KIC 3448777 Unlisted RR Lyrae Star at Planet Hunters

Ten months ago Planet Hunters Talk members found this interesting light curve for KIC 3448787 (APH23036769) which was subsequently analyzed and found to be contaminated by an unlisted RR Lyrae star with blazhko modulation. 

Phased curve showing pattern for RR Lyrae below.

 Here is the graph showing the blazhko modulation:

 

Here is what Chris Lintott (Zookeeper) posted back then:

 

Good news! I've heard back from our friends in the Kepler team, and this star is interesting and indeed new to them, so this is another #discovery for Planet Hunters! Congratulations, Tom128 (Tom Jacobs) for spotting it, and Kianjin (Kian Jek) for the analysis. They're going to do a detailed analysis - indeed, they've already started - and keep us informed. Obviously if it makes a paper then full credit will go to you two.

Some extra details; the reason that the variation appears and disappears between quarters might be because it's a background star; this would explain the small amplitude and if the processing used on different quarters included different parts of the image then that would explain why it comes and goes. They also say "Any new RRLs - especially the modulated ones - are of great value and very much appreciated! Kepler provides excellent light curves and delivers surprising new discoveries on #RRLyrae stars." so do tag anything you find.

As Robert Szabo, one of the scientists says : 'Congratulations to this precious discovery'.

Most likely star #4, KIC 3448777 and less likely star #5, KIC 3448767 are suspected to be the unlisted RR Lyrae star. Kian charted the APO vector due to the contamination which points in the direction of both stars.

A PyKE analysis for the Kepler data, put together by Planet Hunters Daryll Lacourse, is shown below. You can see the Blazhko modulation in the upper right of the chart. Click here for a full view.

The good news is that Kepler has targeted star #4, KIC 3448777 and is studying it now.

Click here to read the Talk thread.