arXiv subjects

Kenneth C. Chambers

Publications and source records attributed to Kenneth C. Chambers.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Relative intrinsic scatter in hierarchical Type Ia supernova siblings analyses: Application to SNe 2021hpr, 1997bq & 2008fv in NGC 3147

We present Young Supernova Experiment $grizy$ photometry of SN 2021hpr, the third Type Ia supernova sibling to explode in the Cepheid calibrator galaxy, NGC 3147. Siblings are useful for improving SN-host distance estimates, and investigating the contributions towards the SN Ia intrinsic scatter (post-standardisation residual scatter in distance estimates). We thus develop a principled Bayesian framework for analyzing SN Ia siblings. At its core is the cosmology-independent relative intrinsic scatter parameter, $σ_{Rel}$: the dispersion of siblings distance estimates relative to one another within a galaxy. It quantifies the contribution towards the total intrinsic scatter, $σ_0$, from within-galaxy variations about the siblings' common properties. It also affects the combined-distance uncertainty. We present analytic formulae for computing a $σ_{Rel}$-posterior from individual siblings distances (estimated using any SN-model). Applying a newly trained BayeSN model, we fit the light curves of each sibling in NGC 3147 individually, to yield consistent distance estimates. However, the wide $σ_{Rel}$-posterior means $σ_{Rel}\approxσ_0$ is not ruled out. We thus combine the distances by marginalizing over $σ_{Rel}$ with an informative prior: $σ_{Rel}\sim U(0,σ_0)$. Simultaneously fitting the trio's light curves improves constraints on distance, and each sibling's individual dust parameters, compared to individual fits. Higher correlation also tightens dust parameter constraints. Therefore, $σ_{Rel}$-marginalization yields robust estimates of siblings distances for cosmology, and dust parameters for siblings-host correlation studies. Incorporating NGC 3147's Cepheid-distance yields $H_0=78.4\pm 6.5\,$km/s/Mpc. Our work motivates analyses of homogeneous siblings samples, to constrain $σ_{Rel}$, and its SN-model dependence.

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arXiv2023

Fast and Not-so-Furious: Case Study of the Fast and Faint Type IIb SN 2021bxu

We present photometric and spectroscopic observations and analysis of SN 2021bxu (ATLAS21dov), a low-luminosity, fast-evolving Type IIb supernova (SN). SN 2021bxu is unique, showing a large initial decline in brightness followed by a short plateau phase. With $M_r = -15.93 \pm 0.16\, \mathrm{mag}$ during the plateau, it is at the lower end of the luminosity distribution of stripped-envelope supernovae (SE-SNe) and shows a distinct $\sim$10 day plateau not caused by H- or He-recombination. SN 2021bxu shows line velocities which are at least $\sim1500\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$ slower than typical SE-SNe. It is photometrically and spectroscopically similar to Type IIb SNe during the photospheric phases of evolution, with similarities to Ca-rich IIb SNe. We find that the bolometric light curve is best described by a composite model of shock interaction between the ejecta and an envelope of extended material, combined with a typical SN IIb powered by the radioactive decay of $^{56}$Ni. The best-fit parameters for SN 2021bxu include a $^{56}$Ni mass of $M_{\mathrm{Ni}} = 0.029^{+0.004}_{-0.005}\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$, an ejecta mass of $M_{\mathrm{ej}} = 0.61^{+0.06}_{-0.05}\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$, and an ejecta kinetic energy of $K_{\mathrm{ej}} = 8.8^{+1.1}_{-1.0} \times 10^{49}\, \mathrm{erg}$. From the fits to the properties of the extended material of Ca-rich IIb SNe we find a trend of decreasing envelope radius with increasing envelope mass. SN 2021bxu has $M_{\mathrm{Ni}}$ on the low end compared to SE-SNe and Ca-rich SNe in the literature, demonstrating that SN 2021bxu-like events are rare explosions in extreme areas of parameter space. The progenitor of SN 2021bxu is likely a low mass He star with an extended envelope.

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arXiv2023

Type II-P Supernova Progenitor Star Initial Masses and SN 2020jfo: Direct Detection, Light Curve Properties, Nebular Spectroscopy, and Local Environment

We present optical, ultraviolet, and infrared data of the type II supernova (SN II) 2020jfo at 14.5 Mpc. This wealth of multiwavelength data allows to compare different metrics commonly used to estimate progenitor masses of SN II for the same object. Using its early light curve, we infer SN 2020jfo had a progenitor radius of $\approx$700 $R_{\odot}$, consistent with red supergiants of initial mass $M_{\rm ZAMS}=$11-13 $M_{\odot}$. The decline in its late-time light curve is best fit by a ${}^{56}$Ni mass of 0.018$\pm$0.007 $M_{\odot}$ consistent with that ejected from SN II-P with $\approx$13 $M_{\odot}$ initial mass stars. Early spectra and photometry do not exhibit signs of interaction with circumstellar matter, implying that SN 2020jfo experienced weak mass loss within the final years prior to explosion. Our spectra at $>$250 days are best fit by models from 12 $M_{\odot}$ initial mass stars. We analyzed integral field unit spectroscopy of the stellar population near SN 2020jfo, finding its massive star population had a zero age main sequence mass of 9.7$\substack{+2.5\\-1.3} M_{\odot}$. We identify a single counterpart in pre-explosion imaging and find it has an initial mass of at most $7.2\substack{+1.2\\-0.6} M_{\odot}$. We conclude that the inconsistency between this mass and indirect mass indicators from SN 2020jfo itself is most likely caused by extinction with $A_{V}=2$-3 mag due to matter around the progenitor star, which lowered its observed optical luminosity. As SN 2020jfo did not exhibit extinction at this level or evidence for interaction with circumstellar matter between 1.6-450 days from explosion, we conclude that this material was likely confined within $\approx$3000 $R_{\odot}$ from the progenitor star.

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arXiv2023

A Low-Mass Helium Star Progenitor Model for the Type Ibn SN 2020nxt

A growing number of supernovae (SNe) are now known to exhibit evidence for significant interaction with a dense, pre-existing, circumstellar medium (CSM). SNe Ibn comprise one such class that can be characterised by both rapidly evolving light curves and persistent narrow He I lines. The origin of such a dense CSM in these systems remains a pressing question, specifically concerning the progenitor system and mass-loss mechanism. In this paper, we present multi-wavelength data of the Type Ibn SN 2020nxt, including $HST$/STIS ultraviolet spectra. We fit the data with recently updated CMFGEN models designed to handle configurations for SNe Ibn. The UV coverage yields strong constraints on the energetics and, when combined with the CMFGEN models, offer new insight on potential progenitor systems. We find the most successful model is a $\lesssim4 {\rm M}_\odot$ helium star that lost its $\sim 1\,{\rm M}_\odot$ He-rich envelope in the years preceding core collapse. We also consider viable alternatives, such as a He white dwarf merger. Ultimately, we conclude at least some SNe Ibn do not arise from single, massive ($>30 {\rm M}_\odot$) Wolf-Rayet-like stars.

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arXiv2021

Ram Pressure Candidates in UNIONS

We present a search for disturbed, candidate ram pressure stripping galaxies across more than 50 spectroscopically selected SDSS groups and clusters. Forty-eight ram pressure candidates are visually identified in these systems using high quality UNIONS imaging from the Canada-France Hawaii Telescope, covering ~6200 and ~2800 square degrees in the u- and r-bands respectively. Ram pressure candidates are found in groups and clusters spanning a wide range in halo mass and include ~30 ram pressure candidates in the group regime ($M_h < 10^{14}$). The observed frequency of ram pressure candidates shows substantial scatter with group/cluster mass, but on average is larger in clusters ($M_h > 10^{14}\,M_\odot$) than groups ($M_h < 10^{14}\,M_\odot$) by a factor of ~2. We find that ram pressure candidates are most commonly low-mass galaxies and have enhanced star formation rates relative to star-forming field galaxies. The enhancement in star formation is largely independent of galaxy mass and strongest for galaxies in clusters. As a result of the large survey footprint and excellent image quality from UNIONS, we are able to identify disturbed galaxies, potentially affected by ram pressure stripping, across a wide range of host environment.

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arXiv2020

Orphan GRB afterglow searches with the Pan-STARRS1 COSMOS survey

We present the result of a search for orphan Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) afterglows in the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) COSMOS survey. There is extensive theoretical and observational evidence suggesting that GRBs are collimated jets; the direct observation of orphan GRB afterglows would further support this model. An optimal survey strategy is designed by coupling the PS1 survey with the Subaru/Hyper-Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey. The PS1 COSMOS survey, one of the survey fields in the PS1 Medium Deep Survey (PS1/MDS), searches a field of 7 deg$^2$ from December 2011 to January 2014, reaching a limiting magnitude R $\sim$ 23. The dense cadence of PS1/MDS is crucial for identifying transients, and the deep magnitude reached by the HSC survey (R $\sim$ 26) is important for evaluating potential GRB hosts. A transient classification method is employed to select potential orphan GRB afterglow candidates. After a thorough analysis of the transient and host galaxy properties, we conclude that there are no candidates in this survey field. The null result implies that the consideration of jet structures is essential for further orphan GRB afterglow surveys.

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arXiv2019

SDSS-IV MaStar -- A Large and Comprehensive Empirical Stellar Spectral Library: First Release

We present the first release of the MaNGA Stellar Library (MaStar), which is a large, well-calibrated, high-quality empirical library covering the wavelength range of 3,622-10,354A at a resolving power of R~1800. The spectra were obtained using the same instrument as used by the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) project, by piggybacking on the SDSS-IV/APOGEE-2N observations. Compared to previous empirical libraries, the MaStar library will have a higher number of stars and a more comprehensive stellar-parameter coverage, especially of cool dwarfs, low-metallicity stars, and stars with different [alpha/Fe], achieved by a sophisticated target selection strategy that takes advantage of stellar-parameter catalogs from the literature. This empirical library will provide a new basis for stellar population synthesis, and is particularly well-suited for stellar-population analysis of MaNGA galaxies. The first version of the library contains 8646 high-quality per-visit spectra for 3321 unique stars. Compared to photometry, the relative flux calibration of the library is accurate to 3.9% in g-r, 2.7% in r-i, and 2.2% in i-z. The data are released as part of Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 15. We expect the final release of the library to contain more than 10,000 stars.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Changing-Look Quasar Candidates: First Results from Follow-up Spectroscopy of Highly Optically Variable Quasars

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) that show strong rest-frame optical/UV variability in their blue continuum and broad line emission are classified as "changing-look" AGN, or at higher luminosities changing look quasars (CLQs). These surprisingly large and sometimes rapid transitions challenge accepted models of quasar physics and duty cycles, offer several new avenues for study of quasar host galaxies, and open a wider interpretation of the cause of differences between broad and narrow line AGN. To better characterize extreme quasar variability, we present follow-up spectroscopy as part of a comprehensive search for CLQs across the full SDSS footprint using spectroscopically confirmed quasars from the SDSS DR7 catalog. Our primary selection requires large-amplitude (|Δg|>1 mag, |Δr|>0.5 mag) variability over any of the available time baselines probed by the SDSS and Pan-STARRS 1 surveys. We employ photometry from the Catalina Sky Survey to verify variability behavior in CLQ candidates where available, and confirm CLQs using optical spectroscopy from the William Herschel, MMT, Magellan, and Palomar telescopes. For our adopted S/N threshold on variability of broad Hβemission, we find 17 new CLQs, yielding a confirmation rate of >~ 20%. These candidates are at lower Eddington ratio relative to the overall quasar population which supports a disk-wind model for the broad line region. Based on our sample, the CLQ fraction increases from 10% to roughly half as the continuum flux ratio between repeat spectra at 3420 Angstroms increases from 1.5 to 6. We release a catalog of over 200 highly variable candidates to facilitate future CLQ searches.

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arXiv2019

A Quasar Discovered at redshift 6.6 from Pan-STARRS1

Luminous high-redshift quasars can be used to probe of the intergalactic medium (IGM) in the early universe because their UV light is absorbed by the neutral hydrogen along the line of sight. They help us to measure the neutral hydrogen fraction of the high-z universe, shedding light on the end of reionization epoch. In this paper, we present a discovery of a new quasar (PSO J006.1240+39.2219) at redshift $z=6.61\pm0.02$ from Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System 1. Including this quasar, there are nine quasars above $z>6.5$ up to date. The estimated continuum brightness is $M_\text{1450}$=$-25.96\pm0.08$. PSO J006.1240+39.2219 has a strong Ly~$α$ emission compared with typical low-redshift quasars, but the measured near-zone region size is $R_\text{NZ}=3.2\pm1.1$ proper megaparsecs, which is consistent with other quasars at z$\sim$6.

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arXiv2018

The Massive and Distant Clusters of WISE Survey. I: Survey Overview and a Catalog of >2000 Galaxy Clusters at z~1

We present the Massive and Distant Clusters of WISE Survey (MaDCoWS), a search for galaxy clusters at 0.7 -30 degrees) and the remainder of the southern extragalactic sky at Dec<-30 degrees for which shallower optical data from SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey are available. In this paper we describe the search algorithm, characterize the sample, and present the first MaDCoWS data release -- catalogs of the 2433 highest amplitude detections in the WISE--Pan-STARRS region and the 250 highest amplitude detections in the WISE--SuperCOSMOS region. A total of 1723 of the detections from the WISE--Pan-STARRS sample have also been observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope, providing photometric redshifts and richnesses, and an additional 64 detections within the WISE--SuperCOSMOS region also have photometric redshifts and richnesses. Spectroscopic redshifts for 38 MaDCoWS clusters with IRAC photometry demonstrate that the photometric redshifts have an uncertainty of $σ_z/(1+z)\sim0.036$. Combining the richness measurements with Sunyaev-Zel'dovich observations of MaDCoWS clusters, we also present a preliminary mass-richness relation that can be used to infer the approximate mass distribution of the full sample. The estimated median mass for the WISE--Pan-STARRS catalog is $M_{500}=1.6^{+0.7}_{-0.8}\times10^{14} \mathrm{M}_\odot$, with the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich data confirming that we detect clusters with masses up to $M_{500}\sim5\times10^{14} \mathrm{M}_\odot$ $(M_{200}\sim10^{15} \mathrm{M}_\odot)$.

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arXiv2018

The White Dwarf Luminosity Functions from the Pan-STARRS 1 3π Steradian Survey

A large sample of white dwarfs is selected by both proper motion and colours from the Pan-STARRS 1 3π Steradian Survey Processing Version 2 to construct the White Dwarf Luminosity Functions of the discs and halo in the solar neighbourhood. Four-parameter astrometric solutions were recomputed from the epoch data. The generalised maximum volume method is then used to calculate the density of the populations. After removal of crowded areas near the Galactic plane and centre, the final sky area used by this work is 7.833 sr, which is 83% of the 3π sky and 62% of the whole sky. By dividing the sky using Voronoi tessellation, photometric and astrometric uncertainties are recomputed at each step of the integration to improve the accuracy of the maximum volume. Interstellar reddening is considered throughout the work. We find a disc-to-halo white dwarf ratio of about 100.

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arXiv2017

The Geometry of Sagittarius Stream from Pan-STARRS1 3$π$ RR Lyrae

We present a comprehensive and precise description of the Sagittarius (Sgr) stellar stream's 3D geometry as traced by its old stellar population. This analysis draws on the sample of ${\sim}44,000$ RR Lyrae (RRab) stars from the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) 3$π$ survey (Hernitschek et al. 2016,Sesar et al. 2017b), which is ${\sim}80\%$ complete and ${\sim}90\%$ pure within 80~kpc, and extends to ${\gtrsim} 120$~kpc with a distance precision of ${\sim} 3\%$. A projection of RR Lyrae stars within $|\tilde{B}|_{\odot}<9^\circ$ of the Sgr stream's orbital plane reveals the morphology of both the leading and the trailing arms at very high contrast, across much of the sky. In particular, the map traces the stream near-contiguously through the distant apocenters. We fit a simple model for the mean distance and line-of-sight depth of the Sgr stream as a function of the orbital plane angle $\tildeΛ_{\odot}$, along with a power-law background-model for the field stars. This modeling results in estimates of the mean stream distance precise to ${\sim}1\%$ and it resolves the stream's line-of-sight depth. These improved geometric constraints can serve as new constraints for dynamical stream models.

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arXiv2017

CO-Driven Activity in Comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)

Comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) was discovered by the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) Survey on 2017 May 21 at a distance 16.09 au from the Sun, the second most distant discovery of an active comet. Pre-discovery images in the PS1 archive back to 2014 and additional deep CFHT images between 2013 May 10-13 showed the comet to be active at 23.75 au. We derive an upper limit to the nucleus radius of $R_N$=80 km, assuming a 4\% albedo. The spectral reflectivity of the comet surface is similar to "fresh" regions seen on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko using the $Rosetta$ OSIRIS camera. Pre-discovery photometry combined with new data obtained with Megacam on the CFHT show that the activity is consistent with CO-ice sublimation and inconsistent with CO$_2$-ice sublimation. The ice sublimation models were run out to perihelion in 2022 at 1.8 au to predict the CO production rates, assuming that the outgassing area does not change. Assuming a canonical 4\% active surface area for water-ice sublimation, we present production rate ratios, $Q_{\rm CO}$/$Q_{\rm H2O}$, for a range of nucleus sizes. Comparing these results with other CO-rich comets we derive a lower limit to the nucleus radius of $\sim$14 km. We present predictions for $Q_{\rm CO}$ at a range of distances that will be useful for planning observations with JWST and large ground-based facilities.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2017

Astrometric evidence for a population of dislodged AGN

We investigate a sample of 2293 ICRF2 extragalactic radio-loud sources with accurate positions determined by VLBI, mostly active galactic nuclei (AGN) and quasars, which are cross-matched with optical sources in the first Gaia release (Gaia DR1). The distribution of offsets between the VLBI sources and their optical counterparts is strongly non-Gaussian, with powerful wings extending beyond 1 arcsecond. Limiting our analysis to only high-confidence difference detections, we find (and publish) a list of 188 objects with normalized variances above 12 and offsets below 1 arcsecond. Pan-STARRS stacked and monochromatic images resolve some of these sources indicating the presence of double sources, confusion sources, or pronounced extended structures. Some 89 high-quality objects, however, do not show any perturbations and appear to be star-like single sources, yet displaced by multiples of the expected error from the radio-loud AGN. We conclude that a fraction of luminous AGN (more than 4%) can be physically dislodged from the optical centers of their parent galaxies.

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arXiv2016

A Synoptic Map of Halo Substructures from the Pan-STARRS1 3π Survey

We present a panoramic map of the entire Milky Way halo north of dec~-30 degrees (~30,000 deg^2), constructed by applying the matched-filter technique to the Pan-STARRS1 3Pi Survey dataset. Using single-epoch photometry reaching to g~22, we are sensitive to stellar substructures with heliocentric distances between 3.5 and ~35 kpc. We recover almost all previously-reported streams in this volume and demonstrate that several of these are significantly more extended than earlier datasets have indicated. In addition, we also report five new candidate stellar streams. One of these features appears significantly broader and more luminous than the others and is likely the remnant of a dwarf galaxy. The other four streams are consistent with a globular cluster origin, and three of these are rather short in projection (<10 degrees), suggesting that streams like Ophiuchus may not be that rare. Finally, a significant number of more marginal substructures are also revealed by our analysis; many of these features can also be discerned in matched-filter maps produced by other authors from SDSS data, and hence they are very likely to be genuine. However, the extant 3Pi data is currently too shallow to determine their properties or produce convincing CMDs. The global view of the Milky Way provided by Pan-STARRS1 provides further evidence for the important role of both globular cluster disruption and dwarf galaxy accretion in building the Milky Way's stellar halo.

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arXiv2016

M Dwarf Activity in the Pan-STARRS 1 Medium-Deep Survey: First Catalog and Rotation Periods

We report on an ongoing project to investigate activity in the M dwarf stellar population observed by the Pan-STARRS 1 Medium Deep Survey (PS1-MDS). Using a custom-built pipeline, we refine an initial sample of $\approx$ 4 million sources in PS1-MDS to a sample of 184,148 candidate cool stars using color cuts. Motivated by the well-known relationship between rotation and stellar activity, we use a multi-band periodogram analysis and visual vetting to identify 271 sources that are likely rotating M dwarfs. We derive a new set of polynomials relating M dwarf PS1 colors to fundamental stellar parameters and use them to estimate the masses, distances, effective temperatures, and bolometric luminosities of our sample. We present a catalog containing these values, our measured rotation periods, and cross-matches to other surveys. Our final sample spans periods of $\lesssim$1-130 days in stars with estimated effective temperatures of $\approx$ 2700-4000 K. Twenty-two of our sources have X-ray cross-matches, and they are found to be relatively X-ray bright as would be expected from selection effects. Our data set provides evidence that Kepler-based searches have not been sensitive to very slowly-rotating stars ($P_{\rm rot} \gtrsim 70$ d), implying that the observed emergence of very slow rotators in studies of low-mass stars may be a systematic effect. We also see a lack of low-amplitude ($<$2%) variability in objects with intermediate (10-40 d) rotation periods, which, considered in conjunction with other observational results, may be a signpost of a loss of magnetic complexity associated with a phase of rapid spin-down in intermediate-age M dwarfs. This work represents just a first step in exploring stellar variability in data from the PS1-MDS and, in the farther future, LSST.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

Brown Dwarfs in Young Moving Groups from Pan-STARRS1. I. AB Doradus

Substellar members of young ($\lesssim$150 Myr) moving groups are valuable benchmarks to empirically define brown dwarf evolution with age and to study the low-mass end of the initial mass function. We have combined Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) proper motions with optical$-$IR photometry from PS1, 2MASS and $\textit{WISE}$ to search for substellar members of the AB Dor Moving Group within $\approx$50 pc and with spectral types of late-M to early-L, corresponding to masses down to $\approx$30 M$_{Jup}$ at the age of the group ($\approx$125 Myr). Including both photometry and proper motions allows us to better select candidates by excluding field dwarfs whose colors are similar to young AB~Dor Moving Group members. Our near-IR spectroscopy has identified six ultracool dwarfs (M6$-$L4; $\approx$30$-$100 M$_{Jup}$) with intermediate surface gravities (INT-G) as candidate members of the AB Dor Moving Group. We find another two candidate members with spectra showing hints of youth but consistent with field gravities. We also find four field brown dwarfs unassociated with the AB Dor Moving Group, three of which have INT-G gravity classification. While signatures of youth are present in the spectra of our $\approx$125 Myr objects, neither their $J-K$ nor $W1-W2$ colors are significantly redder than field dwarfs with the same spectral types, unlike younger ultracool dwarfs. We also determined PS1 parallaxes for eight of our candidates and one previously identified AB Dor Moving Group candidate. Although radial velocities (and parallaxes, for some) are still needed to fully assess membership, these new objects provide valuable insight into the spectral characteristics and evolution of young brown dwarfs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

The Time-Domain Spectroscopic Survey: Understanding the Optically Variable Sky with SEQUELS in SDSS-III

The Time-Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS) is an SDSS-IV eBOSS subproject primarily aimed at obtaining identification spectra of ~220,000 optically-variable objects systematically selected from SDSS/Pan-STARRS1 multi-epoch imaging. We present a preview of the science enabled by TDSS, based on TDSS spectra taken over ~320 deg^2 of sky as part of the SEQUELS survey in SDSS-III, which is in part a pilot survey for eBOSS in SDSS-IV. Using the 15,746 TDSS-selected single-epoch spectra of photometrically variable objects in SEQUELS, we determine the demographics of our variability-selected sample, and investigate the unique spectral characteristics inherent in samples selected by variability. We show that variability-based selection of quasars complements color-based selection by selecting additional redder quasars, and mitigates redshift biases to produce a smooth quasar redshift distribution over a wide range of redshifts. The resulting quasar sample contains systematically higher fractions of blazars and broad absorption line quasars than from color-selected samples. Similarly, we show that M-dwarfs in the TDSS-selected stellar sample have systematically higher chromospheric active fractions than the underlying M-dwarf population, based on their H-alpha emission. TDSS also contains a large number of RR Lyrae and eclipsing binary stars with main-sequence colors, including a few composite-spectrum binaries. Finally, our visual inspection of TDSS spectra uncovers a significant number of peculiar spectra, and we highlight a few cases of these interesting objects. With a factor of ~15 more spectra, the main TDSS survey in SDSS-IV will leverage the lessons learned from these early results for a variety of time-domain science applications.

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