Chandra VGUIDE: 827 Variable Stars from X-ray Observatory Guide Star Data

827 stars identified as variable from over 75,000 optical-wavelength light curves of guide stars used for pointing control of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The Chandra Variable Guide Star Catalog (VGUIDE) contains 586 definite and 241 possible variable stars, with 319 believed to be new identifications, and was created by NASA HEASARC based on data from about 9 years of the mission. Variable types include eclipsing binaries, pulsating stars, and rotating stars, detected to amplitudes as low as 0.02 mag in the 4000-10000 Angstrom range.

Use Cases

• Classifying variable star types (e.g., eclipsing binaries, pulsators) based on light curve morphology mentioned in the description.
• Analyzing stellar variability statistics across spectral types (A and later) as referenced in the description.
• Studying long-duration (up to 2 days) and repeated observations of individual stars from the Chandra mission.
• Validating new variable star discoveries against the 319 stars identified as new in the catalog.

Strengths

• Contains 827 stars with 586 definite variables, providing a substantial sample for analysis.
• Derived from over 75,000 guide star light curves, offering a large underlying data source.
• Includes high-time-resolution light curves (2 seconds) and binned data (1 kilosecond) available for download.
• Avoids selection bias by using guide stars chosen for positional convenience, not for expected variability.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data represents only about 9 years of the Chandra mission; temporal coverage is not complete.
• Row count for the main catalog table is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), HEASARC

Collection Method

Photometric analysis of guide star light curves from the Chandra X-ray Observatory's Aspect Camera during normal pointing verification.

Time Range

Covers about 9 years of the Chandra mission (exact years not specified).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:12:47.300411; freshness should be verified.

Geography

null