PERIODIC LOW-AMPLITUDE VARIATIONS IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF PROXIMA-CENTAURI

Citation
Gf. Benedict et al., PERIODIC LOW-AMPLITUDE VARIATIONS IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF PROXIMA-CENTAURI, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 105(687), 1993, pp. 487-493
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
ISSN journal
00046280 → ACNP
Volume
105
Issue
687
Year of publication
1993
Pages
487 - 493
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-6280(1993)105:687<487:PLVITB>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
Using data acquired with Fine Guidance Sensor #3 on board the Hubble S pace Telescope we find that the brightness of Proxima Centauri varies with an amplitude of 0.01 mag and a period P=41.6+/-0.6 days. We inter pret this variation as rotational modulation of star spots or bright r egions in the photosphere of Proxima Cen. In a total of 89.36 min of m onitoring over 212 days, we detected one major flare and three post-fl are brightenings.