Mira Data in the AAVSO International Database

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Mira Data in the AAVSO International Database

• Matthew Templeton
• AAVSO

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AAVSO Data Holdings

• Several hundred Mira stars with extensive
  observations, over 1500 stars in program
• Have decades to nearly 100 years of observations
  for many Mira stars
• All Mira data have been validated and are ready
  for dissemination

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Applications of Historical Light Curves

• Period refinement, multiperiodicity
• Archival, multiwavelength studies
• Population studies
• Evolution studies, behavioral changes

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Miras in the AAVSO International Database
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Period magnitude distributions of well-observed
Miras
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Period changes in Mira variables
Miras are stars in a rapidly-evolving stage of
their lives the AGB. Substantial changes can
occur on timescales of a few hundred years. Can
we detect evolutionary events (e.g. thermal
pulses) via changes in pulsation behavior?
Search for period changes in the well-observed
Miras in the AAVSO International Database
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Period changes in Mira variables
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Period changes in Mira variables
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Period changes in Mira variables

• A few percent of Miras exhibit large period
  changes over various timescales
• Decades- and centuries-long changes different
  physics?
• More modeling is needed.
• More data is needed.

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Miras in the AAVSO International Database

• Database is growing larger every day more Miras,
  more observers, more observations
• Multicolor photometry by amateur observers
  becoming more available
• Collaborative projects, multiwavelength studies,
  observing campaigns

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Contact Us!

• http//www.aavso.org
• Inquiries, data requests, collaborations welcomed!