RUI: Purchase and Implementation of Equipment for Astronomical Time-Series Photometry

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This award will place into operation a portable two-star photometry system with which to conduct an observational research program. An important objective of this research is to search for close-binary nuclei of planetary nebulae and obtain some of the properties of those discovered. The results will be a determination of the fraction of central stars that are close binaries, the importance of binary star processes in the production of planetary nebulae, and the discovery of star systems which will lead to the establishment of an evolutionary sequence linking the wide binaries (periods 1-10 years) to the cataclysmic variables (periods less than several hours). An important aspect of this program will be the direct involvement of undergraduate students in all phases of the research from implementation of one instrument through observation and analysis of results.