Multisite spectroscopic and photometric observations of the pulsating sdB star PG 1605+072

Abstract

We present the first results from the MultiSite Spectroscopic Telescope (MSST) observations of the sdBV star PG 1605+072. Pulsating sdB stars (V361 Hya stars) offer the chance to gain new insights into the formation and evolution of extreme Horizontal Branch stars using the tools of asteroseismology. PG 1605+072 is an outstanding object in its class, with the richest frequency spectrum, the longest periods, and the largest variations. The MSST campaign took place in 2002 May/June and we present here the massive data set, made up of 399 hr of photometry and 151 hr of spectroscopy. The overall aims of the project are to examine light/velocity amplitude ratios and phase differences, changes in equivalent width/line index, and λ-dependence of photometric amplitudes, and to use these properties for mode identification.