Periodic Variables

Periodic Variables (pnp)¶

Periodic Variables are objects that exhibit repeating sequences of values over a fixed length of time, known as the period. Many astrophysical objects exhibit periodic behavior, including eclipsing binaries, pulsators, etc.

Classification and numbers¶

Supertypes
variable
Subtypes
Eclipsing
Sinusoidal
Sawtooth
Elliptical

ZTF light curves¶

ZTF periodic

Description¶

Periodic variables have periods ranging from minutes to over a thousand days with millimagnitude to magnitude level variations.

Light curve characteristics¶

periodic variable: objects that exhibit repeating sequences of values over a fixed length of time
period range: 0.001-1000 days
amplitude: varies from survey precision to more than a magnitude

HR diagram of Periodic

RA/Dec diagram of Periodic

References and further reading:¶

Drake et al., 2014, ApJS 618 213 9, The Catalina Surveys Periodic Variable Catalog arxiv:1405.4290