Uxors are intermediate-mass stars surrounded by debris clouds that cause the stars' brightness to fluctuate erratically. Theories suggest Uxors are young stars still forming, with dust and debris disks obscuring views of the stars from certain angles. While eclipsing binary stars also dim periodically as two stars orbit each other, Uxors exhibit irregular brightness changes without consistent periods due to varying densities in the debris clouds around them. Six weeks of observations found one strong Uxor candidate and three stars requiring further study based on unclear light variations.

1. Uxors
Stars partially obscured
by debris clouds
Amanda Bacon and Connor McElravy

2. Characteristics of Uxors: Mass
Drawn to scale-Neptune is
approx. 2,795,084,800 miles
from the sun (not in picture)
Newton’s Apple, 2015, web
Cool Cosmos, 2015, web
-Uxor stars are commonly
intermediate-mass stars;
similar to the mass of our
sun.

3. Characteristics of Uxors: Formation
-Theories suggest that Uxors are
young stars surrounded by a disk of
dust and debris.
-The dust and debris aggregate in a
formation process to create the
young star.

4. Characteristics of Uxors: Disks
-The debris cloud is not consistently
dense throughout, which causes the
star to appear to fluctuate in
brightness.
-Theories suggest we are looking at
the cloud at an angle into the outer
flaring region, which obscures our
view. The rest of the time we have a
clear perspective of the star.
Outer flaring region

5. Uxors and Eclipsing Binary Stars
-When two stars are gravitationally
pulled towards each other they are
known as eclipsing binary stars.
-Appear to dim in brightness similar
to Uxors.
-Smooth, consistent dimming
period differing from Uxors.
MidnightKite, 2015, web

6. Uxors and Eclipsing Binary Stars
-Uxors are more erratic with no
consistent period between events.
-Uxors will appear to have a color
shift as the dust cloud density
changes.
-Red due to dust absorption.
-Blue due to unobscured
scattered radiation.
Starman, 2015, web

7. Uxor versus Eclipsing Binary Star Light Curves
Eclipsing Binary
Time (Days)
Uxor

21. Archived Data

22. Archived Data

23. Archived Data

24. Archived Data

25. Archived Data

26. Archived Data

27. Conclusion
- We have been observing these Uxors for six weeks. Approx. 20 nights
-There are 3 unclear stars with strong light variation that need follow-up
observations.
-There is 1 strong candidate to be classified as an Uxor.
-There is 1 star with minimal light variation.