Photometric Variability in the CSTAR Field: Results From the 2008 Data Set

TL;DR

This study analyzes 2008 CSTAR data from Dome A, Antarctica, identifying 274 variable stars, including 83 new discoveries, and characterizing their periods, amplitudes, and variability types to understand photometric variability in this unique environment.

Contribution

First comprehensive variability survey of the CSTAR field at Dome A, providing a catalog of variables and new discoveries with detailed characterization.

Findings

Identified 274 variable stars, including 83 new ones.

Provided periods, amplitudes, and variability classes for most variables.

Discussed statistical properties of the variable star population.

Abstract

The Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) is the first telescope facility built at Dome A, Antarctica. During the 2008 observing season, the installation provided long-baseline and high-cadence photometric observations in the i-band for 18,145 targets within 20 deg2 CSTAR field around the South Celestial Pole for the purpose of monitoring the astronomical observing quality of Dome A and detecting various types of photometric variability. Using sensitive and robust detection methods, we discover 274 potential variables from this data set, 83 of which are new discoveries. We characterize most of them, providing the periods, amplitudes and classes of variability. The catalog of all these variables is presented along with the discussion of their statistical properties.