arXiv subjects

A. Udalski

Publications and source records attributed to A. Udalski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

OGLE-2015-BLG-1395Lb: A Cold Sub-Saturn Mass Planet Orbiting an M Dwarf

We present an analysis of the high-magnification microlensing event OGLE-2015-BLG-1395 and report the discovery of a sub-Saturn mass companion to the lens. Photometric coverage of the planetary anomaly in the light curve was obtained from the University of Tasmania's Harlingten 1.27m telescope. Additional data were obtained following the peak from several other observatories, allowing photometric calibration and color measurement of the source. Fits to the light curve reveal a companion with mass ratio of q = 0.00062 +/- 0.00007 and two degenerate solutions for the projected separation, s = 1.7 +/-0.1 or 0.59 +/-0.04 Einstein ring radii. Source and lens parameters are further constrained by Subaru and Keck adaptive optics (AO) imaging in 2016. Finite source effects and AO flux constraints allow us to determine the planet and host star parameters to better than a factor of 2. The system is an ~0.2 Jupiter-mass planet orbiting an ~0.25 solar mass (early-mid M-dwarf) main-sequence star in the Galactic disk, at a distance of ~2 kpc. The two degenerate solutions from the light curve both place the planet beyond the snow line. As a cold sub-Saturn around an M dwarf, OGLE-2015-BLG-1395Lb is in possible conflict with core accretion theory. Spitzer photometry from the time of the event is consistent with this conclusion, although highly uncertain due to faintness and crowding. The inferred relative proper motion of 9.4 mas/yr is consistent with a source star in the bulge and a lens in the disk, and predicts that the source and lens could be resolved a decade after the event.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

OGLE-2013-BLG-1125/MOA-2013-BLG-584: Discovery of a gas giant orbiting an M dwarf

We report the discovery and characterization of a planetary system in the microlensing event OGLE-2013-BLG-1125/MOA-2013-BLG-584. We analyze photometric data from OGLE and MOA surveys, as well as LCO, $μ$FUN, and Mindstep follow-up telescopes to model the microlensing light curve. We also used data from the Keck II telescope collected in 2018 to obtain additional constraints on the lensing system. We found a Saturn-mass planet of mass $M_{\rm p}=105\pm13 \ M_\oplus$ orbiting a low-mass host star $M_{\rm L}=0.139\pm0.011 \ M_\odot$ at $1.00\pm0.08$ kpc from Earth. This discovery adds to the small sample of giant planets orbiting low-mass stars and provides constraints on planet formation theories.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

Light curve spectral energy distribution fitting of 13 carbon-rich Mira variables stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Carbon-rich Mira variables are highly dynamic stars characterized by large-amplitude radial pulsations and intense mass-loss. Standard spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting often relies on time-averaged observations, which flatten intrinsic variability and yield only approximate stellar and circumstellar parameters. To overcome these limitations, we dynamically trace the physical parameters of 13 carbon-rich Miras in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) throughout their pulsation cycles. Combining time-series photometry from $Gaia$, WISE, VMC, 2MASS, and OGLE, we reconstruct simultaneous multi-band light curves. We extract independent SEDs at 14 distinct phases and model them using the ATHENA-C grid. This phase-resolved approach traces cyclic variations in effective temperature ($T_{\rm eff}$), optical depth ($τ_{0.55}$), and bolometric luminosity. We find peak-to-peak $T_{\rm eff}$ variations ranging from $\sim 100$ K to $>1000$ K. A strong anti-correlation between $τ_{0.55}$ and bolometric luminosity indicates the dust condensation zone is pushed outward at maximum brightness, rendering the circumstellar environment optically thinner. We also recover the classical Period-Luminosity relation and derive radial expansion velocities and radius variation amplitudes, which are consistent with independent measurements. Phase-resolved fitting reveals the true dynamic ranges of these parameters, which static fits fail to capture. Although limited by grid sampling and gaps where converged hydrostatic models are unavailable, explicitly accounting for time-dependent behavior provides a much more physically realistic picture of the interplay between stellar pulsation and dust formation. This highlights the critical need for time-resolved methodologies when studying large-amplitude variables.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Highly bipolar planetary nebula Hen 2-57 and its possible symbiotic core

We present a multi-wavelength analysis of the highly bipolar object Hen 2-57 based on new optical spectroscopy from the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), complemented by archival imaging, and long-term time-series photometry from OGLE and NEOWISE. The nebula exhibits a pronounced hourglass morphology with a symmetry axis at a position angle of $110\pm5^{\circ}$ and an average lobe opening angle of $\sim$$53^{\circ}$. We also identify pronounced north--south brightness asymmetry, with the southern parts of lobes consistently brighter. The spectral energy distribution shows a strong mid-infrared excess that cannot be reproduced by a single-temperature blackbody, indicating the presence of a dense circumstellar dust structure, likely in the form of a disk or torus, analogous to that observed in M 2-9. Optical spectroscopy reveals a complex kinematic structure in which the central core is redshifted relative to both the eastern ($55\pm4\ \mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$) and western ($46\pm3\ \mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$) lobes. While standard diagnostic diagrams place the extended lobes in the planetary nebula regime, emission-line diagnostics of the central core are consistent with those of symbiotic stars. The same region also exhibits a steep Balmer decrement, indicative of significant internal dust extinction. Long-term OGLE photometry shows no evidence for coherent stellar pulsations, whereas NEOWISE photometry reveals a gradual mid-infrared fading of $\sim$0.25 mag between 2010 and 2024. Together, these properties support a scenario in which Hen 2-57 hosts a dust-enshrouded D-type symbiotic central engine actively shaping the surrounding bipolar nebula, making it a close analogue of M 2-9.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Historic microlensing events in the euclid Galactic Bulge Survey

Microlensing campaigns have a long history of observations covering the Galactic bulge, where thousands of detections have been obtained, including many exoplanetary systems. The Euclid Galactic Bulge Survey represents a unique opportunity to revisit a large number of past events and attempt the lens-source resolution of known events falling in the covered area. As the analysis of individual events requires non-negligible efforts, it is important to establish priorities among all possible targets, identifying those candidates with the higher chance for a successful resolution of the lens from the source and with the highest scientific interest. Drawing from the databases of the three main microlensing surveys (OGLE, MOA and KMTNet), we compile the complete catalog of past microlensing events in the Euclid survey footprint up to year 2023, containing 7801 entries. By re-modeling all events and cross-checking with Galactic models, we estimate the relative lens-source proper motions for all events. Taking into account all uncertainties, for each microlensing event we are able to estimate the probability that the lens is separated from the source by more than a given angular distance threshold. Hence, we rank all events by their resolution probability, providing additional useful information that will guide future analyses on the most promising candidates. A particular attention is dedicated to the 51 known planetary microlensing events.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

Thirty Circumbinary Disk Occultation Systems (KH 15D-like stars) from the OGLE Project

We present a catalog of 30 stars that are candidates for KH 15D-like binary systems, in which the observed brightness variations are caused by a circumbinary dusty disk that periodically obscures at least one of the stellar components as it moves along its orbit. Thanks to the regular observations conducted within the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) project, we provide unique light curves in the I and V bands with very long time baselines, in some cases beginning as early as 1997 and extending to the present day. Such long-term monitoring allows us to identify changes in eclipse widths, amplitudes, and light-curve shapes on timescales of many years. We highlight several circumbinary disk occultation (CBO) systems of particular interest and present spectra for three of them.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

The dramatic transition of the extreme Red Supergiant WOH G64 to a Yellow Hypergiant

Red Supergiants (RSGs) are cool, evolved massive stars in their final evolutionary stage before exploding as a supernova. However, the evolution and fate of the most luminous RSGs remain uncertain. Observational evidence for luminous warm, post-RSG objects and the apparent lack of luminous RSGs as supernova progenitors suggest a blueward evolution. Since the 1980s, WOH G64 has been considered the most extreme RSG in the Large Magellanic Cloud, given its large obscuration, outstanding size, luminosity, and mass-loss rate. Here we report a sudden, yet smooth change in its apparent nature. Time-series photometry and subsequent spectroscopy revealed the most extreme transition ever seen in the optical spectral features of a RSG. We discovered that WOH G64 is a rare, massive symbiotic binary system where the RSG transitioned to a Yellow Hypergiant. The dramatic transition can be explained either by the partial ejection of the pseudo-atmosphere during a common-envelope phase, or the return to a quiescent state after an outstanding eruption exceeding 30 years. WOH G64 offers a unique opportunity to witness stellar evolution in real-time and assess the role of binarity on the final phases of massive stars and their resulting supernovae.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

A comprehensive catalogue of high-mass X-ray binaries in the Large Magellanic Cloud detected during the first eROSITA all-sky survey

The Magellanic Clouds, the closest star-forming galaxies to the Milky Way, offer an excellent environment to study high-mass X-ray binaries. While the Small Magellanic Cloud has been thoroughly investigated with over 120 systems identified, the Large Magellanic Cloud has lacked a complete survey due to its large angular size. Most prior studies targeted central or high-star-formation regions. The SRG/eROSITA all-sky surveys now enable a comprehensive coverage of the LMC, particularly due to its close vicinity to the south ecliptic pole. This work aims to improve our understanding of the HMXB population in the LMC by building a flux-limited catalogue. This allows us to compare sample properties with those of HMXB populations in other nearby galaxies. Using detections during the first eROSITA all-sky survey, we cross-matched X-ray positions with optical and infrared catalogues to identify candidate HMXBs. We assigned flags based on multi-wavelength follow-up observations and archival data, using properties of known LMC HMXBs. These flags defined confidence classes for our candidates. We detect sources down to X-ray luminosities of a few $10^{34}$ erg s$^{-1}$, resulting in a catalogue of 53 objects, including 28 confirmed HMXBs and 21 new eROSITA detections. We identify several likely supergiant systems, including a candidate supergiant fast X-ray transient with phase-dependent flares. We find three Be stars with likely white dwarf companions. Two of the Be/WD candidates show steady luminosities across four eROSITA scans, unlike the post-nova states seen in the majority of previous Be/WD reports. Our catalogue is the first to cover the entire LMC since the ROSAT era, providing a basis for statistical population studies. Using the HMXB population, we estimate the LMC star-formation rate to be $(0.22^{+0.06}_{-0.07})$ M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$, which is in agreement with other tracers.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

The incidence of LBV variability in the LMC

Luminous blue variables (LBVs) exhibit unique variability features, characterized by episodic outbursts ($>$1 mag) accompanied by spectroscopic changes (S Dor variables). It is debated if all massive stars undergo an LBV-like phase during their evolution, or instead LBVs are exotic phenomena. We aim to quantify the incidence of LBV-like variability in the blue supergiant (BSgs) population of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using the OGLE survey. Here, we extend previous work in the Small Magellanic Cloud to the LMC, where we examine the light curves of 87 B Supergiants (BSgs) (out of 254 known BSgs) spanning timescales of twenty years, and 37 objects across a three year timescale for aperiodic variations resembling known S Dor variables. One blue supergiant, [ST92] 4-13 shows S Dor type photometric variations. New spectra of this object reveals a potential change in spectral type compared to the literature classification. However, based on its spectral characteristics and low luminosity and mass, we do not currently classify it as an LBV. Our study highlights the need to classify bona fide LBVs as stars undergoing both photometric and spectroscopic variations. Based on currently known stellar population of S Dor variables in the LMC, the lifetime of the S Dor phase is at most $\sim$10$^3$ yrs, in agreement with our duty cycle study based on OGLE data in the SMC. This is orders of magnitude shorter than assumed in literature. Our discovery of LBV-like variability at low luminosities may suggest that S Dor variations could arise from Eddington limit related physics over a wide range of stellar masses, rather than being linked to a unique evolutionary stage.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

KMT-2024-BLG-0816/OGLE-2024-BLG-0519 -- A Microlensing Event with Candidate Free-Floating Planet Lens and Blended Light

We present the discovery of a free-floating planet microlensing event KMT-2024-BLG-0816. The event shows finite-source effect, significant blending light, and no microlensing signal from a putative planet host. Among the free-floating planet events with finite source effects, this is the only event with unresolved blending light. We discuss how follow-up observations can be used to determine whether the blending light originates from a putative planet host.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2025

Constraining Lens Masses in Moderately to Highly Magnified Microlensing Events from Gaia

Microlensing events provide a unique way to detect and measure the masses of isolated, non-luminous objects, particularly dark stellar remnants. Under certain conditions, it is possible to measure the mass of these objects using photometry alone, specifically when a microlensing light curve displays a finite source (FS) effect. This effect generally occurs in highly magnified light curves, i.e. when the source and the lens are very well aligned. In this study, we analyse Gaia Alerts and Gaia Data Release 3 datasets, identifying four moderate-to-high-magnification microlensing events without a discernible FS effect. The absence of this effect suggests a large Einstein radius, implying substantial lens masses. In each event, we constrained the FS effect, and therefore established lower limits for the angular Einstein radius and lens mass. Additionally, we used the DarkLensCode software to obtain the mass, distance, and brightness distribution for the lens based on the Galactic model. Our analysis established lower mass limits of $\sim 0.7$ $M_{\odot}$ for one lens and $\sim 0.3-0.5$ $M_{\odot}$ for two others. A DarkLensCode analysis supports these findings, estimating lens masses in the range of $\sim 0.42-1.70$ $M_{\odot}$ and dark lens probabilities exceeding 80%. These results strongly indicate that the lenses are stellar remnants, such as white dwarfs or neutron stars. While further investigations are required to confirm the nature of these lenses, we demonstrate a straightforward yet effective approach to identifying stellar remnant candidates.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Identification of new Galactic symbiotic stars with SALT -- II. New discoveries and characterization of the sample

We present the continuation of a systematic search for new southern Galactic symbiotic stars, selecting candidates from the SuperCOSMOS H$α$ Survey and 2MASS. Follow-up spectroscopy with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) was used to confirm their symbiotic nature and to characterize the cool and hot components of the full sample, including systems from earlier work. We report 14 newly confirmed bona fide symbiotic stars and identify 6 additional strong candidates. Photometric variability was examined using our data and archival light curves from multiple all-sky surveys. Most systems are variable, with the majority showing periodic modulation consistent with orbital motion or pulsations. Possible photometric orbital periods are reported for 19 confirmed and 3 candidate systems, pending spectroscopic confirmation. Eight objects exhibit signs of outburst activity. In one of the systems, multiple brightenings occur at similar orbital phases, closely resembling the evolution of FN Sgr, a symbiotic binary with a magnetic white dwarf. The peculiar variability of another symbiotic star is best explained by dust-obscuration events. These results expand the census of Galactic symbiotic stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Doubling the Number of Blue Large-Amplitude Pulsators: Final Results of Searches for BLAPs in the OGLE Inner Galactic Bulge Fields

Blue Large-Amplitude Pulsators (BLAPs) are rare short-period ($\lesssim$80 min) pulsating variable stars exhibiting large-amplitude brightness variations (typically between 0.1 and 0.4 mag). As a recently discovered class of radial-mode pulsators, the origin and nature of these variables remain the subject of ongoing investigations. Here, we present a comprehensive summary of all BLAPs identified in the data of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), including the discovery of 88 new BLAPs in the inner Galactic bulge fields. We performed a systematic search for periodic signals in the $I$-band light curves of more than 400 million stars with magnitudes down to $I = 21$. Our search effectively doubles the number of these variables to almost 200. The detected BLAPs exhibit pulsation periods between roughly 5 and 76 minutes. The analyzed dataset covers a timespan from 2001 to 2024, with some stars observed up to 20,000 times, providing the temporal coverage needed to study period and amplitude variations. We report on three objects that show enormous period changes, at a rate of $10^{-5}$ yr$^{-1}$, which could provide important clues to the evolutionary status of BLAPs. Full dataset is incorporated into the publicly available OGLE Collection of Variable Stars (OCVS), enabling future studies of these enigmatic objects.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Eppur non si trovano: Comments on the Primordial Black Hole Limits in the Galactic Halo

In a recent arXiv post, Hawkins & Garcia-Bellido raised doubts on the results of 20-yr long OGLE photometric monitoring, which did not find a large number of gravitational microlensing events in the direction of the Magellanic Clouds. These results implied that primordial black holes and other compact objects with masses from 10^{-8} to 10^3 M_solar cannot comprise a substantial fraction of the Milky Way dark matter halo. Unfortunately, the Hawkins & Garcia-Bellido post contained a number of scientific misrepresentations of our work. Here, we demonstrate that their arguments lack a solid basis or are simply incorrect. As we show below, "and yet they are not found" - compact objects (including primordial black holes) in the dark halo of the Milky Way remain undetected, despite extensive searches.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Microlensing optical depth, event rate, and limits on compact objects in dark matter based on 20 yr of OGLE observations of the Small Magellanic Cloud

Some previous studies have suggested that massive and intermediate-mass primordial black holes (PBHs) could comprise a substantial fraction of dark matter in the Universe. Such black holes, if they existed in the Milky Way halo, would give rise to long-duration microlensing events that may potentially last for years. However, earlier searches were not sufficiently sensitive to detect such events. Here, we present the results of searches for long-timescale gravitational microlensing events toward the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) using nearly 20 years of photometric observations collected by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) from 2001 to 2020. We found six events, three of which are new discoveries. We use a sample of five events to measure the microlensing optical depth toward the SMC $τ= (0.32 \pm 0.18) \times 10^{-7}$ and the event rate $Γ= (1.18 \pm 0.57) \times 10^{-7}\,\mathrm{yr}^{-1}\,\mathrm{star}^{-1}$. The properties of the detected events are consistent with lenses originating from known stellar populations within the SMC or in the Milky Way disk. No events with timescales longer than 1 yr were detected, which provides competitive limits on the fraction of massive compact objects, including PBHs, in the Milky Way dark matter halo. Together with the earlier OGLE studies of microlensing events in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud, these observations rule out PBHs and other compact objects with masses ranging from $10^{-8}$ to $10^3\,M_{\odot}$ as dominant components of dark matter.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Observational Parameters of Blue Large-amplitude Pulsators

Blue large-amplitude pulsators (BLAPs) are a recently discovered class of short-period pulsating variable stars. In this work, we present new information on these stars based on photometric and spectroscopic data obtained for known and new objects detected by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey. BLAPs are evolved objects with pulsation periods in the range of 3-75 minutes, stretching between subdwarf B-type stars and upper main-sequence stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. In general, BLAPs are single-mode stars pulsating in the fundamental radial mode. Their phase-folded light curves are typically sawtooth-shaped, but many longer-period objects exhibit an additional bump. The long-term OGLE observations show that the period change rates of BLAPs are usually of the order of $10^{-7}$ yr$^{-1}$ and in a quarter of the sample are negative. The spectroscopic data indicate that the BLAPs form a homogeneous group in the period, surface gravity, and effective temperature spaces. However, we observe a split into two groups in terms of helium-to-hydrogen content. The atmospheres of the He-enriched BLAPs are more abundant in metals (about 5 times) than the atmosphere of the Sun. We discover that BLAPs obey a period--gravity relationship and we use the distance to OGLE-BLAP-009 to derive a period--luminosity relation. Most of the stars observed in the OGLE Galactic bulge fields seem to reside in the bulge, while the remaining objects likely are in the foreground Galactic disk.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

The Ultimate I-band Calibration of the TRGB Standard Candle

We present the ultimate I-band calibration of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) standard candle. Our calibration is based on photometry from the outer parts of the Large Magellanic Cloud, 2.75<r<6.5 degs from the center, collected during the OGLE-IV phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. Outer regions of the LMC have large advantages compared to the previous attempts of the TRGB calibrations using the red giants from the central parts of this galaxy. The interstellar reddening in these regions is much lower and more uniform, stellar crowding is lower and the outer parts of the LMC can be accurately described as a flat disk within the reasonable distance from the LMC center. The number of red giants in the upper part of the red giant branch in our LMC region is large, ~140 000, making it possible to determine of the tip magnitude with high accuracy. Our ultimate I-band calibration of the TRGB is: M_{I,TRGB}=-4.022 +- 0.006 (stat.) +- 0.033 (syst.) mag. We also provide its values for different techniques of the determination of the tip magnitude. The accuracy of our calibration is mostly limited by the accuracy of the distance to the LMC (~1%) and can be improved in the future. We test our calibration by comparing it with the TRGB in the Small Magellanic Cloud and NGC 4258, i.e., the galaxies with precise geometric distance determination, and find excellent agreement. Finally, we refine the main determinations of the Hubble constant, H_0, with the TRGB using our new calibration of the I-band TRGB brightness.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Episodic mass loss in the very luminous red supergiant [W60] B90 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

This study delves into [W60] B90, one of the most luminous and extreme Red Supergiants (RSGs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), aiming to search for evidence of episodic mass loss. Our discovery of a bar-like nebular structure at 1 pc, reminiscent of the bar around Betelgeuse, raised the question of whether [W60] B90 also has a bow shock. We collected and analyzed proper motion data from Gaia, as well as new multi-epoch spectroscopic and imaging data, and archival time-series photometry in the optical and mid-infrared. We found [W60] B90 to be a walkaway star, with a supersonic peculiar velocity in the direction of the bar. We detected shocked emission between the bar and the star, based on the [S II]/H$α$ > 0.4 criterion, providing strong evidence for a bow shock. The 30-year optical light curve revealed semi-regular variability, showing three similar dimming events with $ΔV \sim 1$ mag, a recurrence of $\sim$12 yr, and a rise time of 400 d. We found the mid-IR light curve to vary by 0.51 mag and 0.37 mag in the WISE1 and WISE2 bands, respectively, and by 0.42 mag and 0.25 mag during the last dimming event. During this event, optical spectroscopy revealed spectral variability (M3I to M4I), a correlation between the $T_{\rm eff}$ and the brightness, increased extinction, and, after the minimum, spectral features incompatible with the models. We also found a difference of >300 K between the $T_{\rm eff}$ measured from the TiO bands in the optical and the atomic lines from our $J$-band spectroscopy. We inferred that [W60] B90 is a more massive analog of Betelgeuse in the LMC and the first extragalactic single RSG with a suspected bow shock. Its high luminosity $\log(L/L_{\odot})=5.32$, mass-loss rate, and mid-IR variability compared to other RSGs in the LMC, indicate that it is in an unstable evolutionary state undergoing episodes of mass loss.

astro-ph.SR↗