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We present extensive photometric and spectroscopic observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova (SN) 2023wrk at a distance of about 40 Mpc. The earliest detection of this SN can be traced back to a few hours after the explosion. Within the first few days the light curve shows a bump feature, while the B - V color is blue and remains nearly constant. The overall spectral evolution is similar to that of an SN 1991T/SN 1999aa-like SN Ia, while the C II $\lambda6580$ absorption line appears to be unusually strong in the first spectrum taken at $t \approx -$15.4 days after the maximum light. This carbon feature disappears quickly in subsequent evolution but it reappears at around the time of peak brightness. The complex evolution of the carbon line and the possible detection of Ni III absorption around 4700 {\AA} and 5300 {\AA} in the earliest spectra indicate macroscopic mixing of fuel and ash. The strong carbon lines is likely related to collision of SN ejecta with unbound carbon, consistent with the predictions of pulsational delayed-detonation or carbon-rich circumstellar-matter interaction models. Among those carbon-rich SNe Ia with strong C II $\lambda6580$ absorption at very early times, the line-strength ratio of C II to Si II and the B-V color evolution are found to exhibit large diversity, which may be attributed to different properties of unbound carbon and outward-mixing $^{56}$Ni., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal (27 pages, 14 figures, 7 tables)

In this paper, a total of approximately 2.6 million dwarfs were constructed as standard stars, with an accuracy of about 0.01-0.02 mag for each band, by combining spectroscopic data from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope Data Release 7, photometric data from the corrected Gaia Early Data Release 3, and photometric metallicities. Using the spectroscopy based stellar color regression method (SCR method) and the photometric-based SCR method (SCR' method), we performed the relative calibration of the Nanshan One-meter Wide-field Telescope imaging data. Based on the corrected Pan-STARRS DR1 photometry, the absolute calibration was also performed. In the photometric calibration process, we analyzed the dependence of the calibration zero points on different images (observation time), different gates of the CCD detector, and different CCD positions. We found that the stellar flat and the relative gain between different gates depend on time. The amplitude of gain variation in three channels is approximately 0.5%-0.7% relative to the other channel, with a maximum value of 4%. In addition, significant spatial variations of the stellar flat fitting residual are found and corrected. Using repeated sources in the adjacent images, we checked and discovered internal consistency of about 1-2 mmag in all the filters. Using the PS1 magnitudes synthesized by Gaia DR3 BP/RP spectra by the synthetic photometry method, we found that the photometric calibration uniformity is about 1-2 mmag for all the bands, at a spatial resolution of 1.3 degree. A detailed comparison between the spectroscopy-based SCR and photometric-based SCR method magnitude offsets was performed, and we achieved an internal consistency precision of about 2 mmag or better with resolutions of 1.3 degree for all the filters. Which is mainly from the position-dependent errors of the E(B-V) used in SCR' method., Comment: 15 pages in Chinese language, 8 figures, Chinese Science Bulletin accepted and published online (https://www.sciengine.com/CSB/doi/10.1360/TB-2023-0052), see main results in Figures 6, 7 and 8

Magnetic fields are significant in the structure and evolution of stars. We present a comprehensive catalogue of 1784 known magnetic stars, detailing their identifications, HD numbers, precise locations, spectral types, and averaged quadratic effective magnetic fields among other important information. The group comprises 177 O-type stars, 551 B-type stars, 520 A-type stars, 91 F-type stars, 53 G-type stars, 61 K-type stars, 31 M-type stars, and an additional 300 stars whose spectral classification remains indeterminate. Our analysis examines the statistical properties of these magnetic stars. The relative integrated distribution function and number distribution function for all magnetic stars of the same spectral type can be effectively approximated using an exponential function of the averaged quadratic effective magnetic field. The analysis further reveals that A and B-type stars possess the strongest mean magnetic fields, indicating an easier detection of their magnetic fields., Comment: 36 pages, 11 figures, accepted 2023 July 11 by RAA

Context. In the Gaia era, the precision of astrometric data is unprecedented. High-quality data make it easier to find more cluster aggregates and support further confirmation of these open clusters. Aims. We use Gaia DR3 to redetermine the open clusters surrounding Pismis 5 in the Vela Molecular Ridge. We also investigate the basic properties of these clusters. Methods. We apply two clustering algorithms (StarGO and pyUPMASK) to identify the open cluster members in a five-dimensional space with Gaia DR3. Results. We identify eight open clusters surrounding Pismis 5 in the Vela Molecular Ridge. The open cluster QZ 1 is newly discovered. Through investigating the comprehensive properties of the clusters, one open binary cluster candidate (Alessi 43 and Collinder 197) and one triple open cluster candidate (Pismis 5, Pismis 5A, and Pismis 5B) are discussed. Conclusions. Binary and triple open cluster candidates have been identified as potential primordial aggregates based on their similar age, position, and motion. According to kinematic speculations, the two aggregate candidates will gradually separate, and their interiors will slowly disintegrate., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures

We present the first detailed photometric analysis of ATO J108.6991+27.8306 (hereinafter as J108). The short-period close binary J108 was observed by the Nanshan 1 m Wide Field Telescope of the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory. The obtained BVRI-band light curves were used to determine the photometric solution by using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. J108 is a typical deep ( f > 50%), low mass ratio (q < 0.25) overcontact binary system with a mass ratio of q = 0.1501 and a fill-out factor of f = 50.1 %, suggesting that it is in the late evolutionary stage of contact binary systems. We found the target to be a W-type W UMa binary and provided evidence for the presence of starspots on both components. From the temperature-luminosity diagram, the main component is the evolved main sequence star with an evolutionary age of about 7.94 Gyr., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures

We propose to develop a wide-field and ultra-high-precision photometric survey mission, temporarily named "Earth 2.0 (ET)". This mission is designed to measure, for the first time, the occurrence rate and the orbital distributions of Earth-sized planets. ET consists of seven 30cm telescopes, to be launched to the Earth-Sun's L2 point. Six of these are transit telescopes with a field of view of 500 square degrees. Staring in the direction that encompasses the original Kepler field for four continuous years, this monitoring will return tens of thousands of transiting planets, including the elusive Earth twins orbiting solar-type stars. The seventh telescope is a 30cm microlensing telescope that will monitor an area of 4 square degrees toward the galactic bulge. This, combined with simultaneous ground-based KMTNet observations, will measure masses for hundreds of long-period and free-floating planets. Together, the transit and the microlensing telescopes will revolutionize our understandings of terrestrial planets across a large swath of orbital distances and free space. In addition, the survey data will also facilitate studies in the fields of asteroseismology, Galactic archeology, time-domain sciences, and black holes in binaries., Comment: 116 pages,79 figures

We have investigated the variable stars in the field surrounding NGC 2355 based on the time-series photometric observation data. More than 3000 CCD frames were obtained in the V band spread over 13 nights with the Nanshan One-meter Wide-field Telescope. We have detected 88 variable stars, containing 72 new variable stars and 16 known variable stars. By analyzing these light curves, we classified the variable stars as follows: 26 eclipsing binaries, 52 pulsating stars, 4 rotating variables, and 6 unclear type variable stars for which their periods are much longer than the time baseline chosen. Employing Gaia DR2 parallax, kinematics, and photometry, the cluster membership of these variable stars were also analyzed for NGC 2355. In addition to the 11 variable members reported by Cantat-Gaudin et al. (2018), we identify 4 more variable member candidates located at the outer region of NGC 2355 and showed homogeneity in space positions and kinematic properties with the cluster members. The main physical parameters of NGC 2355 estimated from the two-color and color-magnitude diagrams are log(age/yr) = 8.9, E(B - V) = 0.24 mag, and [Fe/H] = - 0.07 dex., Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. 6 tables,Accepted for publication in AJ

We present detections of stellar flares of Wolf\,359, an M6.5 dwarf in the solar neighborhood (2.41~pc) known to be prone to flares due to surface magnetic activity. The observations were carried out from 2020 April 23 to 29 with a 1-m and a 0.5-m telescope separated by nearly 300~km in Xinjiang, China. In 27~hr of photometric monitoring, a total of 13 optical flares were detected, each with a total energy of $\gtrsim 5 \times 10^{29}$~erg. The measured event rate of about once every two hours is consistent with those reported previously in radio, X-ray and optical wavelengths for this star. One such flare, detected by both telescopes on 26 April, was an energetic event with a released energy of nearly $10^{33}$~erg. The two-telescope lightcurves of this major event sampled at different cadences and exposure timings enabled us to better estimate the intrinsic flare profile, which reached a peak of up to 1.6 times the stellar quiescent brightness, that otherwise would have been underestimated in the observed flare amplitudes of about $0.4$ and $0.8$, respectively, with single telescopes alone. The compromise between fast sampling so as to resolve a flare profile versus a longer integration time for higher photometric signal-to-noise provides a useful guidance in the experimental design of future flare observations., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 3 tables

We analyze the morphological evolution of open clusters and provide shape parameters for 265 open clusters. The results show that the overall shape of sample clusters becomes more elliptical as they grow older, while their core remains circular or slightly trend to circularize. There is a negative correlation of the ellipticities with the number of members of the sample clusters. A significant negative correlation between the overall ellipticities and masses is also detected for the sample clusters with log(age/year) $\geq$ 8, suggesting that the overall shapes of the clusters are possibly influenced by the number of members and masses, in addition to the external forces and the surrounding environment. For most young sample clusters, the radial stratification degree of the short axis direction is greater than that of the long, implying that the radial stratification degree in the two directions within the young sample cluster may be unevenly affected by an internal evolutionary process. Older sample clusters exhibit lower stratification in the tangential direction, which possibly means those clusters may continue to survive for a long time at a low level of stratification. Our analysis shows that the overall shape of the sample clusters may be more susceptible to the influence of Galactic tides toward the Galactic center than the shear forces embedded in Galactic differential rotation. By analyzing the distribution of the ages and number of members of star clusters, we suggest that NGC 6791 may originate from superclusters.

The Nanshan One-meter Wide-field Telescope (NOWT) is a prime focus system located at Nanshan Station of Xinjiang Astronomical Observatories (XAO). The field of view(FOV) was designed to 1.5 degree *1.5 degree, and Johnson-Cousins UBVRI system was chosen as the main Filter set. The telescope has been providing observation services for astronomers since Sept. 2013. Variable source searching and time-domain surveys are the main scientific goals. The system's test results are reported including linearity, dark current, bias, readout noise and gain of the CCD camera. The accurate instrumental calibration coefficients in UBVRI bands was driven with Landolt standard stars during photometric nights. Finally, the limiting magnitudes are given with signal-to-noise ratios and various exposure times for observers., Comment: 11 pages, 14 figures, 8tables

ZTF J153932.16+502738.8 (ZTFJ1539) is an eclipsing double-white-dwarf system with an orbital period of 6.91 minutes, and is a significant source of LISA detecting gravitational wave. However, the massive white dwarf (WD) with mass of about 0.61 M$_\odot$ has a high effective temperature (48900 K), and the lower mass WD with mass of about 0.21 M$_{\odot}$ has a low effective temperature($<$10000 K). It is challenging the popular theory of binary evolution. We investigate the formation of ZTFJ1539 via nova and Algol scenarios. Assuming that the massive WD in ZTFJ1539 just experiences a thermalnuclear runaway, nova scenario can explain the effective temperatures of two WDs in ZTFJ1539. However, in order to enlarging a semi-detached orbit of about 4---5 minutes to a detached orbit of about 7 minutes, nova scenario needs a much high kick velocity of about 200 km s$^{-1}$ during nova eruption. The high kick velocity can result in high eccentricity of about 0.2---0.6. Algol scenario can also produce ZTFJ1539 if we take a high efficient parameter for ejecting common envelope and enhance the mass-loss rate via stellar wind trigger by tidal effect., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

The formation of bimodal dust species (namely the silicate and amorphous carbon dust grains coexistent) in a nova eruption is an open problem. According to the nova model simulated by Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics code, we calculate the formation and growth of carbon (C) and forsterite (Mg2SiO4) dust grains purely in nova ejecta for the fee-expansion model and the radiative shock model by assuming spherical geometry of the nova ejecta. In these models, the chemical properties of pre-existing circumstellar medium are not taken into account. In the free-expansion model, the nova ejecta is not an idea environment for dust nucleation. However, it can efficiently produce dust in the radiative shock model. We estimate that every nova can produce C grains with an average mass of about $10^{-9}$ and $10^{-8}$ ${\rm M_\odot}$, and Mg$_2$SiO$_4$ grains with an average mass of about $10^{-8}$ and $10^{-7}$ ${\rm M_\odot}$. Based on the mass of ejected gas, the ratio of dust to gas is about 1\%. The C grains form first after several or tens of days of nova eruption. After that, the Mg$_2$SiO$_4$ grains begin to grow in tens of days, which is consistent with observations., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in PASP

We present the revised and high quality CCD time series observations in 2017 and 2018 of the W UMa-type contact binary BH~Cas. The combination of our new determinations of minimum times and those collected from the literatures reveal a long-term period increase with a rate of $\textit{dP/dt}\,=\,+3.27 \times 10^{-7} \textrm{d}\,\textrm{yr}^{-1}$, which can be accounted for by angular momentum transfer as the less-massive component loses its mass to the more massive one. One cyclical oscillation ($A'=0.00300$~days and $P'=20.09$~yrs) superimposed on the long-term period increase tendency is attributed to one additional object that orbits BH Cas. The low-resolution spectra of this source are observed at phase $\sim$0.0 and $\sim$0.5 in 2018 and 2019, and the spectral types are identified as K3V$\,\pm\,$1 and G8V$\,\pm\,$2. According to the luminosity contributions and spectra at these phases, the spectral type of the primary star is close to K3V$\,\pm\,$1. We infer a cool spot on the hotter and less-massive component to fit the asymmetry of light curves. In addition, changes in the location, temperature, and area of spots on the secondary star in different observations may indicate that the magnetic field activity of the secondary is more active than that of the primary. Such strong spot activities and optical flare are both detected at the same time from a W UMa-type star for the first time. With the \emph{XMM-Newton} observations taken in 2003 and 2012, the X-ray light curve is obtained and the X-ray spectra can be well described with a black-body or a bremsstrahlung model. The soft X-ray luminosity of BH Cas is estimated as 8.8\,--\,9.7$\,\times\,10^{30}$\,erg\,s$^{-1}$., Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, Accepted for publication in the PASP

In this paper we present three new extrasolar planets from the Qatar Exoplanet Survey (QES). Qatar-8b is a hot Saturn, with Mpl = 0.37 Mjup and Rpl = 1.3 Rjup, orbiting a solar-like star every Porb = 3.7 days. Qatar-9b is a hot Jupiter with a mass of Mpl = 1.2 Mjup and a radius of Rpl = 1 Rjup, in a Porb = 1.5 days orbit around a low mass, Mstar = 0.7 Msun, mid-K main-sequence star. Finally, Qatar-10b is a hot, Teq ~ 2000 K, sub-Jupiter mass planet, Mpl = 0.7 Mjup, with a radius of Rpl = 1.54 Rjup and an orbital period of Porb = 1.6 days, placing it on the edge of the sub-Jupiter desert., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1812.05601, arXiv:1712.03216

Gaussian process (GP) covariance function is proposed as a matching tool in GPMatch within a full Bayesian framework under relatively weaker causal assumptions. The matching is accomplished by utilizing GP prior covariance function to define matching distance. We show that GPMatch provides a doubly robust estimate of the averaged treatment effect (ATE) much like the G-estimation, the ATE is correctly estimated when either conditions are satisfied: 1) the GP mean function correctly specifies potential outcome \(Y^{(0)}\); or 2) the GP covariance function correctly specifies matching structure. Simulation studies were carried out without assuming any known matching structure nor functional form of the outcomes. The results demonstrate that GPMatch enjoys well calibrated frequentist properties, and outperforms many widely used methods including Bayesian Additive Regression Trees. The case study compares effectiveness of early aggressive use of biological medication in treating children with newly diagnosed Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, using data extracted from electronic medical records.

We present the discovery of Qatar-7b --- a very hot and inflated giant gas planet orbiting close its parent star. The host star is a relatively massive main sequence F-star with mass and radius Mstar = 1.41 +/- 0.03 Msun and Rstar = 1.56 +/- 0.02 Rsun, respectively, at a distance d = 726 +/- 26 pc, and an estimated age ~1 Gyr. With its orbital period of P = 2.032 days the planet is located less than 5 stellar radii from its host star and is heated to a high temperature Teq ~ 2100 K. From a global solution to the available photometric and radial velocity observations, we calculate the mass and radius of the planet to be Mpl = 1.88 +/- 0.25 Mjup and Rpl = 1.70 +/- 0.03 Rjup, respectively. The planet radius and equilibrium temperature put Qatar-7b in the top 6% of the hottest and largest known exoplanets. With its large radius and high temperature Qatar-7b is a valuable addition to the short list of targets that offer the best opportunity for studying their atmospheres through transmission spectroscopy.

We report the photometry of six transits of the hot Jupiter HAT-P-29b obtained from 2013 October to 2015 January. We analyze the new light curves, in combination with the published photometric, and Doppler velocimetric, and spectroscopic measurements, finding an updated orbital ephemeris for the HAT-P-29 system, $T_{\rm C}[0]= 2456170.5494(15)\,[\rm{BJD_{TDB}}]$ and $P=5.723390(13) \,{\rm days}$. It is $17.63\,{\rm s}$ ($4.0\,\sigma$) longer than the previously published value, amounting to errors exceeding $2.5\,\rm{hrs}$ at the time of writing (on UTC 2018 June 1). The measured transit mid-times for HAT-P-29b show no compelling evidence of timing anomalies from a linear model, which rules out the presence of a perturbers with masses greater than $0.6$, $0.7$, $0.5$, and $0.4\,{\rm M_\oplus}$ near the $1:2$, $2:3$, $3:2$, and $2:1$ resonances with HAT-P-29b, respectively., Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ

In this paper, the high-precision light curves of $Kepler$ target KIC 5950759 are analyzed. The Fourier analysis of the long cadence light curve reveals 3 independent frequencies. Two of them are main pulsation modes: F0 = 14.221373(21) $\rm{d^{-1}}$ and F1 = 18.337249(44) $\rm{d^{-1}}$. The third independent frequency $f_m$ = 0.3193 d$^{-1}$ is found in long cadence data with a signal-to-noise ratio of 6.2. A weak modulation of $f_m$ to F0 and F1 modes (triplet structures centred on F0 and F1) are detected both in long and short cadence data. This is the first detection of the modulation effect in a double-mode HADS star. The most possible cause of the modulation effect in the light curves is amplitude modulation with the star's rotation frequency of 0.3193 d$^{-1}$. The preliminary analysis suggests that KIC 5950759 is in the bottom of the HADS instability strip and likely situated in the main sequence. Spectroscopic observations are necessary to verify the true nature of the modulation terms., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Published in ApJ (on 2018 August 23)

Most close double helium white dwarfs will merge within a Hubble time due to orbital decay by gravitational-wave radiation. However, a significant fraction with low mass ratios will survive for a long time as a consequence of stable mass transfer. Such stable mass transfer between two helium white dwarfs (HeWD) provides one channel for the production of AM\,CVn binary stars. In previous calculations of double HeWD progenitors, the accreting HeWD was treated as a point mass. We have computed the evolution of 16 double HeWD models in order to investigate the consequences of treating the detailed evolution of both components. We find that the boundary between binaries having stable and unstable mass transfer is slightly modified by this approach. By comparing with observed periods and mass ratios, we redetermine masses of eight known AM\,CVn stars by our double HeWDs channel, i.e. HM\,Cnc, AM CVn, V406\,Hya, J0926, J1240, GP\,Com, Gaia14aae and V396\,Hya. We propose that central spikes in the triple-peaked emission spectra of J1240, GP\,Com and V396\,Hya and the surface abundance ratios of N/C/O in GP\,Com can be explained by the stable double HeWD channel. The mass estimates derived from our calculations are used to discuss the predicted gravitational wave signal in the context of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)., Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, published in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics (RAA)

The Kepler-9 system harbors three known transiting planets. The system holds significant interest for several reasons. First, the outer two planets exhibit a period ratio that is close to a 2:1 orbital commensurability, with attendant dynamical consequences. Second, both planets lie in the planetary mass "desert" that is generally associated with the rapid gas agglomeration phase of the core accretion process. Third, there exist attractive prospects for accurately measuring both the sky-projected stellar spin-orbit angles as well as the mutual orbital inclination between the planets in the system. Following the original \textit{Kepler} detection announcement in 2010, the initially reported orbital ephemerides for Kepler-9~b and c have degraded significantly, due to the limited time base-line of observations on which the discovery of the system rested. Here, we report new ground-based photometric observations and extensive dynamical modeling of the system. These efforts allow us to photometrically recover the transit of Kepler-9~b, and thereby greatly improve the predictions for upcoming transit mid-times. Accurate ephemerides of this system are important in order to confidently schedule follow-up observations of this system, for both in-transit Doppler measurements as well as for atmospheric transmission spectra taken during transit., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

The variability of young stellar objects is mostly driven by star-disk interactions. In long-term photometric monitoring of the accreting T Tauri star GI Tau, we detect extinction events with typical depths of $\Delta V \sim 2.5$ mag that last for days-to-months and often appear to occur stochastically. In 2014 - 2015, extinctions that repeated with a quasi-period of 21 days over several months is the first empirical evidence of slow warps predicted from MHD simulations to form at a few stellar radii away from the central star. The reddening is consistent with $R_V=3.85\pm0.5$ and, along with an absence of diffuse interstellar bands, indicates that some dust processing has occurred in the disk. The 2015 -- 2016 multi-band lightcurve includes variations in spot coverage, extinction, and accretion, each of which results in different traces in color-magnitude diagrams. This lightcurve is initially dominated by a month-long extinction event and return to the unocculted brightness. The subsequent light-curve then features spot modulation with a 7.03 day period, punctuated by brief, randomly-spaced extinction events. The accretion rate measured from $U$-band photometry ranges from $1.3\times10^{-8}$ to $1.1\times10^{-10}$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ (excluding the highest and lowest 5% of high- and low- accretion rate outliers), with an average of $4.7 \times 10^{-9}$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. A total of 50% of the mass is accreted during bursts of $>12.8\times10^{-9}$ M$_\odot$ yr${^{-1}}$, which indicates limitations on analyses of disk evolution using single-epoch accretion rates., Comment: 15 pages, 17 figures

We present a study on the pulsations of the high-amplitude $\delta$ Scuti star YZ Boo based on photometric observations in Johnson $V$ and $R$ bands with both the Nanshan 1-m telescope of Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO) and the Xinglong 85-cm telescope of National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC). The Fourier analysis of the light curves reveals the fundamental radial mode and its five harmonics, with the fourth and the fifth newly detected. 39 new times of light maximum are determined from the light curves, and combined with those in the literature, we construct the $O - C$ diagram and derive a new ephemeris and the determination of a new value of the updated period 0.104091579(2). Besides, the $O - C$ diagram reveals an increasing period change rate of YZ Boo. Theoretical models are calculated and constrained with the observationally determined parameters of YZ Boo. The mass and age of YZ Boo are hence derived as $M$ = 1.61 $\pm$ 0.05 $M_\odot$ and $age$ = (1.44 $\pm$ 0.14) $\times$ 10$^9$ yr, respectively. With both the frequency of the fundamental radial mode and the period change rate, YZ Boo is located at the post-main-sequence stage., Comment: 12 pages, 6figures