Photometric Observations of the Young Cluster Variable GM Cephei

TL;DR

This study presents photometric observations of GM Cep, a young, variable star in the Trumpler 37 cluster, revealing its brightness variations, potential dust obscuration, and classification as a UXor-type variable in a transitional disk phase.

Contribution

The paper provides detailed photometric monitoring of GM Cep, identifying its variability patterns and proposing its classification as a UXor-type variable during disk evolution.

Findings

GM Cep experienced a 0.82 mag brightness decrease lasting 39 days.

Detected a quasi-cyclic period of approximately 311 days for fading events.

Observed color changes indicating increased accretion and dust obscuration.

Abstract

We present our photometric observations of GM Cep, a solar type variable in the young (~4 Myr) open cluster Trumpler 37. The star is known as a classical T Tauri star with a circumstellar disk and active accretion. GM\,Cep was suspected to undergo an outburst, thus a candidate for an EXor-type variable. In our monitoring campaign observations in 2010-2011, GM Cep experienced a ~0.82 mag brightness decrease in the R band lasting for 39 days, and frequent, transient flare-like episodes with amplitude < 1 mag, each lasting for about 10 days. The brightening was accompanied with a bluer color, presumably arising from increased accretion activity. Interestingly, the star also turned bluer in the fading phase. Combining the AAVSO and literature data, we found a quasi-cyclic peroid of ~311 days for the fading event. A possible mechanism for the fading could be obscuration by a clump of dust around the star. We proposed that GM Cep therefore should be a UXor-type variable in the transition phase between grain coagulation and planetesimal formation process in the circumstellar disk.