Studying Variable Stars Discovered Through Exoplanet-Transit Surveys: A 'Research Opportunity Program'Project

摘要

We discuss the study and classification of variable stars discoveredas a by-product of searches for exoplanet transits—slight dimmings of stars byplanets in orbit around them. We describe two specific projects carried out byundergraduate students in the University of Toronto's Research OpportunityProgram. We discuss the nature of this program, in which second-year(sophomore) students can complete a research project for course credit.