Rr Lyrae Variable Stars

• Published in: Highlights of astronomy 1980, Vol.5, p.489-492
• Main Authors: Romanov, Yu. S., Tsesevich, V. P., Zaikova, L. P., Firmanyuk, B. N., Udovichenko, S. N., Fenina, Z. N., Shakun, L. I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1539-2996
• DOI: 10.1017/S1539299600004330

Some twenty years have passed since the decision was taken by the General Assembly of IAU in 1958 to resume a regular control of light variation stability in RR Lyrae stars. With this end in view the revision of elements is carried out at the Odessa Astronomical Observatory yearly, whereas ephemerides of RR Lyrae stars are published at the Krakov Observatory. Now 164 stars brighter than at maximum light visible in the northern hemisphere have entered the list. Considerable photometric observational material analyzed has shown that some RR Lyrae stars have stable periods of light variation (e.g. TV Lib, UY Cyg, SU Dra), while other ones have periods which vary regularly or proportionally to time (e.g. SV Eri, AV Peg, RV CrB) (Tsesevich, 1966; Firmanyuk, 1976; Romanov et al., 1978). In case of DR And at comparatively small amplitude of O-C variation, about 0.15, a synchronous variation in mean light at maximum nearly by has been found (Romanov, 1978). Unfortunately, necessary observational material is frequently unavailable to obtain the unambiguous classification of period stability character. The property of RR Lyrae stars light variation stability is connected with the weakening of KCall absorption line (Tsesevich, 1966, 1971).