Binary Stars Group Project

This repository contains the code and report relating to a group project undertaken at Keele University (2024-25) for the module PHY-30006 Astrophysics Group Project and Science Communication.

Aim

The project aim was to, using Gaia DR3 Epoch photometry and TESS light curves of eclipsing binary stars in the PLATO LOPS2 field, find high-priority targets for observation by the upcoming PLATO mission.

Acknowledgements

This project was completed with the guidance, help, advice and many useful resources provided by Pierre Maxted.

Licence

Please note that these works are under copyleft licenses (details in the LICENCE.md files within the respective folders).

Workflow

The following are files in the code directory:

1. master_notebook_TESS.ipynb: Used to download TESS data, remove bad data, detrend and save in a format to be used in jktebop, task 3.
2. jktebop_plots.ipynb: Used to plot data outputted by jktebop (for TESS and Gaia data). Note that it assumes a particular format of file name (e.g. model.out.3 and lcfit.out.3 for outputted model and data to be fitted respectively).
3. master_notebook_Gaia_NewFormat.ipynb: Used to process Gaia data (using the output of analysis of TESS data with jktebop to help). Note that this uses the updated version (as of January 2025) of the data output (for reading the previous format, refer to master_notebook_Gaia_OldFormat.ipynb.
4. Again use jktebop_plots.ipynb (but now for reading in Gaia data, processed using jktebop).
5. Overplot_models.ipynb: For overplotting models generated for green, red and blue Gaia data, along with TESS data.
6. CMD_single.ipynb: For plotting a colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) of the outputted data (where data come from processing the BP, RP and G band data with jktebop in task 8. Note it uses the MIST model MIST_v1.2_feh_p0.00_afe_p0.0_vvcrit0.0_UBVRIplus.iso, available from here
7. CMD_multiple.ipynb: For plotting a colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) of the outputted data for multiple stars (again from the outputs of jktebop task 8 and the same MIST model data).

The Report directory consists of the .pdf output and LaTeX files which were used to generate this (using the AAAS Research Note template on Overleaf).

Quick Start

To get started, first run the following commands:

pip install lightkuve

pip install astropy

pip install PyAstronomy.pyasl

jktebop can be downloaded from here, whilst read_mist_models is available here.

Software Versions

During this project the following software/Python packages were used:

• jktebop: v43
• lightkurve: 2.5.0
• astropy: 6.1.4
• PyAstronomy: 0.22.0
• uncertainties: 3.2.2