Stars of special interest observed by the BRITE Satellite Constellation

将由奥地利、加拿大和波兰发射的六颗卫星组成的BRITE星座是一个空间天文学项目，涉及三对纳米卫星（<10公斤），专门为天空中最亮的恒星提供高质量的连续测光。它是加拿大MOST卫星项目的合理继承者。BRITE使命的要求规定，对于亮度低至+3.5等的明亮恒星，误差<0.1%（有充分的理由期望超过+5等的扩展限制，即>2-3千颗恒星），以监测从单个卫星轨道（~103分钟）到数周、数月甚至数年的时间尺度的变化。明亮的星等极限将导致星星样本偏向于大多数明亮的恒星，因为几何稀释度1/d^2比恒星光度的固有范围弱。因此，BRITE星座的主要用途是研究大多数明亮和大质量恒星的脉动和风质量损失不稳定性。这一建议提出了一个研究方案，研究那些偶然落入大型卫星场的物体，这些物体主要是但不一定是巨大的。多样化的目标是通过设计意味着涉及两个HQP在研究生水平的6个科目之一。这种做法应有助于扩大加拿大具有丰富经验的空间天文学专家的补充;注：BRITE项目已经在UTIAS SFL发挥这种作用，在UTIAS SFL，理学硕士学生积极从事BRITE卫星工程的各种技术方面的工作。研究对象：1.明亮恒星中超新星候选者的光变特征（超新星前变率指标）; 2.有伴星（如Mira或Anglesia）的晚型超巨星的变化：与MS，WD或NS伴星的强风相互作用; 3。搜寻OBA型恒星的行星凌日，其中多普勒技术不起作用，而行星数量的理论预测是不确定的; 4。活动和点旋转速率的恒星穿越赫兹斯普林差距; 5。建立一个高度一致的（如果仪器）测光系统，以消除臭名昭著的差异，明亮的恒星在>2-3%的水平; 6。发现密近双星是我以前兴趣的延续。

The BRITE Constellation of six satellites, to be launched by Austria, Canada and Poland, is a space astronomy project involving 3 pairs of nano-satellites (<10kg) specifically aimed at providing high quality, continuous photometry for brightest stars of the sky. It is a logical successor of the Canadian satellite project MOST. Requirements of the BRITE mission specify errors <0.1% for bright stars down to +3.5 mag (with good reasons to expect extended limits beyond +5 mag., i.e. >2-3 thousands of stars) to be monitored for variability in time scales from single satellite orbits (~103 min) upward to weeks, months or even years. The bright magnitude-limit will result in a star sample biased towards most luminous stars as the geometric-dilution 1/d^2 is weaker than the intrinsic range of stellar luminosities. Accordingly, the main uses envisaged for the BRITE Constellation are studies of pulsational and wind mass-loss instabilities in most luminous & massive stars. This proposal suggests a program of studies of objects which will serendipitously fall into the large satellite fields and are mainly, but not necessarily, massive. The diversified objectives are by design meant to involve two HQP at the graduate level in one of 6 subjects. Such an approach should contribute to broadening of the Canadian complement of highly experienced space-astronomy specialists; note: the BRITE project is already serving such a role at UTIAS-SFL where MSc students actively work on various technical aspects of BRITE satellite engineering. The subjects: 1. Characterization of light variations for supernova candidates among bright stars (pre-supernova variability indicators); 2. Variability of late-type supergiants with companions (such as Mira or Antares): strong wind interaction with MS, WD or NS companions; 3. Search for planetary transits for OBA-type stars where the Doppler technique does not work while theoretical predictions on the number of planets are inconclusive; 4. Activity and spot rotation rates for stars crossing the Hertzsprung gap; 5. Establishment of a highly consistent (if instrumental) photometric system to remove notorious discrepancies for bright stars at >2-3% level; 6. Discovery of close binaries as a continuation of my previous interests.