A Project for Photometry of Early-type Binaries at the South Pole

Session 54 -- Interacting Binaries: Hot Stars
Display presentation, Thursday, January 13, 9:30-6:45, Salons I/II Room (Crystal Gateway)

[54.01] A Project for Photometry of Early-type Binaries at the South Pole

K-Y. Chen (Department of Astronomy, University of Florida), D. H. Martins (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Alaska, Anchorage)

Five O-type close binary systems, HD 93206, HD 101205, HD 152218, HD 152248, and HD 152249 are selected to be observed photometrically at the South Pole. An automated 40-cm optical telescope was designed specially for the harsh environment. The telescope was built and funded in China; and it is now being tested mechanically. A CCD camera will be mounted at the Nasmyth focus. Complete UBVRI light curves of these stars and their solutions are to be obtained. The results will provide basic information for constructing evolutional models of O-type stars and their interactions in binary system. Standard stars are to be observed also. These photometric data will be used to determine the atmospheric extinctions at the South Pole as well as the transformation equations of the instrumental system to the standard system. This research is a joint project of the University of Florida, Beijing Astronomical Obsevatory, Yunnan Observatory, and the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

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