Undergraduates Searching for Exoplanets and Finding the Unexpected Richard P. Olenick, Arthur Sweeney, Laura Aumen, Andrew Bechter, Eric Bechter, Blaise Dufrain, Ramses Gonzalez, Matt Heuser, Nick Hedlesky, Alex Henderson, Anthony Kersting, James Meier, Matt Mellendez, Mark Rodriguez, Jeff Schneiderjan Department of Physics, University of Dallas, Irving, TX USA

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Outline Introduction STExTS—Small Telescope Exoplanet Transit Search Locations Instruments Research/Discoveries Undergraduate student researchers Area 1: W UMa binaries Area 2: Intrinsic variable stars Area 3: Exoplanet searches Area 4: Cataclysmic variables Using Remote Observatories Advantages and Disadvantages Summary EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Introduction to STExTS 5 Years of Research = 13 Undergraduate Theses EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Small Telescope Extrasolar Transit Searches STExTS Similar to WASP Telescopes: Use wide-angle astrographs Approach: 28 – 35 nights photometric data of the same area Initial data taken June 05 - July 06, 2012 of DoDz9 Approximately 250 images/night with 2000 stars/image Total images ≈ 6.9 million data points per astrograph Unlike WASP EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Pitkin, CO Elevation 9,242 ft

Observational Campaign 2014 in the UP

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Astrographs Photometric Errors: Fatboy EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Fatboy centered on SAO85344 N E EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Serena Centered on SAO66941 N E EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Sextractor Check Image EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Research/Discoveries Undergraduate researchers Learn how to control the telescope (on-site or remotely). Learn how to take data. Take data for two months, weather permitting. Learn how to reduce the images into photometric data and apply that knowledge. Learn how to use software packages for analyses (Peranso, vartools, etc.) Write up results (35-page thesis) with portions ready for incorporation in publications. EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Area 1: Close Binaries Light Curves of Close Binaries: GSC 2083-1870 Students reduce data and perform period analyses using Lomb-Scargle and ANOVA algorithms and O – C method. The period obtained for GSC 2083–1870 is 0.360849(3) d EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Area 1: Close Binaries Students use PHOEBE to model the binaries and determine orbital and stellar parameters. Parameter Value P0 [days] 0.360849(1) a [R ] 2.89 + 0.03 q = M2/M1 0.378 + 0.031 i [0] 78.7 + 0.05 T1[K] 5712 + 49 T2 [K] 6796 + 51 Ω1 5.533+ 0.002 Ω2 5.889 + 0.002 M1bol 4.045 + 0.001 M2bol 4.295 + 0.001 M1 [M ] 1.814 + 0.062 M2 [M ] 0.688 + 0.027 R1 [R] 1.439 + 0.007 R2 [R] 0.906 + 0.007 L1 [L] 5.226 + 0.085 L2 [L] 1.994 + 0.061 Log(g1) 4.379 + 0.542 Log(g2) 4.358 + 0.630 EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Area 2: Intrinsic Variable Stars Students search through database of light curves for data they have taken for variable stars and perform periodogram analyses. Phase Diagram Characteristic of a RRab Lyrae variable P = 0.0992 d EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Area 2: Intrinsic Variable Stars Examining Known Variable Stars LW Her Periodogram P = 0.64461 d Phase Diagram Notice the alternating amplitudes, discovered by a student, classifying the star as a RRd Lyrae. Alternating maxima indicating a period 2 behavior EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Area 3: Exoplanets Two STExTs Exoplanet Candidates EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Area 3: Extrasolar Planets Students search database of light curves for potential transits then extract the four parameters through models of the light curves. A “five equation family tree” that shows what can be calculated using only the four measured parameters listed at the top. Using these four parameters, the impact parameter (b) and the stellar density (ρ*) can be calculated. From these can be found the stellar mass (M*), the semi-major axis of the system (a), the orbital inclination (i), the stellar radius (R*), and the planetary radius (RP). EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Area 3: Exoplanets PARAMETERS FROM MODELING Period (d) Qtran Qin depth Star Ntran B V Temp Epoch 0.79330 0.14713 0.15375 0.01223 1126 16 12.34 11.74 5867 56071.84369738 1.29754 0.13849 0.17283 0.01795 1286 11 12.35 10.86 4008 56071.92749128 1.05474 0.11080 0.18037 0.01702 1116 10 11.88 11.01 5114 56071.69846929 0.24945 0.17605 0.17740 0.02185 4060 23 13.16 12.4 5405 56445.33195133 0.88366 0.18103 0.17291 0.01038 0195 15 12.25 10.79 4044 56072.03976660 0.88148 0.11180 0.18753 0.01706 2018 12 11.75 11.39 6904 56071.55391130 0.77163 0.12156 0.19986 0.03017 0825 13 13.59 12.56 4802 56071.46467911 From light curves and catalogs From BLS modeling (vartools) From period analysis EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Area 3: Exoplanets Planetary Properties Calculated Properties of Exoplanets and Stars Star b rho ( kg/m3) M*/Msun a (AU) R*/Rsun inc ( 0 ) Rp/RJ ηp * 1126 0.594 1318 1.050 0.017 1.039 80.30 1.145 0.76 1286 0.567 649 1.741 0.028 1.558 81.55 2.079 0.77 1116 0.617 1641 0.897 0.020 0.917 82.27 1.191 0.74 4060 0.507 10574 0.237 0.005 0.316 81.05 0.466 0.78 0195 0.682 540 1.985 0.023 1.731 75.95 1.756 2018 0.638 2210 0.725 0.016 0.774 81.83 1.006 0.70 0825 0.521 3147 0.564 0.014 0.632 83.53 1.094 Stellar Properties *For an exoplanet event ηp < 1 whereas ηp > 1 usually designates stellar events (blends, grazing binaries), Tingsley, 2005. EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Area 4: Cataclysmic Variables Kepler K2 Guest Observer Ground-based observations of Am CVn targets in Campaign 14 EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Remote Observatories University of North Texas Monroe Observatory Software AutoCCD Set start, end times Set camera temperature Take bias and dark frames Track guide star TeamViewer Access observatory controls Access telescope and camera controls. University of North Texas Monroe Observatory 16-in used by students to take data on cataclysmic variables EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Remote Observatories: UNT Monroe Fatboy Field for Summer 2015 EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Remote Observatories Twin Serena-type astrographs Dark Skies Observatory Collaborative EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Remote Observatories Nightly Routine Startup: Calibration: Data: Monroe Roof – Turn on power, open roof MaximDL – Set Camera Temperature Calibration: TheSkyX Pro – Mount Control MaximDL – Camera Control Data: MaximDL – Darks, Biased, Flat-Fields, Raw Images Guiding: CCDAutoPilot – Session Schedule MaximDL – Guiding Camera   EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Data Pipeline Final Light Curve Data Storage Analysis Error Removal MySQL Database Analysis Peranso: Periodogram & Phase Diagram Error Removal SysRem Astrometry Star Extractor Image Calibration AIP4Windows EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Analysis Periodograms Performed on interesting candidates Phase diagrams made Raw Data Calibration Bias Frames Dark frames Flat fields O – C Calculations Calculated magnitudes based on the period Determined the error between the observed and the calculated magnitudes Visual Search Interesting candidates identified by looking at light curves individually Photometry Light curves found for each star SYSREM algorithm reduces systematic error Astrometry PinPoint software Relates each star in image to known stars in UCAC4 catalog Change Peranso EEBLS to O – C Calculations EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy Summary Students learn/participate in all phases of research: data acquisition, data reduction, data analysis, modeling for a variety of exciting research endeavors. Students gain valuable experience working as team members. Students learn persistence, responsibility, and reliability is necessary in science. Students from the University use remote observing telescopes in west Texas and TX-OK border. EWASS 2017 SS3 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

Undergraduates Searching for Exoplanets and Finding the Unexpected Richard P. Olenick, Arthur Sweeney, Laura Aumen, Andrew Bechter, Eric Bechter, Blaise Dufrain, Ramses Gonzalez, Matt Heuser, Nick Hedlesky, Alex Henderson, Anthony Kersting, James Meier, Matt Mellendez, Mark Rodriguez, Jeff Schneiderjan Department of Physics, University of Dallas, Irving, TX USA