Konstanze Zwintz, University of Innsbruck: Austria Astronomy / BRITE-Constellation

1. 24.8.2018 K. Zwintz
Astronomy in Austria
A short overview
Konstanze Zwintz
Institute for Astro- and Particle Physics,
University of Innsbruck

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Austrian Institutions with Astronomy
University of Vienna
University of Innsbruck
University of Graz &
Space Reseach Institute

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University of Vienna
Formation and evolution of stars and planets
How did our solar system form? How unique is it?
Under which conditions do stars form?
What are the properties of evolved suns (late stages)?
Formation and evolution of galaxies
How, why and when do galaxies form?
What happens when galaxies collide?
Development of astronomical instruments
and software for ESO and ESA
National research network
„Pathways to habitability“
Institute for Astrophysics

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University of Graz
Solar and Heliospheric Physics
Physics of solar flares, initiation and evolution of coronal
mass ejections
Dynamics of the lower solar atmosphere
Kanzelhöhe Observatory: observations of the Sun
Involvement in Parker Solar Probe (NASAn 2018), Solar
Orbiter (ESA 2020) & European Solar Telescope
Observational Astrophysics
Stellar flares and stellar coronal mass ejections
Star and planet formation
Lustbühel Observatory: night-time observations

5. 24.8.2018 K. Zwintz
Space Research Institute in Graz
Development and Building of space-qualified
instruments, Analysis & Interpretation of Data
(Exo-) Planetary Physics:
Exoplanets, Planetary Surfaces,
(Exo-) Planetary Atmospheres
Satellite Laser Ranging
Space Plasma Physics
Magnetosphere, Heliosphere
Flight Instruments
Space Magnetometers, On-board computers

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University of Innsbruck
Galactic Astrophysics
Quantitative spectroscopy, massive star evolution,
extragalactic stellar astrophysics
Instrument development for the ELT (ESO)
Galaxy Formation & Evolution
Role of central black hole, dwarf galaxies & ultra-
diffuse galaxies, hydrodynamical cosmological simulations
Stellar Evolution & Asteroseismology
Early stellar evolution, Asteroseismology
5 BRITE-Constellation Nano-Satellites
Institute for Astro- & Particle Physics

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BRITE-Constellation
Shoebox-sized satellites
for variable star research

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A world premiere…
20-cm cube satellites
measure the light of
the brightest nearby stars
for up to half a year
continuously

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Starring…
Six shoebox-sized satellites
Technical University Graz
University of Vienna
University of Innsbruck
Three Austrian Universities
Five Canadian Universities
Three Polish Universities

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Space telescopes
roughly to scale…

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Space telescopes
roughly to scale…

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Space telescopes
Hubble Space Telescope
2500M€
roughly to scale…

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Space telescopes
Hubble Space Telescope
2500M€
one BRITE < 0.7M€
roughly to scale…

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The BRITE nano-satellites
mass: 7 kg

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The BRITE nano-satellites
mass: 7 kg telescope diameter: 3cm

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The BRITE nano-satellites
mass: 7 kg telescope diameter: 3cm 3-axes stabilization

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The BRITE nano-satellites
mass: 7 kg telescope diameter: 3cm 3-axes stabilization
large field of view:
fits Orion completely
24°
24°

18. 24.8.2018 K. Zwintz
The BRITE nano-satellites
mass: 7 kg telescope diameter: 3cm 3-axes stabilization
large field of view:
fits Orion completely
24°
24°
power consumption:
5 - 10 W

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BRITE-Constellation
BRITE-CA2 “Montreal” was launched with the same rocket
as BRITE-CA1 “Toronto”, but did not separate from the upper stage
3 red and 2 blue satellites operational
GOAL: Measuring the light of
15 - 30 brightest, most massive & luminous stars
per field for up to half a year continuously

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What do we want to learn?

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Binaries
Planetary Transit
Brightness variations of stars
Rotating star: spots
Pulsating star
Young star

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Measuring stellar variability
Helligkeit
ZeitTime
Brightness

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Measuring stellar variability
Helligkeit
ZeitTime
Brightness
Variations of 1 millionth of star’s brightness and less

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Into Space…
“BRITE in the box”
Feb 25, 2013:
Launch of the Austrian
BRITEs from India

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BRITE observations until now
530 stars in 34 campaigns

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Biggest stellar heartbeat
iota Orionis - brightest star in
“Orion’s sword”
two very massive stars
35 times the mass of the Sun
looks like sine rhythms of the heart
→ “heartbeat systems”
Pablo et al. (2017)

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Lagrange et al. (2014)
The youngest & brightest star
with a planet: β Pictoris
giant gas planet
Age ~ 20 million years

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Lagrange et al. (2014)
The youngest & brightest star
with a planet: β Pictoris
giant gas planet
Age ~ 20 million years
Pulsations: 20 to 50 minutes
Moons and comets around the
planet

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A special surprise…
DSS image
eta Car WR 22
HD 92063

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A special surprise…
DSS image
eta Car WR 22
HD 92063
ASASSN-18fv

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Novae
Nova Progenitors:
‣ pair of red dwarfs
in the process
of merging
‣ white dwarf and
another star

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Observing Nova ASASSN-18fv
HD 92063
2018-03-01
HD 92063
‣ Red Giant
‣ K1 III
‣ V = 5.08 mag

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Observing Nova ASASSN-18fv
HD 92063
2018-03-01
HD 92063
ASASSN-18fv
2018-04-14
HD 92063
‣ Red Giant
‣ K1 III
‣ V = 5.08 mag

34. 24.8.2018 K. Zwintz
Observing Nova ASASSN-18fv
HD 92063
2018-03-01
HD 92063
ASASSN-18fv
2018-04-14
HD 92063
‣ Red Giant
‣ K1 III
‣ V = 5.08 mag
grey: individiual measurements red: orbital means (98 min)
signal from HD92063 only
start of Nova
discovery report
„ASASSN-18fv“
BRITE-Toronto

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Complete BRITE Observations
of Nova ASASSN-18fv

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We are BRITE-Constellation
2nd BRITE Conference,
Innsbruck, August 2016
3rd BRITE Conference,
Lac Taureau, August 2017
UniBRITE BRITE-Austria Lem HeweliuszToronto Montreal
www.brite-constellation.at www.facebook.com/briteconstellation