← Back to catalogue
Published

Alpha² Canum Venaticorum variable

vr.tr.alpha-canum-venaticorum-variable · thing-q1141942

Let an agent describe alpha2 CVn variables by star, period, magnetic field and spectroscopy, with sourced data.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.SPC
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Star Which star.

Identity

Designation.

Identity

Designation.

  1. Which star is meant, and is it classified as ACV? provenance
  2. What is its spectral type? provenance

Period

Rotation.

Period

Rotation period.

  1. What is its rotation period and amplitude? measurement
  2. From which survey data? provenance
Physics Magnetism.

Field

Magnetic field.

Field

Magnetic field.

  1. How strong is the magnetic field, according to spectropolarimetry? measurement
  2. How is it oriented? provenance

Spots

Abundance spots.

Spots

Chemical spots.

  1. Which elements are concentrated in surface spots? provenance
  2. How are spot maps made? definition
Classes Related types.

roAp

Rapid oscillators.

roAp

Rapidly oscillating Ap stars.

  1. Does the star also show rapid oscillations? provenance
  2. How do roAp stars differ from ACV variables? definition

Chemically peculiar

Ap and Bp stars.

Chemically peculiar

Chemical peculiarity.

  1. What makes Ap and Bp stars chemically peculiar? definition
  2. Which processes explain it? provenance
Observing Contributing.

Photometry

Small amplitudes.

Photometry

Photometry.

  1. What photometric precision is needed to detect the variation? measurement
  2. Can amateurs contribute? boundary

Submit

Databases.

Submit

Submitting data.

  1. How can observations be submitted to variable star databases? action
  2. Which organisation runs them? provenance

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.SPC
Other names and narrower kinds
rapidly oscillating Ap star

What it is Filled

A chemically peculiar Ap or Bp main-sequence star with a strong, ordered magnetic field and surface abundance spots, whose brightness and spectrum vary with rotation over periods of about 0.5 to 160 days; named after Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum. Rapidly oscillating Ap stars are a related class with pulsations of minutes.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent describe alpha2 CVn variables by star, period, magnetic field and spectroscopy, with sourced data.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Strong magnetic fields
  • Chemical spots
  • Rotational variability
  • Oblique rotator model

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Confuse these stars with rapidly oscillating Ap stars.
  • Claim a new variable star from small amplitude signals without checking for instrument effects.
  • Alter catalogue entries without stating the source of the change.

Only with a human decision

  • Submitting a new classification to a variable star catalogue.

May

  • Report catalogued Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum variables with their periods and sources.
  • Analyze light curves and spectra to classify a star as this type, stating the uncertainty.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Honest reporting of weak signals keeps the astronomical record trustworthy.

Who is affected

  • Astronomers and observers
  • Users of variable star catalogues

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody owns them; variable star catalogues and the astronomical community keep the records.

Master systems

  • General Catalogue of Variable Stars
  • International Variable Star Index

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q2168098 - registry parent class
  • Q616386 - registry parent class

related

  • rotating variable star and Ap/Bp star - category
  • Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum - prototype
  • oblique rotator model - theory
  • GCVS and VSX - catalogues

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.alpha-canum-venaticorum-variable
  • Wikidata: Q1141942 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1141942)
  • GCVS type: ACV variable star type

Direct properties required Filled

  • rotation period: about 0.5-160 days
  • amplitude: about 0.01-0.1 magnitudes - typical

Recognition required Filled

  • Ap or Bp spectral types
  • Rotation-linked variability
  • roAp stars pulsate on minute timescales
  • Blue-white stars with small periodic brightness changes.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • identify alpha2 CVn stars and periods
  • explain rotational modulation
  • distinguish them from roAp stars
  • find photometric and spectroscopic data

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Confusing ACV and roAp stars
  • Overinterpreting small amplitudes

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • IAU variable star nomenclature

Context of use required Filled

  • Studying stellar magnetism and chemical peculiarity.
  • classical alpha2 CVn variables
  • magnetic Bp stars
  • rapidly oscillating Ap stars (related)

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q1141942: Alpha² Canum Venaticorum variable - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum variable - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should roAp stars be a separate entry?
  • How should magnetic field data be linked?
  • How should spot maps be sourced?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1141942/spec.json