The Burrell-Optical-Kepler-Survey (BOKS) I: Survey Description and Initial Results

TL;DR

This paper reports initial results from a ground-based survey within the Kepler field, identifying variable stars and potential exoplanet candidates through time series photometry over 40 nights.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed variability analysis and candidate exoplanet identification from a dedicated ground-based survey in the Kepler field.

Findings

Cataloged 2,457 candidate variable stars.

Identified 776 stars with periodic variability.

Discovered three potential exoplanet candidates.

Abstract

We present the initial results of a 40 night contiguous ground-based campaign of time series photometric observations of a 1.39 sq. deg field located within the NASA Kepler mission field of view. The goal of this pre-launch survey was to search for transiting extrasolar planets and to provide independent variability information of stellar sources. We have gathered a data set containing light curves of 54,687 stars from which we have created a statistical sub-sample of 13,786 stars between 14< r <18.5 and have statistically examined each light curve to test for variability. We present a summary of our preliminary photometric findings including the overall level and content of stellar variability in this portion of the Kepler field and give some examples of unusual variable stars found within. We present a preliminary catalog of 2,457 candidate variable stars, of which 776 show signs of periodicity. We also present three potential exoplanet candidates, all of which should be observable in detail by the Kepler mission.