A study of stellar photometric variability within the central 4 pc of the galactic center with infrared image subtraction Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We present a catalog of 110 variable stars within 1 of Sgr A* based on image subtraction of near-infrared (H and K) photometry. Our images were obtained over 133 nights from 2000 to 2002 in H-band and over 134 nights from 2001 to 2002 in K-band; the typical FWHM is 1.4. We match the catalog to other near-infrared, X-ray, and radio (i.e., maser) data, and we discuss some of the more interesting objects. The catalog includes 14 sources with measurable periods, several known long-period variables and three new LPV candidates. We associate IRS 10* with OH, SiO, and H2O masers and a bright X-ray point source; this analysis suggests IRS 10* is an AGB star with an accreting companion. Among the 90 newly discovered sources are a probable cataclysmic variable, a potential edge-on contact 84 day period eclipsing binary, and a possible 41 day period pulsating variable.

published proceedings

  • Acta Astronomica

author list (cited authors)

  • Peeples, M. S., Stanek, K. Z., & DePoy, D. L.

complete list of authors

  • Peeples, MS||Stanek, KZ||DePoy, DL

publication date

  • August 2007