The visual band light curve of the 2007 outburst of V455 Andromedae, from AAVSO data and Kato et al. (2008) [1] [2] | |
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Andromeda |
Right ascension | 23h 34m 01.4485s [3] |
Declination | +39° 21′ 40.8665″ [3] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 8.5 – 16.5 variable [4] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | pec(UG) [5] |
Apparent magnitude (B) | 16.22 [6] |
Apparent magnitude (R) | 16.14 [6] |
Apparent magnitude (G) | 16.0635 [3] |
Apparent magnitude (J) | 15.528 [7] |
Apparent magnitude (H) | 15.199 [7] |
Apparent magnitude (K) | 14.567 [7] |
Variable type | Dwarf Nova [5] |
Astrometry | |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: −57.141±0.075 [3] mas/yr Dec.: −139.317±0.060 [3] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 13.2403 ± 0.0556 mas [3] |
Distance | 246 ± 1 ly (75.5 ± 0.3 pc) |
Orbit [8] | |
Period (P) | 81.08 minutes |
Inclination (i) | 75° |
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 36 km/s |
Details [4] | |
White dwarf | |
Mass | 0.6 M☉ |
Rotation | 67.61970396±0.00000072 s |
Donor star | |
Mass | 0.07 M☉ |
Other designations | |
2MASS J23340144+3921408 | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
V455 Andromedae (often abbreviated to V455 And) is a dwarf nova in the constellation Andromeda. It has a typical apparent visual magnitude of 16.5, but reached a magnitude of 8.5 during the only observed outburst.
When it was discovered in 2003, [9] during the quiescent phase, V455 Andromedae was classified as a cataclysmic variable, since its spectrum is similar to U Geminorum. V455 Andromedae is therefore a binary star where the primary is a white dwarf that is accreting matter from the secondary donor star. The rotation period of the white dwarf, slightly less than 68 seconds, is shorter than the orbital period so the white dwarf must possess a magnetic field channelling the material from the accretion disk to the poles of the white dwarf. This qualifies V455 Andromedae as a cataclysmic variable of the intermediate polar type. The spin period is expected to become shorter with time, but to date only upper limits on its decreasing trend has been determined. [4]
The mass of the donor star is only 0.07 M☉. This low mass makes V455 Andromedae similar to WZ Sagittae dwarf novae, which are expected to have a long period between outbursts. [4]
Eclipses in the light curve of V455 Andromedae revealed the binary nature of this star and its orbital period. Only one outburst event has been observed so far: V455 Andromedae brightened by 8 magnitudes during 2007. Such a large increase in brightness implies that this was a superoutburst, and V455 Andromedae is therefore a dwarf nova of the SU Ursae Majoris type. Superhumps were observed during the outburst. [4]
Superhumps have also been reported during quiescence, known as permanent superhumps. An 83.38 min positive superhump was observed in 2000 - 2003, [8] while 80.376 min negative superhumps were seen in 2013 and 2014. This is the first time negative superhumps have been detected in WZ sagittae dwarf novae during quiescence. [10]
V455 Andromedae shows spectroscopic variations in its line profiles with a period of 3.5 hours. This is taken to be the precession period of a warped accretion disk, possibly retrograde precession. [10]
The white dwarf primary pulsates radially with periods of about five or six minutes. [8] [11] These are considered to be incoherent, or possibly to consist of too many different periods to be analysed. [10] [11] Further brightness oscillations are seen with a period of 67.28 s , which is a beat period between the spin period and the spectroscopic period. [10]
The brightness of V455 And has been gradually fading since 2008, mainly due to the gradual cooling of the white dwarf and the hot spot on the accretion disk and/or lower mass transfer, until an equilibrium level has been reached. [11]
A dwarf nova, or U Geminorum variable, is one of several types of cataclysmic variable star, consisting of a close binary star system in which one of the components is a white dwarf that accretes matter from its companion. Dwarf novae are dimmer and repeat more frequently than "classical" novae.
U Geminorum, in the constellation Gemini, is an archetypal example of a dwarf nova. The binary star system consists of a white dwarf closely orbiting a red dwarf. Every few months it undergoes an outburst that greatly increases its brightness. The dwarf nova class of variable stars are often referred to as U Geminorum variables after this star.
BB Doradus or BB Dor is a cataclysmic variable, a pre-nova star, thus a close pair binary star system. It is composed of a red dwarf and a white dwarf. Observations of the white dwarf's faint but certain accretion disk are consistent with it being at ~10° inclination.
WZ Sagittae is a cataclysmic dwarf nova star system in the constellation Sagitta. It consists of a white dwarf primary being orbited by a low mass companion. The white dwarf is about 0.85 solar masses while the companion is only 0.08 solar masses. This implies that the companion is a spectral class L2 star, although this has yet to be confirmed. The distance to this system has been determined by parallax, yielding a distance of 45.1 parsecs.
RX Andromedae is a variable star in the constellation of Andromeda. Although it is classified as a dwarf nova of the Z Camelopardalis (UGZ) type, it has shown low-luminosity periods typical of VY Sculptoris stars. However, for most of the time it varies from an apparent visual magnitude of 15.1 at minimum brightness to a magnitude of 10.2 at maximum brightness, with a period of approximately 13 days.
SW Sextantis variable stars are a kind of cataclysmic variable star; they are double-star systems in which there is mass transfer from a red dwarf to a white dwarf forming a stable accretion disc around the latter. Unlike other non-magnetic cataclysmic variables, the emission lines from hydrogen and helium are not doubled, except briefly near phase 0.5.
BV Centauri is a cataclysmic variable binary star in the constellation Centaurus. It is a dwarf nova, and undergoes rapid increases in brightness that are recurrent with a mean period of 150 days. This period seems to have increased in the last few decades. During quiescence, its visual apparent magnitude is about 13, with variations of a few tenths of magnitude over an orbit due to differences in the star's visible surface area, brightening to a maximum magnitude of 10.7 during outbursts. From its luminosity, it is estimated that the system is about 500 parsecs (1,600 ly) away from Earth. A Gaia parallax of 2.81 mas has been measured, corresponding to about 360 pc.
SU Ursae Majoris, or SU UMa, is a close binary star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It is a periodic cataclysmic variable that varies in magnitude from a peak of 10.8 down to a base of 14.96. The distance to this system, as determined from its annual parallax shift of 4.53 mas, is 719 light-years. It is moving further from the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of +27 km/s.
TU Mensae is a cataclysmic variable star of in the constellation Mensa. A close binary, it consists of a white dwarf and low-mass star orbiting each other in 2 hours 49 minutes. The stars are close enough that the white dwarf strips material off the other star, creating an accretion disc that periodically ignites with a resulting brightening of the system. These result in an increase in brightness lasting around a day every 37 days. Brighter outbursts, known as superhumps, last 5-20 days and take place every 194 days. The properties of TU Mensae have been difficult to calculate, as the calculated mass ratio between the two stars mean there should not be superhumps.
AR Andromedae is a dwarf nova of the SS Cygni type in the constellation Andromeda. Its typical apparent visual magnitude is 17.6, but increases up to 11.0 magnitude during outbursts. The outbursts occur approximately every 23 days.
DX Andromedae is a cataclysmic variable star in the constellation Andromeda. It has a typical apparent visual magnitude of 15.5 during the quiescent phase, but becomes brighter during outbursts recurring with a mean cycle length of 330 days, thus is classified as a dwarf nova of the SS Cygni type.
LL Andromedae is a dwarf nova in the constellation Andromeda, discovered during an outburst in 1979. Its typical apparent visual magnitude is 19.4, but undergoes outbursts events when can reach a peak magnitude of 14.3. Since this magnitude is reached during the most powerful outbursts, while less bright outbursts can occur, it is classified as a SU Ursae Majoris variable.
PX Andromedae is an eclipsing cataclysmic variable star in the constellation Andromeda. It has been classified as a SW Sextantis variable, and its apparent visual magnitude varies between 14.04 and 17.
BZ Ursae Majoris is a dwarf nova star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It consists of a white dwarf primary in a close orbit with a red dwarf. The latter star is donating mass, which is accumulating in an accretion disk orbiting the white dwarf. The system is located at a distance of approximately 505 light years from the Sun based on parallax measurements.
RZ Leonis Minoris is a cataclysmic variable star system in the northern constellation of Leo Minor. It undergoes frequent outbursts that vary in brightness from an apparent visual magnitude of 14.4 down to 16.8. Based on parallax measurements, this system is located at a distance of approximately 2,160 light years from the Sun.
SW Ursae Majoris is a cataclysmic binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated SW UMa. During quiescence it has an apparent visual magnitude of 16.5–17, which is too faint to be visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 526 light years from the Sun.
DW Ursae Majoris is an eclipsing binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated DW UMa. It is a cataclysmic variable of the SX Sextanis type, consisting of a compact white dwarf that is accreting matter from an orbiting companion star. The brightness of this source ranges from an apparent visual magnitude of 13.6 down to magnitude 18, which is too faint to be viewed with the naked eye. The distance to this system is approximately 1,920 light years based on parallax measurements.
ER Ursae Majoris is a variable star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated ER UMa. It is a prototype system for a subclass of SU Ursae Majoris dwarf novae. The system ranges in brightness from a peak apparent visual magnitude of 12.4 down to 15.2, which is too faint to be visible to the naked eye. The distance to this system, based on parallax measurements, is approximately 1,163 light years.
IW Andromedae is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Andromeda, abbreviated IW And. It is the prototype of a class of variable stars known as IW And variables, which is an anomalous sub-class of the Z Camelopardalis variables. The brightness of this system ranges from an apparent visual magnitude of 13.7 down to 17.3, which requires a telescope to view. The system is located at a distance of approximately 2,860 light years from the Sun based on parallax measurements.
BW Sculptoris is WZ Sge-type dwarf nova and a candidate period bouncer. The binary consists of a white dwarf and a brown dwarf donor that orbits the white dwarf every 78.23 minutes. BW Sculptoris is one of the closest and brightest cataclysmic variable stars with a brightness of magnitude16.5 and a distance of 93.3 parsecs. It also has the shortest period for any CVs known to date.