6m.11 (B) | 0.61439 | F0V+G1V | ||
HD 164615 (V2118 Oph) | Ophiuchus | Mantegazza et al. (1994) [4] | 7m.02 | 7m.09 | 0.8117 | F2IV | One of the original stars classified |
V2502 Oph | Ophiuchus | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 6m.57 | 6m.67 | 1.307 | F2V | |
HD 38309 Aa | Orion | Henry et al. (2011) [9] | 6m.09 | 0.37703 | F0III:n | ||
NZ Peg | Pegasus | Henry et al. (2001) [25] | 5m.83 (Hipparcos) | 5m.86 (Hipparcos) | 0.41113 | F2V | |
HR 8799 (V342 Peg) | Pegasus | Rodriguez & Zerbi (1995) [26] | 6m.00 (Hipparcos) | 6m.06 (Hipparcos) | 0.5053 | A5V | Lambda Boötis star and Vega-like star [27] |
V372 Peg | Pegasus | Kaye et al. (1998) [16] | 6m.53 (B) | 2.594821 | F3V | ||
39 Peg | Pegasus | Henry et al. (2005) [15] | 6m.43 | 6m.53 | 0.75574 | F1V | |
HD 224638 (BT Psc) | Pisces | Krisciunas (1993) [3] | 7m.8 (B) | 1.2323 | F0V | One of the original stars classified [6] | |
HD 224945 (BU Psc) | Pisces | Mantegazza et al. (1994) [4] | 6m.93 | 0.5432 | A9V | One of the original stars classified [6] | |
QW Pup | Puppis | Poretti et al. (1997) [28] | 4m.47 | 4m.50 | 0.9584 | F0IV/V | |
ι TrA A | Triangulum Australe | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 5m.30 (Hipparcos) | 5m.42 (Hipparcos) | 1.4556 | F4IV | |
EE Tuc [12] | Tucana | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 6m.72 (Hipparcos) | 6m.82 (Hipparcos) | 0.6935 | F2IV | |
V349 Tel [12] | Telescopium | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 7m.60 (Hipparcos) | 7m.73 (Hipparcos) | 0.6953 | F0V | |
KO UMa | Ursa Major | Kaye et al. (1999) [18] | 7m.18 | 0.7691 | F2V | ||
UY UMi [12] | Ursa Minor | Aerts et al. (1998) [12] | 6m.30 (Hipparcos) | 6m.38 (Hipparcos) | 0.7237 | F2V | |
VX UMi | Ursa Minor | Henry et al. (2001) [25] | 6m.48 (B) | 0.34510 | A9V | ||
ε1 Lyr B | Lyrae | Peretto I., Lora S., Peretto G., Furlato G., Barbieri M. - MarSEC (2022) [29] | 6m.00 V (0.032) TESS | 0.415 | F0V |
Asteroseismology is the study of oscillations in stars. Stars have many resonant modes and frequencies, and the path of sound waves passing through a star depends on the speed of sound, which in turn depends on local temperature and chemical composition. Because the resulting oscillation modes are sensitive to different parts of the star, they inform astronomers about the internal structure of the star, which is otherwise not directly possible from overall properties like brightness and surface temperature.
Gamma Pegasi is a star in the constellation of Pegasus, located at the southeast corner of the asterism known as the Great Square. It has the formal name Algenib ; the Bayer designation Gamma Pegasi is Latinized from γ Pegasi and abbreviated Gamma Peg or γ Peg. The average apparent visual magnitude of +2.84 makes this the fourth-brightest star in the constellation. The distance to this star has been measured using the parallax technique, yielding a value of roughly 470 light-years.
A Delta Scuti variable is a subclass of young pulsating star. These variables as well as classical cepheids are important standard candles and have been used to establish the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud, globular clusters, open clusters, and the Galactic Center. The variables follow a period-luminosity relation in certain passbands like other standard candles such as Cepheids. SX Phoenicis variables are generally considered to be a subclass of Delta Scuti variables that contain old stars, and can be found in globular clusters. SX Phe variables also follow a period-luminosity relation. One last sub-class are the pre-main sequence (PMS) Delta Scuti variables.
Delta Aquilae, Latinized from δ Aquilae, is a binary star system in the equatorial constellation of Aquila. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.4 and, based upon parallax measurements, is located at a distance of about 50.6 light-years from Earth. It is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −30 km/s. The system is predicted to come to within 25.4 ly (7.8 pc) of the Sun in around 335,000 years.
9 Aurigae is a star system in Auriga (constellation). It has an apparent magnitude of about 5, making it visible to the naked eye in many suburban skies. Parallax estimates made by the Hipparcos spacecraft put it at about 86 light-years from the solar system, although individual Gaia Data Release 3 parallaxes place all three components at 88 light years.
59 Aurigae, often abbreviated as 59 Aur, is a star in the constellation Auriga. Its baseline apparent magnitude is 6.1, meaning it can just barely be seen with the naked eye as a dim, yellow-white hued star. Based on parallax measurements, it is located about 483 light-years away from the Sun.
The unqualified term instability strip usually refers to a region of the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram largely occupied by several related classes of pulsating variable stars: Delta Scuti variables, SX Phoenicis variables, and rapidly oscillating Ap stars (roAps) near the main sequence; RR Lyrae variables where it intersects the horizontal branch; and the Cepheid variables where it crosses the supergiants.
HD 182475 is a Delta Scuti variable star in the equatorial constellation of Aquila.
HD 149989 is a single, variable star in the southern constellation of Ara, located near the western constellation border with Norma. It has the variable star designation V872 Arae, while HD 149989 is the identifier from the Henry Draper Catalogue. This is a dim star near the lower limit of visibility to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 6.30. It is located at a distance of 167 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of 46 km/s.
Gamma Doradus, Latinized from γ Doradus, is the third-brightest star in the southern constellation of Dorado. It is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of approximately 4.25, and is a variable star, the prototype of the class of Gamma Doradus variables. The star is located at a distance of 67 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +25 km/s. Based on its motion through space, it appears to be a member of the IC 2391 supercluster.
HD 15082 is a star located roughly 397 light years away in the northern constellation of Andromeda. The star is a Delta Scuti variable and a planetary transit variable. A hot Jupiter type extrasolar planet, named WASP-33b or HD 15082b, orbits this star with an orbital period of 1.22 days. It is the first Delta Scuti variable known to host a planet.
Gamma Equulei, Latinized from γ Equulei, is a double star in the northern constellation of Equuleus. It is located at a distance of around 118 light-years from Earth and is visible to the naked eye with a slightly variable apparent visual magnitude of around 4.7. The star is drifting closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −16.5 km/s.
Gamma Coronae Borealis, Latinized from γ Coronae Borealis, is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Corona Borealis. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.83. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 22.33 mas as seen from Earth, it is located about 146 light years from the Sun. The system is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of about −15 km/s.
V529 Andromedae, also known as HD 8801, is a variable star in the constellation of Andromeda. It has a 13th magnitude visual companion star 15" away, which is just a distant star on the same line of sight.
HD 83446 is a probable astrometric binary star system in the constellation Vela. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.34. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 30.5 mas, it is located 107.1 light years from the Sun. The system is moving further away with a heliocentric radial velocity of +18 km/s.
CC Andromedae is a variable star in the constellation Andromeda. It is a pulsating star of the Delta Scuti type, with an apparent visual magnitude that varies between 9.19 and 9.46 with a periodicity of 3 hours.
FG Virginis is a well-studied variable star in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. It is a dim star, near the lower limit of visibility to the naked eye, with an apparent visual magnitude that ranges from 6.53 down to 6.58. The star is located at a distance of 273.5 light years from the Sun based on parallax measurements, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +16 km/s. Because of its position near the ecliptic, it is subject to lunar occultations.
RR Lyncis is a star system in the northern constellation of Lynx, abbreviated RR Lyn. It is an eclipsing binary of the Algol type; one of the closest in the northern sky at an estimated distance of approximately 263 light years based on parallax measurements. The system is faintly visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.53. During the primary eclipse the brightness drops to 6.03, while it decreases to magnitude 5.90 with the secondary eclipse. The system is drifting closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −12 km/s.
VZ Cancri is a variable star in the constellation Cancer, abbreviated VZ Cnc. It varies in brightness with a period of 0.178364 days, from an apparent visual magnitude of 7.18 down to 7.91, which lies below the typical threshold of visibility for the naked eye. The distance to this star is approximately 724 light years based on parallax measurements, and it is receding from the Sun with a radial velocity of 25 km/s.
HD 49434 is a single star in the equatorial constellation of Monoceros. It is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.75. Based on parallax measurements the star is located at a distance of 130.5 light years from the Sun, but it is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −17 km/s.