The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission rendezvoused with asteroid (101955) Bennu in 2018 with the primary objective of collecting a sample of regolith from the surface. As the first NASA asteroid sample return mission, OSIRIS-REx deployed several new technologies to achieve program objectives. Here we present an overview of Natural Feature Tracking (NFT), a system developed to autonomously guide the spacecraft to the desired sampling site using optical navigation and the natural terrain on the surface of Bennu. NFT utilized a series of image-based digital terrain models (DTMs) constructed by means of stereophotoclinometry to represent patches on the surface of the asteroid. These DTMs were used to generate synthetic renderings of the terrain and identify features for use in navigating to the sampling location. In addition, high-resolution models of the sampling site constructed from scanning lidar data were used for predicting the time and location of contact with the surface. These models went through a series of validation tests to ensure the performance of the NFT system. When the spacecraft executed the sampling trajectory in 2020 October, NFT enabled real-time guidance updates that delivered it safely to the desired sampling location while also providing critical hazard avoidance capabilities in the rocky Bennu environment.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Context. The ESA Gaia mission provides a unique time-domain survey for more than 1.6 billion sources with G ≲ 21 mag. Aims. We showcase stellar variability in the Galactic colour-absolute magnitude diagram (CaMD). We focus on pulsating, eruptive, and cataclysmic variables, as well as on stars that exhibit variability that is due to rotation and eclipses. Methods. We describe the locations of variable star classes, variable object fractions, and typical variability amplitudes throughout the CaMD and show how variability-related changes in colour and brightness induce “motions”. To do this, we use 22 months of calibrated photometric, spectro-photometric, and astrometric Gaia data of stars with a significant parallax. To ensure that a large variety of variable star classes populate the CaMD, we crossmatched Gaia sources with known variable stars. We also used the statistics and variability detection modules of the Gaia variability pipeline. Corrections for interstellar extinction are not implemented in this article. Results. Gaia enables the first investigation of Galactic variable star populations in the CaMD on a similar, if not larger, scale as was previously done in the Magellanic Clouds. Although the observed colours are not corrected for reddening, distinct regions are visible in which variable stars occur. We determine variable star fractions to within the current detection thresholds of Gaia . Finally, we report the most complete description of variability-induced motion within the CaMD to date. Conclusions. Gaia enables novel insights into variability phenomena for an unprecedented number of stars, which will benefit the understanding of stellar astrophysics. The CaMD of Galactic variable stars provides crucial information on physical origins of variability in a way that has previously only been accessible for Galactic star clusters or external galaxies. Future Gaia data releases will enable significant improvements over this preview by providing longer time series, more accurate astrometry, and additional data types (time series BP and RP spectra, RVS spectra, and radial velocities), all for much larger samples of stars.

The ESA Gaia mission provides a unique time-domain survey for more than 1.6 billion sources with G ~ 21 mag. We showcase stellar variability across the Galactic colour-absolute magnitude diagram (CaMD), focusing on pulsating, eruptive, and cataclysmic variables, as well as on stars exhibiting variability due to rotation and eclipses. We illustrate the locations of variable star classes, variable object fractions, and typical variability amplitudes throughout the CaMD and illustrate how variability-related changes in colour and brightness induce `motions' using 22 months worth of calibrated photometric, spectro-photometric, and astrometric Gaia data of stars with significant parallax. To ensure a large variety of variable star classes to populate the CaMD, we crossmatch Gaia sources with known variable stars. We also used the statistics and variability detection modules of the Gaia variability pipeline. Corrections for interstellar extinction are not implemented in this article. Gaia enables the first investigation of Galactic variable star populations across the CaMD on a similar, if not larger, scale than previously done in the Magellanic Clouds. Despite observed colours not being reddening corrected, we clearly see distinct regions where variable stars occur and determine variable star fractions to within Gaia's current detection thresholds. Finally, we show the most complete description of variability-induced motion within the CaMD to date. Gaia enables novel insights into variability phenomena for an unprecedented number of stars, which will benefit the understanding of stellar astrophysics. The CaMD of Galactic variable stars provides crucial information on physical origins of variability in a way previously accessible only for Galactic star clusters or external galaxies.

Context. Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) provides a unique all-sky catalogue of 550 737 variable stars, of which 151 761 are long-period variable (LPV) candidates with G variability amplitudes larger than 0.2 mag (5–95% quantile range). About one-fifth of the LPV candidates are Mira candidates, the majority of the rest are semi-regular variable candidates. For each source, G, GBP, and GRP photometric time-series are published, together with some LPV-specific attributes for the subset of 89 617 candidates with periods in G longer than 60 days. Aims. We describe this first Gaia catalogue of LPV candidates, give an overview of its content, and present various validation checks. Methods. Various samples of LPVs were used to validate the catalogue: a sample of well-studied very bright LPVs with light curves from the American Association of Variable Star Observers that are partly contemporaneous with Gaia light curves, a sample of Gaia LPV candidates with good parallaxes, the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae catalogue of LPVs, and the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) catalogues of LPVs towards the Magellanic Clouds and the Galactic bulge. Results. The analyses of these samples show a good agreement between Gaia DR2 and literature periods. The same is globally true for bolometric corrections of M-type stars. The main contaminant of our DR2 catalogue comes from young stellar objects (YSOs) in the solar vicinity (within ~1 kpc), although their number in the whole catalogue is only at the percent level. A cautionary note is provided about parallax-dependent LPV attributes published in the catalogue. Conclusions. This first Gaia catalogue of LPVs approximately doubles the number of known LPVs with amplitudes larger than 0.2 mag, despite the conservative candidate selection criteria that prioritise low contamination over high completeness, and despite the limited DR2 time coverage compared to the long periods characteristic of LPVs. It also contains a small set of YSO candidates, which offers the serendipitous opportunity to study these objects at an early stage of the Gaia data releases.

The Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2): we summarise the processing and results of the identification of variable source candidates of RR Lyrae stars, Cepheids, long period variables (LPVs), rotation modulation (BY Dra-type) stars, delta Scuti & SX Phoenicis stars, and short-timescale variables. In this release we aim to provide useful but not necessarily complete samples of candidates. The processed Gaia data consist of the G, BP, and RP photometry during the first 22 months of operations as well as positions and parallaxes. Various methods from classical statistics, data mining and time series analysis were applied and tailored to the specific properties of Gaia data, as well as various visualisation tools. The DR2 variability release contains: 228'904 RR Lyrae stars, 11'438 Cepheids, 151'761 LPVs, 147'535 stars with rotation modulation, 8'882 delta Scuti & SX Phoenicis stars, and 3'018 short-timescale variables. These results are distributed over a classification and various Specific Object Studies (SOS) tables in the Gaia archive, along with the three-band time series and associated statistics for the underlying 550'737 unique sources. We estimate that about half of them are newly identified variables. The variability type completeness varies strongly as function of sky position due to the non-uniform sky coverage and intermediate calibration level of this data. The probabilistic and automated nature of this work implies certain completeness and contamination rates which are quantified so that users can anticipate their effects. This means that even well-known variable sources can be missed or misidentified in the published data. The DR2 variability release only represents a small subset of the processed data. Future releases will include more variable sources and data products; however, DR2 shows the (already) very high quality of the data and great promise for variability studies.

Space photometric time series of the most massive members of the young open cluster NGC 2264 allow us to study their different sources of variability down to the millimagnitude level and permits a search for Slowly Pulsating B (SPB) type pulsation among objects that are only a few million years old. Our goal is to conduct a homogeneous study of young B type stars in the cluster NGC 2264 using photometric time series from space in combination with high-resolution spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry obtained from the ground. The latter will be presented in a separate follow-up article. We performed frequency analyses for eleven B stars in the field of the young cluster NGC 2264 using photometric time series from the MOST, CoRoT and Spitzer space telescopes and the routines Period04 and SigSpec. We employ the MESA stellar evolution code in combination with the oscillation code GYRE to identify the pulsation modes for two SPB stars which exhibit short period spacing series. From our analysis we identify four objects that show SPB pulsations, five stars that show rotational modulation of their light curves caused by spots, one star that is identified to be a binary, and one object in the field of the cluster that is found to be a non-member Be star. In two SPB stars we detect a number of regularly spaced pulsation modes that are compatible with being members of a g mode period series. Despite NGC 2264's young age, our analysis illustrates that its B type members have already arrived on the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS). Our asteroseismic analysis yields masses between 4 and 6 Msun and ages between 1 and 6 million years, which agree well to the overall cluster age.

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Context. Parallaxes for 331 classical Cepheids, 31 Type II Cepheids, and 364 RR Lyrae stars in common between Gaia and the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues are published in Gaia Data Release 1 (DR1) as part of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS).Aims. In order to test these first parallax measurements of the primary standard candles of the cosmological distance ladder, which involve astrometry collected by Gaia during the initial 14 months of science operation, we compared them with literature estimates and derived new period-luminosity (PL), period-Wesenheit (PW) relations for classical and Type II Cepheids and infrared PL, PL-metallicity (PLZ), and optical luminosity-metallicity (M-V-[Fe/H]) relations for the RR Lyrae stars, with zero points based on TGAS.Methods. Classical Cepheids were carefully selected in order to discard known or suspected binary systems. The final sample comprises 102 fundamental mode pulsators with periods ranging from 1.68 to 51.66 days (of which 33 with sigma(pi)/pi < 0.5). The Type II Cepheids include a total of 26 W Virginis and BL Herculis stars spanning the period range from 1.16 to 30.00 days (of which only 7 with sigma(pi)/pi < 0.5). The RR Lyrae stars include 200 sources with pulsation period ranging from 0.27 to 0.80 days (of which 112 with sigma(pi)/pi < 0.5). The new relations were computed using multi-band (V,I,J,K-s) photometry and spectroscopic metal abundances available in the literature, and by applying three alternative approaches: (i) linear least-squares fitting of the absolute magnitudes inferred from direct transformation of the TGAS parallaxes; (ii) adopting astrometry-based luminosities; and (iii) using a Bayesian fitting approach. The last two methods work in parallax space where parallaxes are used directly, thus maintaining symmetrical errors and allowing negative parallaxes to be used. The TGAS-based PL,PW,PLZ, and M-V- [Fe/H] relations are discussed by comparing the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud provided by different types of pulsating stars and alternative fitting methods.Results. Good agreement is found from direct comparison of the parallaxes of RR Lyrae stars for which both TGAS and HST measurements are available. Similarly, very good agreement is found between the TGAS values and the parallaxes inferred from the absolute magnitudes of Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars analysed with the Baade-Wesselink method. TGAS values also compare favourably with the parallaxes inferred by theoretical model fitting of the multi-band light curves for two of the three classical Cepheids and one RR Lyrae star, which were analysed with this technique in our samples. The K-band PL relations show the significant improvement of the TGAS parallaxes for Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars with respect to the Hipparcos measurements. This is particularly true for the RR Lyrae stars for which improvement in quality and statistics is impressive.Conclusions. TGAS parallaxes bring a significant added value to the previous Hipparcos estimates. The relations presented in this paper represent the first Gaia-calibrated relations and form a work-in-progress milestone report in the wait for Gaia-only parallaxes of which a first solution will become available with Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) in 2018.

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission is characterizing the surface and orbital environment of the primitive asteroid (101955) Bennu to enable the collection and return of pristine samples of carbonaceous material. The Altimetry Working Group (AltWG) generates digital terrain models (DTMs) that are essential for assessing the sampleability and science value of potential sample sites. The AltWG uses stereophotoclinometry (SPC) to generate these DTMs from images collected by the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite. We built and evaluated an SPC-derived DTM by performing a flight-like test, using images (0.4–3 ​cm per pixel) of a physical test wall constructed to simulate a 3 ​m ​× ​3 ​m portion of Bennu’s surface. We built the DTM using images acquired under similar lighting conditions to those planned for the OSIRIS-REx mission and processed them using flight-like SPC procedures. The results were compared to measurements of the wall obtained using a laser altimeter. We found maximum height differences between the SPC-derived model and the altimetric data of −2.6 and 3.4 ​cm (or 13–17% of the dynamic range of the heights across the wall), specifically around large surface rocks. For the majority of the SPC-derived model, differences are less than ​± ​0.5 ​cm (<2.5% of the dynamic range of the heights across the wall) or ~1.5× the images’ best pixel scale of 0.4 ​cm. In the spatial frequency domain, spectral correlation and coherency assessments comparing the SPC-derived model and the altimetric data show that the SPC-generated DTMs are an excellent product from wavelengths of ~3 ​m down to shorter wavelengths of ~0.1 ​m. Cross-correlation assessment of images rendered from the SPC-derived model vs. images of the test wall further show that our models accurately reproduce the combined albedo and surface shape, with cross-correlation scores >0.65.

The ESA Gaia mission provides a unique time-domain survey for more than one billion sources brighter than G=20.7 mag. Gaia offers the unprecedented opportunity to study variability phenomena in the Universe thanks to multi-epoch G-magnitude photometry in addition to astrometry, blue and red spectro-photometry, and spectroscopy. Within the Gaia Consortium, Coordination Unit 7 has the responsibility to detect variable objects, classify them, derive characteristic parameters for specific variability classes, and provide global descriptions of variable phenomena. We describe the variability processing and analysis that we plan to apply to the successive data releases, and we present its application to the G-band photometry results of the first 14 months of Gaia operations that comprises 28 days of Ecliptic Pole Scanning Law and 13 months of Nominal Scanning Law. Out of the 694 million, all-sky, sources that have calibrated G-band photometry in this first stage of the mission, about 2.3 million sources that have at least 20 observations are located within 38 degrees from the South Ecliptic Pole. We detect about 14% of them as variable candidates, among which the automated classification identified 9347 Cepheid and RR Lyrae candidates. Additional visual inspections and selection criteria led to the publication of 3194 Cepheid and RR Lyrae stars, described in Clementini et al. (2016). Under the restrictive conditions for DR1, the completenesses of Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars are estimated at 67% and 58%, respectively, numbers that will significantly increase with subsequent Gaia data releases. Data processing within the Gaia Consortium is iterative, the quality of the data and the results being improved at each iteration. The results presented in this article show a glimpse of the exceptional harvest that is to be expected from the Gaia mission for variability phenomena. [abridged]

A multisite photometric campaign for the beta Cephei and eclipsing variable 16 Lacertae is reported. 749 h of high-quality differential photoelectric Stromgren, Johnson and Geneva time series photometry were obtained with 10 telescopes during 185 nights. After removing the pulsation contribution, an attempt was made to solve the resulting eclipse light curve by means of the computer program EBOP. Although a unique solution was not obtained, the range of solutions could be constrained by comparing computed positions of the secondary component in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram with evolutionary tracks. For three high-amplitude pulsation modes, the uvy and the Geneva UBG amplitude ratios are derived and compared with the theoretical ones for spherical-harmonic degrees l <= 4. The highest degree, l = 4, is shown to be incompatible with the observations. One mode is found to be radial, one is l = 1, while in the remaining case l = 2 or 3. The present multisite observations are combined with the archival photometry in order to investigate the long-term variation of the amplitudes and phases of the three high-amplitude pulsation modes. The radial mode shows a non-sinusoidal variation on a time-scale of 73 yr. The l = 1 mode is a triplet with unequal frequency spacing, giving rise to two beat-periods, 720.7 d and 29.1 yr. The amplitude and phase of the l = 2 or 3 mode vary on time-scales of 380.5 d and 43 yr. The light variation of 2 And, one of the comparison stars, is discussed in the appendix.

Star clusters are known as superb tools for understanding stellar evolution. In a quest for understanding the physical origin of magnetism and chemical peculiarity in about 7% of the massive main-sequence stars, we analysed two of the ten brightest members of the similar to 10 Myr old Galactic open cluster NGC 2264, the early B-dwarfs HD47887 and HD47777. We find accurate rotation periods of 1.95 and 2.64 days, respectively, from MOST photometry. We obtained ESPaDOnS spectropolarimetric observations, through which we determined stellar parameters, detailed chemical surface abundances, projected rotational velocities, and the inclination angles of the rotation axis. Because we found only small (<5 km s(-1)) radial velocity variations, most likely caused by spots, we can rule out that HD47887 and HD47777 are close binaries. Finally, using the least-squares deconvolution technique, we found that both stars possess a large-scale magnetic field with an average longitudinal field strength of about 400 G. From a simultaneous fit of the stellar parameters we determine the evolutionary masses of HD47887 and HD47777 to be 9.4(-0.7)(+0.6) M-circle dot and 7.6(-0.5)(+0.5) M-circle dot. Interestingly, HD47777 shows a remarkable helium underabundance, typical of helium-weak chemically peculiar stars, while the abundances of HD47887 are normal, which might imply that diffusion is operating in the lower mass star but not in the slightly more massive one. Furthermore, we argue that the rather slow rotation, as well as the lack of nitrogen enrichment in both stars, can be consistent with both the fossil and the binary hypothesis for the origin of the magnetic field. However, the presence of two magnetic and apparently single stars near the top of the cluster mass-function may speak in favour of the latter.

We demonstrate that a seismic analysis of stars in their earliest evolutionary phases is a powerful method with which to identify young stars and distinguish their evolutionary states. The early star that is born from the gravitational collapse of a molecular cloud reaches at some point sufficient temperature, mass, and luminosity to be detected. Accretion stops, and the pre-main sequence star that emerges is nearly fully convective and chemically homogeneous. It will continue to contract gravitationally until the density and temperature in the core are high enough to start nuclear burning of hydrogen. We show that there is a relationship for a sample of young stars between detected pulsation properties and their evolutionary status, illustrating the potential of asteroseismology for the early evolutionary phases.

NGC 147 and NGC 185 are both dwarf galaxies and companions of the M31 Galaxy. These satellites of Andromeda show similar properties in their color magnitude diagram but also striking differences concerning their stellar content of intermediate age stars as well as their amount of gas and dust. This and the fact that their small apparent separation on the sky of approximately one degree make them very interesting for comparative studies. Photometric monitoring of stars in the i-band of the two dwarf galaxies NGC 147 and NGC 185 covering approximate to 2.5 years resulted in the discovery of a large number of Long Period Variables (LPVs). A total of 323 LPVs in NGC 185 and 147 LPVs in NGC 147 were available for further analysis. Additional single-epoch K-s-band photometry was obtained in order to compare the resulting period luminosity diagrams with those of other systems like, e. g., the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Making use of narrow-band photometry a significant fraction of the detected LPVs could be identified as carbon-rich. To establish a universal relation between period and luminosity for LPVs, such variables need to be studied in different galaxies. Therefore, the resulting K-s - logP relations (PLRs) were compared with those from the LMC. The PLRs of NGC 147 are in good agreement with the LMC relations. In contrast, a systematic shift of the sequence of fundamental mode pulsators (labeled as C) and the sequence for first overtone pulsators (C') suggests a revised distance estimate for NGC 185.

We report a multisite photometric campaign for the beta Cep stars V2052 Oph and V986 Oph. 670?h of high-quality differential photoelectric Stromgren, Johnson and Geneva time-series photometry was obtained with eight telescopes on five continents during 182 nights. Frequency analyses of the V2052 Oph data enabled the detection of three pulsation frequencies, the first harmonic of the strongest signal, and the rotation frequency with its first harmonic. Pulsational mode identification from analysing the colour amplitude ratios confirms the dominant mode as being radial, whereas the other two oscillations are most likely l = 4. Combining seismic constraints on the inclination of the rotation axis with published magnetic field analyses we conclude that the radial mode must be the fundamental mode. The rotational light modulation is in phase with published spectroscopic variability, and consistent with an oblique rotator for which both magnetic poles pass through the line of sight. The inclination of the rotation axis is 54 degrees< i < 58 degrees and the magnetic obliquity 58 degrees < beta < 66 degrees The possibility that V2052 Oph has a magnetically confined wind is discussed. The photometric amplitudes of the single oscillation of V986 Oph are most consistent with an l = 3 mode, but this identification is uncertain. Additional intrinsic, apparently temporally incoherent light variations of V986 Oph are reported. Different interpretations thereof cannot be distinguished at this point, but this kind of variability appears to be present in many OB stars. The prospects of obtaining asteroseismic information for more rapidly rotating beta Cep stars, which appear to prefer modes of higher l, are briefly discussed.

Context. Previous studies on the stellar content of the two nearby dwarf galaxies NGC 147 and NGC 185 reveal a rich population of late-type giants in both systems, including a large number of carbon-rich objects. These stars are known to show pronounced photometric variability, which can be used for a more detailed characterisation of these highly evolved stars. Owing to their well-studied parameters, these Local Group members are ideal candidates for comparative studies. Aims. Through photometric monitoring, we attempt to provide a catalogue of long-period variables (LPVs), including Mira variables, semi-regular variables, and even irregular variables in NGC 147 and NGC 185. We investigate the light variations and compare the characteristics of these two LPV populations with the results found for other galaxies, such as the LMC. Methods. We carried out time-series photometry in the i-band of the two target galaxies with the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT), covering a time span of approximate to 2.5 years. More than 30 epochs were available for a period search. These data were then combined with single-epoch K-band photometry, also obtained with the NOT. Narrow-band photometry data from the literature was used to distinguish between O-rich and C-rich stars. Results. We report the detection of 513 LPVs in NGC 185 and 213 LPVs in NGC 147, showing amplitudes Delta i of up to approximate to 2(mag) and periods ranging between 90 and 800 days. The period-luminosity diagram for each of our target galaxies exhibits a well populated sequence of fundamental mode pulsators. The resulting period-luminosity relations we obtained are compared to relations from the literature. We discuss the universality of those relations because of which, as a side result, a correction of the distance modulus of NGC 185 may be necessary. A value of (m - M) = 24.(m)30 seems to be more appropriate to match the observed data. Only one of our two galaxies, namely NGC 185, has a significant fraction of possibly first overtone pulsators. An interpretation of this finding in terms of differences in the star-formation histories is suggested.