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R. E. Cohen, W. Herbst, E. C. Williams (Wesleyan U.)
Results of a 5-year photometric monitoring program at Van Vleck Observatory, aimed at T Tauri stars in the young cluster IC 348, are presented. Of the 150 stars in the cluster field bright enough to follow, 27 are periodic variables, with (rotation) periods ranging from ~1 to 16 days. Small, but significant, changes in period have been detected for 18 of the 27 stars. In general, the periods are remarkably stable, with the largest variation amounting to only 3% and the median variation being 1%. Presumably the period changes reflect differential rotation on the photospheres of these pre-main sequence stars. Variations in light curve shape, amplitude and mean brightness from season to season are found and several kinds of behavior will be illustrated. Irregular variables, often of large amplitude (exceeding 0.5 mag in I), are also common. One star is found with a light curve suggesting an eclipse of three years’ duration!
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: recohen@wesleyan.edu
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #3
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.