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Miloslav Zejda

Publications and source records attributed to Miloslav Zejda.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2012

Visual minima timings of eclipsing binaries: To use or not to use?

Plenty of mid-eclipse timings of short-periodic eclipsing binaries derived from series of visual observations appear to be an acceptable source of information for orbital period analyses, namely if they were done in time-intervals not covered by other types of observations. However, our thorough period analysis of the nearly contact eclipsing binary BS Vulpeculae proves that visually determined timings done in 1979--2003 were undoubtedly biased to accommodate the existing linear ephemeris. The heavily subjective character of visual observations disqualifies them as a source of true phase information apt for fine eclipsing binary period analyses. Consequently we warn against the use of visual timings without a preceding careful verification.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2012

Catalogue of variable stars in open cluster fields

We present the first catalogue of known variable stars in open cluster regions and with up to two times the given cluster radius. This gives basic information about the distribution of variable stars in cluster fields for the complete sky. Knowledge of the variable star contents in open clusters is a significant advantage in their study. Analysing variability of cluster members and fields stars as well, allows us to study the characteristics of stars and clusters together. This catalogue of variable stars in open cluster fields is the first step in supporting such studies. We took all variable and suspected variable stars into account from the most complete collection, "The AAVSO Variable Star Index", and did a cross-match of these stars with the most complete catalogue of galactic open clusters named DAML02. Our on-line catalogue presently contains 18 065 variable stars. We present the basic statistical distribution according to types of variability.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2011

Surprising variations in the rotation of the chemically peculiar stars CU Virginis and V901 Orionis

CU Vir and V901 Ori belong among these few magnetic chemically peculiar stars whose rotation periods vary on timescales of decades. We aim to study the stability of the periods in CU Vir and V901 Ori using all accessible observational data containing phase information. We collected all available relevant archived observations supplemented with our new measurements of these stars and analysed the period variations of the stars using a novel method that allows for the combination of data of diverse sorts. We found that the shapes of their phase curves were constant, while the periods were changing. Both stars exhibit alternating intervals of rotational braking and acceleration. The rotation period of CU Vir was gradually shortening until the year 1968, when it reached its local minimum of 0.52067198 d. The period then started increasing, reaching its local maximum of 0.5207163 d in the year 2005. Since that time the rotation has begun to accelerate again. We also found much smaller period changes in CU Vir on a timescale of several years. The rotation period of V901 Ori was increasing for the past quarter-century, reaching a maximum of 1.538771 d in the year 2003, when the rotation period began to decrease. A theoretically unexpected alternating variability of rotation periods in these stars would remove the spin-down time paradox and brings a new insight into structure and evolution of magnetic upper-main-sequence stars.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2011

Magnetic Chemically Peculiar Stars with Unsteady Periods

Photometrically and spectroscopically variable chemically peculiar (CP) stars are the optimum laboratories for testing the rotational evolution of main sequence stars. A vast majority of well-studied CP stars have quite steady rotational periods (e.g. SrCrEu star CQ UMa). However, there are several CP stars that exhibit apparent period variations. The origin of the period variations is unclear in many cases. We describe the observed period variations of several individual CP stars, especially V901 Ori, sigma Ori E, HR 7355, CU Vir, SX Ari, and EE Dra. The CP stars with unsteady periods now represent a very diverse group with dissimilar O-C diagrams and time scales. We also discuss the causes of the period changes found and a possible cyclicity or chaoticity of them.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2009

Rotational periods of magnetic chemically peculiar stars

Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars of the upper part of the main sequence usually exhibit strictly periodic variations of their light, spectrum and magnetic field. These changes can be well explained using the oblique rotator model of the rigidly rotating star with persistent photometric spots, uneven horizontal abundance of chemical elements and dipole-like magnetic field. Long-term observations of mCP stars variability enable to determine their rotational periods with an extraordinary accuracy and reliability. We compare rotational periods of mCP stars with those of normal main sequence stars of the same spectral type and discuss the found discrepancies. We also discuss the cases of mCP stars V901 Ori, SX Ari, CU Vir, (and possibly also EE Dra), which have been reported to display an increase of their rotational periods.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2005

Light Variations of the Anomalous Central Star of Planetary Nebula Sh 2-71

We present an analysis of light variations in UBVRI of the anomalous object in the center of planetary nebula Sh 2-71. We refined the linear ephemeris of the light maxima to JD{max} = 2449862.0 + 68.101 (E-96), but also identified long-term, obviously non-periodic variations. The latter manifest themselves in large O-C shifts, a variable profile of light curves (hereafter LC) and changes in the mean brightness of the object. Our spectroscopic observations suggested the presence of a superdense nebula in the center of Sh 2-71.

astro-ph↗