Evidence of asymmetries in the Aldebaran photosphere from multiwavelength lunar occultations

Richichi, A.; Dyachenko, V.; Pandey, A. K.; Sharma, S.; Tasuya, O.; Balega, Y.; Beskakotov, A.; Rastegaev, D.; Dhillon, V. S.
Bibliographical reference

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 464, Issue 1, p.231-236

Advertised on:
1
2017
Number of authors
9
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
12
Refereed citations
11
Description
We have recorded three lunar occultations of Aldebaran (α Tau) at different telescopes and using various band-passes, from the ultraviolet to the far red. The data have been analysed using both model-dependent and model-independent methods. The derived uniform-disc angular diameter values have been converted to limb-darkened values using model atmosphere relations and are found in broad agreement among themselves and with previous literature values. The limb-darkened diameter is about 20.3 mas on average. However, we have found indications that the photospheric brightness profile of Aldebaran may have not been symmetric, a finding already reported by other authors for this and for similar late-type stars. At the sampling scale of our brightness profile, between 1 and 2 mas, the uniform and limb-darkened disc models may not be a good description for Aldebaran. The asymmetries appear to differ with wavelength and over the 137-d time span of our measurements. Surface spots appear as a likely explanation for the differences between observations and the models.
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