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Stellar variability in the MOA database

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dc.contributor.author Wilkinson, Simon Oliver Fletcher
dc.date.accessioned 2011-08-25T21:17:46Z
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-30T19:11:50Z
dc.date.available 2011-08-25T21:17:46Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-30T19:11:50Z
dc.date.copyright 2003
dc.date.issued 2003
dc.identifier.uri https://ir.wgtn.ac.nz/handle/123456789/25958
dc.description.abstract Research undertaken for this thesis aimed to detect and identify stellar variability in the database of the Japan/New Zealand MOA collaboration. The database of stars collected by the MOA project provided an extensive source of raw data for analysis. Detection of stellar variability was performed by several C++ programs created by the author, which incorporated the Welch and Stetson variability index, the Schwarzenburg-Czerny period folding program, a microlensing modelling program and a transit, detection program. The search for stellar variability produced 83 Cepheid variables, 265 long period variables, 59 eclipsing binaries and 6 potential microlensing events. Sixteen potentially interesting variations that could correspond to planetary transits were also detected. The folded lightcurve of one of the potential transits was categorised as a 'very interesting transit' and 15 were categorised as 'interesting transits'. The search for planetary transits ultimately proved unsuccessful, however, a detailed statistical study of the MOA data revealed several alterations concerning observational procedures which could be made to optimise the MOA data for any future search for planetary transits. en_NZ
dc.format pdf en_NZ
dc.language en_NZ
dc.language.iso en_NZ
dc.publisher Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington en_NZ
dc.title Stellar variability in the MOA database en_NZ
dc.type Text en_NZ
vuwschema.type.vuw Awarded Research Masters Thesis en_NZ
thesis.degree.discipline Physics en_NZ
thesis.degree.grantor Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington en_NZ
thesis.degree.level Masters en_NZ
thesis.degree.name Master of Science en_NZ


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