Abstract
We have undertaken a long-term project, Planets in Stellar Clusters
Extensive Search (PISCES), to search for transiting planets in
open clusters. NGC 2158 is one of the targets we have chosen-an
intermediate age, populous, rather metal-poor cluster. In this
paper we present the results of a search for variable stars in
the data from the first season of monitoring at the FLWO 1.2 m
telescope. This is the first variability search ever conducted
in this cluster. We present a catalog of 57 variable stars, most
with low-amplitude variability. Among the variables is a
cataclysmic variable (CV) that underwent a 2.5 mag outburst. If
it is a member of NGC 2158, this would be the fourth CV known in
an open cluster. We have also found five \delta
Scuti stars, three of which have two or more detectable modes of
pulsation. Of the 57 variables discovered, 28 have R-band
amplitudes of 5\% or below. Six of those vary at or below the
2\% level, including one with 0.08\% variability.
Users
Please
log in to take part in the discussion (add own reviews or comments).