This content will become publicly available on February 1, 2023

Citizen ASAS-SN Data Release. I. Variable Star Classification Using Citizen Science
Abstract We present the first results from Citizen ASAS-SN, a citizen science project for the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) hosted on the Zooniverse platform. Citizen ASAS-SN utilizes the newer, deeper, higher cadence ASAS-SN g -band data and tasks volunteers to classify periodic variable star candidates based on their phased light curves. We started from 40,640 new variable candidates from an input list of ∼7.4 million stars with δ < −60° and the volunteers identified 10,420 new discoveries which they classified as 4234 pulsating variables, 3132 rotational variables, 2923 eclipsing binaries, and 131 variables flagged as Unknown. They classified known variable stars with an accuracy of 89% for pulsating variables, 81% for eclipsing binaries, and 49% for rotational variables. We examine user performance, agreement between users, and compare the citizen science classifications with our machine learning classifier updated for the g -band light curves. In general, user activity correlates with higher classification accuracy and higher user agreement. We used the user’s “Junk” classifications to develop an effective machine learning classifier to separate real from false variables, and there is a clear path for using this “Junk” training set to significantly improve our primary machine learning classifier. We also illustrate more »
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Award ID(s):
Publication Date:
NSF-PAR ID:
10342147
Journal Name:
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Volume:
134
Issue:
1032
Page Range or eLocation-ID:
024201
ISSN:
0004-6280
1. ABSTRACT We explore the synergy between photometric and spectroscopic surveys by searching for periodic variable stars among the targets observed by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) using photometry from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). We identified 1924 periodic variables among more than $258\, 000$ APOGEE targets; 465 are new discoveries. We homogeneously classified 430 eclipsing and ellipsoidal binaries, 139 classical pulsators (Cepheids, RR Lyrae, and δ Scuti), 719 long-period variables (pulsating red giants), and 636 rotational variables. The search was performed using both visual inspection and machine learning techniques. The light curves were also modelled with the damped random walk stochastic process. We find that the median [Fe/H] of variable objects is lower by 0.3 dex than that of the overall APOGEE sample. Eclipsing binaries and ellipsoidal variables are shifted to a lower median [Fe/H] by 0.2 dex. Eclipsing binaries and rotational variables exhibit significantly broader spectral lines than the rest of the sample. We make ASAS-SN light curves for all the APOGEE stars publicly available and provide parameters for the variable objects.
The All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) provides long baseline (∼4 yr) light curves for sources brighter than V ≲ 17 mag across the whole sky. As part of our effort to characterize the variability of all the stellar sources visible in ASAS-SN, we have produced ∼30.1 million V-band light curves for sources in the Southern hemisphere using the APASS DR9 (AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey Data Release) catalogue as our input source list. We have systematically searched these sources for variability using a pipeline based on random forest classifiers. We have identified ${\sim } 220\, 000$ variables, including ${\sim } 88\, 300$ new discoveries. In particular, we have discovered ${\sim }48\, 000$ red pulsating variables, ${\sim }23\, 000$ eclipsing binaries, ∼2200 δ-Scuti variables, and ${\sim }10\, 200$ rotational variables. The light curves and characteristics of the variables are all available through the ASAS-SN variable stars data base (https://asas-sn.osu.edu/variables). The pre-computed ASAS-SN V-band light curves for all the ∼30.1 million sources are available through the ASAS-SN photometry data base (https://asas-sn.osu.edu/photometry). This effort will be extended to provide ASAS-SN light curves for sources in the Northern hemisphere and for V ≲ 17 mag sources across the whole sky that are not included inmore »
3. ABSTRACT We characterize an all-sky catalogue of ∼8400 δ Scuti variables in ASAS-SN, which includes ∼3300 new discoveries. Using distances from Gaia DR2, we derive period–luminosity relationships for both the fundamental mode and overtone pulsators in the WJK, V, Gaia DR2 G, J, H, Ks, and W1 bands. We find that the overtone pulsators have a dominant overtone mode, with many sources pulsating in the second overtone or higher order modes. The fundamental mode pulsators have metallicity-dependent periods, with log10(P) ∼ −1.1 for $\rm [Fe/H]\lt -0.3$ and log10(P) ∼ −0.9 for $\rm [Fe/H]\gt 0$, which leads to a period-dependent scale height. Stars with $P\gt 0.100\, \rm d$ are predominantly located close to the Galactic disc ($\rm |\mathit{ Z}|\lt 0.5\, kpc$). The median period at a scale height of $Z\sim 0\, \rm kpc$ also increases with the Galactocentric radius R, from log10(P) ∼ −0.94 for sources with $R\gt 9\, \rm kpc$ to log10(P) ∼ −0.85 for sources with $R\lt 7\, \rm kpc$, which is indicative of a radial metallicity gradient. To illustrate potential applications of this all-sky catalogue, we obtained 30 min cadence, image subtraction TESS light curves for a sample of 10 fundamental mode and 10 overtone δ Scuti stars discoveredmore »
4. ABSTRACT As part of an All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN) search for sources with large flux decrements, we discovered a transient where the quiescent, stellar source ASASSN-V J192114.84+624950.8 rapidly decreased in flux by $\sim 55{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ (∼0.9 mag) in the g band. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite light curve revealed that the source is a highly eccentric, eclipsing binary. Fits to the light curve using phoebe find the binary orbit to have e = 0.79, Porb = 18.462 d, and i = 88.6°, and the ratios of the stellar radii and temperatures to be R2/R1 = 0.71 and Te,2/Te,1 = 0.82. Both stars are chromospherically active, allowing us to determine their rotational periods of P1 = 1.52 d and P2 = 1.79 d, respectively. A Large Binocular Telescope/Multi-Object Double Spectrograph spectrum shows that the primary is a late-G- or early-K-type dwarf. Fits to the spectral energy distribution show that the luminosities and temperatures of the two stars are L1 = 0.48 L⊙, $T_1= 5050\, \mathrm{K}$, L2 = 0.12 L⊙, and $T_{2} = 4190\, \mathrm{K}$. We conclude that ASASSN-V J192114.84+624950.8 consists of two chromospherically active, rotational variable stars in a highly elliptical eclipsing orbit.
ABSTRACT The All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae provides long baseline (∼4 yr) V-band light curves for sources brighter than V≲ 17 mag across the whole sky. We produced V-band light curves for a total of ∼61.5 million sources and systematically searched these sources for variability. We identified ∼426 000 variables, including ∼219 000 new discoveries. Most (${\sim }74{ per\ cent}$) of our discoveries are in the Southern hemisphere. Here, we use spectroscopic information from LAMOST, GALAH, RAVE, and APOGEE to study the physical and chemical properties of these variables. We find that metal-poor eclipsing binaries have orbital periods that are shorter than metal-rich systems at fixed temperature. We identified rotational variables on the main-sequence, red giant branch, and the red clump. A substantial fraction (${\gtrsim }80{ per\ cent}$) of the rotating giants have large $v$rot or large near-ultraviolet excesses also indicative of fast rotation. The rotational variables have unusual abundances suggestive of analysis problems. Semiregular variables tend to be lower metallicity ($\rm [Fe/H]{\sim }-0.5$) than most giant stars. We find that the APOGEE DR16 temperatures of oxygen-rich semiregular variables are strongly correlated with the WRP − WJK colour index for $\rm T_{eff}\lesssim 3800$ K. Using abundance measurements from APOGEE DR16, we find evidence for Mgmore »