RZ Cep light curve

[james_screech]

Interesting light curve of RZ Cep, with double peak at maximum. Top graph is raw data, bottom a running average of observations to smooth out the noise. Two double peaks seen in raw observations, seen even more clearly in smoothed graph.

ED70, ASI1600MM-C & photometric V filter. 10 sec exposures with a gain of 0.

 

 

[Dave Smith]

That is an interesting curve. Any idea why two peaks?

Dave

[james_screech]

1 hour ago, Dave Smith said:

That is an interesting curve. Any idea why two peaks?

Dave

I've do idea, but as it happens on two consecutive maximums I don't think its an artifact due to cloud or something.

James

[DHEB]

Interesting star! I am not an expert either, but VSX lists RZ Cep as RRC/BL, that is overtone pulsator with Blazhko effect. The "double" maximum, or "pre-maximum hump" seems to be a consequence from the particular pulsating frequencies of this star.

See for example:

Cester, B., and I. Todoran. "The variability of RZ Cephei." Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana 47 (1976): 217-228. (Link to harvard database)