RR Lyrae stars in the GCVS observed by the Qatar Exoplanet Survey

Abstract

We used the light curve archive of the Qatar Exoplanet Survey to investigate the RR Lyrae variable stars listed in the GCVS. Of 588variables studied, we reclassified 14 as eclipsing binaries, one as an RS CVn type variable, one as an irregular variable, four as classical Cepheids, and one as a type II Cepheid, while also improving their periods. We also report new RR Lyrae sub-type classifications for 65variables and improve on the GCVS period estimates for 135 RR Lyrae variables. There are seven double-mode RR Lyrae stars in the sample for which we measured their fundamental and first overtone periods. Finally,we detected the Blazhko effect in 38 of the RR Lyrae stars for the first time and we successfully measured the Blazhko period for 26 of them.