Connecting the Time Domain Photometry of M Dwarfs with Low-Resolution Spectroscopy
Abstract
We present a study of the lightcurves and spectra of 18,000 M dwarfs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Our sample was selected to have both multi-epoch observations from SDSS's Stripe 82 (resulting in 60 separate observations in each band), as well as SDSS low-resolution spectra for each star. A majority of the photometric variation in these stars is thought to be caused by long-lived star spots that modulate the light as the star rotates. The amplitude of the variation in all of the SDSS bands gives us important insight into the spot coverage and temperature. We investigate how this amplitude changes as a function of various quantities derived from the spectra, namely spectral type, magnetic activity (thought to be connected to the star spots), and dynamical age. This sample and its ties to spectroscopic observations will help inform and add value to upcoming (and current) time domain surveys such as LSST.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
- Pub Date:
- January 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AAS...21542420W