Searching for Short-period Variables in M31: Method and Catalogs

Abstract

Utilizing high-cadence and continuous g - and r -band data over three nights acquired from the 3.6 m Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope, aiming to find short-duration microlensing events, we conduct a systematic search for variables, transients, and asteroids across a ∼1° field of view of the Andromeda galaxy (M31). We present a catalog of 5859 variable stars, yielding the most extensive compilation of short-period variable sources of M31. We also detected 19 flares, predominantly associated with foreground M dwarfs in the Milky Way. In addition, we discovered 17 previously unknown asteroid candidates, and we subsequently reported them to the Minor Planet Center. Lastly, we report a microlensing event candidate C-ML-1 and present a preliminary analysis.

Keywords

• Andromeda galaxy
• Time domain astronomy
• Asteroids
• Variable stars
• Gravitational microlensing
• Astronomy data reduction