The Detection of KIC 1718360, A Rotating Variable with a Possible Companion, Using Machine Learning
This work identifies a previously uncataloged rotating variable star with potential exoplanet implications, but it is incremental as it applies an existing method to new astronomical data.
The paper detected periodic dimming in star KIC 1718360 using machine learning, identifying it as a rotating variable with a 2.938-day rotational period and a possible exoplanetary companion, based on data from Kepler and TESS telescopes.
This paper presents the detection of a periodic dimming event in the lightcurve of the G1.5IV-V type star KIC 1718360. This is based on visible-light observations conducted by both the TESS and Kepler space telescopes. Analysis of the data seems to point toward a high rotation rate in the star, with a rotational period of 2.938 days. The high variability seen within the star's lightcurve points toward classification as a rotating variable. The initial observation was made in Kepler Quarter 16 data using the One-Class SVM machine learning method. Subsequent observations by the TESS space telescope corroborated these findings. It appears that KIC 1718360 is a nearby rotating variable that appears in little to no major catalogs as such. A secondary, additional periodic dip is also present, indicating a possible exoplanetary companion.