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The LIGO/Virgo detected a gravitational wave (GW) event, named GW200224_222234 (also known as S200224ca) and classified as a binary-black hole coalescence, on 2020 February 24. Given its relatively small localization skymap (71 deg2 for a 90% credible region; revised to 50 deg2 in GWTC-3), we performed target-of-opportunity observations using the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) in the r2 and z bands. Observations were conducted on 2020 February 25 and 28 and March 23, with the first epoch beginning 12.3 hr after the GW detection. The survey covered the highest-probability sky area of 56.6 deg2, corresponding to a 91% probability. This was the first deep follow-up (m r ≳ 24, m z ≳ 23) for a binary-black hole merger covering >90% of the localization. By performing image subtraction and candidate screening including light-curve fitting with transient templates and examples, we found 22 off-nucleus transients that were not ruled out as the counterparts of GW200224_222234 with our Subaru/HSC data alone. We also performed GTC/OSIRIS spectroscopy of the probable host galaxies for five candidates; two are likely to be located within the 3D skymap, whereas the others are not. In conclusion, 19 transients remain as possible optical counterparts of GW200224_222234; but we could not identify a unique promising counterpart. If there are no counterparts in the remaining candidates, the upper limits of the optical luminosity are νLν<5.2−1.9+2.4×1041 erg s−1 and νLν<1.8−0.6+0.8×1042 erg s−1 in the r2 and z bands, respectively, at ∼12 hr after GW detection. We also discuss improvements in the strategies of optical follow-ups for future GW events.

Abstract The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration (LVC) sent out 56 gravitational-wave (GW) notices during the third observing run (O3). The Japanese Collaboration for Gravitational wave ElectroMagnetic follow-up (J-GEM) performed optical and near-infrared observations to identify and observe an electromagnetic (EM) counterpart. We constructed a web-based system that enabled us to obtain and share information on candidate host galaxies for the counterpart, and the status of our observations. Candidate host galaxies were selected from the GLADE catalog with a weight based on the 3D GW localization map provided by LVC. We conducted galaxy-targeted and wide-field blind surveys, real-time data analysis, and visual inspection of observed galaxies. We performed galaxy-targeted follow-ups to 23 GW events during O3, and the maximum probability covered by our observations reached 9.8$\\%$. Among these, we successfully started observations for 10 GW events within 0.5 days after the detection. This result demonstrates that our follow-up observation has the potential to constrain EM radiation models for a merger of binary neutron stars at a distance of up to $\\sim$100 Mpc with a probability area of $\\leq$ 500 deg$^2$.

We present simultaneous \\(g'\\), \\(R_ c\\), and \\(I_ c\\) photometry of the notable dwarf nova ER UMa during the 2011 season. Our photometry revealed that the brightness maxima of negative superhumps coincide with the bluest peaks in \\(g' - I_ c\\) colour variations. We also found that the amplitudes of negative superhumps are the largest in the \\(g'\\) band. These observed properties are significantly different from those observed in early and positive superhumps. Our findings are consistent with a tilted disk model as the light source of negative superhumps.

We report on multicolour photometry of the short period dwarf nova CSS130418:174033+414756 during the 2013 superoutburst. The system showed an unusually short superhump period with 0.046346(67) d during stage A, which is one of the shortest periods among dwarf novae below the period minimum. We found that the bluest peaks in \\(g' - I_ c\\) colour variations tend to coincide with the brightness minima of the superhump modulations. We also studied nightly-averaged superhump amplitudes in \\(g'\\), \\(R_ c\\), and \\(I_ c\\) bands and found that they have less dependence on wavelength. These properties are likely to be in common with dwarf novae exhibiting superhumps. We successfully obtained \\(g' - R_ c\\) and \\(R_ c - I_ c\\) colours during the temporal dip. The colour indices were significantly bluer compared with other dips of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae. By using the period of the growing superhumps, we estimated the mass ratio to be \\(q\\) = 0.077(5), which is much larger than the previous study.

In the 1-2.5 micron range, spectroscopic observations are made on the AcuA-spec asteroids, whose spectra were obtained in a continuous covered mode between 2.5-5.0 micron by AKARI. Based on the Bus-DeMeo taxonomy (DeMeo et al. 2009, Icarus, 202, 160), all the AcuA-spec asteroids are classified, using the published and our observational data. Additionally, taking advantage of the Bus-DeMeo taxonomy characteristics, we constrain the characteristic each spectral type by combining the taxonomy results with the other physical observational data from colorimetry, polarimetry, radar, and radiometry. As a result, it is suggested that certain C-, Cb-, B-type, dark X-, and D-complex asteroids have spectral properties compatible with those of anhydrous interplanetary dust particles with tiny bright material, such as water ice. This supports the proposal regarding the C-complex asteroids (Vernazza et al. 2015, ApJ, 806, 204; 2017, AJ, 153, 72). A combination of the Bus-DeMeo taxonomy for AcuA-spec asteroids and the presumptions with other physical clues such as the polarimetric inversion angle, radar albedo, and mid-infrared spectroscopic spectra will be beneficial for surface material constraints, from the AcuA-spec asteroid observations.

We review the results of very early phase optical follow-up observations of recent gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with the multi-color optical telescopes “MITSuME”. The MITSuME telescopes were designed to perform “real time” and “automatic” follow-up observations prompted by the GCN alerts via the Internet. The rapidly slewing equatorial mounts allow MITSuME to start photometric observations within 100 seconds after the trigger for several GRBs. In particular, we detected a brightening just after the trigger for two GRBs. These phenomena could be interpreted as the “on-set” of afterglow. In this paper we summarize these optical observations with a brief interpretation.

A near-infrared telescope with an effective aperture diameter of thirty millimeters has been developed. The primary objective of the development is to observe northern bright stars in the \\(J\\), \\(H\\), and \\(K_ s\\) bands and provide accurate photometric data on those stars. The second objective is to repeatedly observe a belt-like region along the northern Galactic plane (\\(|b| 5^\\) and \\( -30^\\)) to monitor bright variable stars there. The telescope has been in use since December 2016. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and operational performances of the telescope, photometric calibration methods, and our scientific goals. We show that the telescope has the ability to provide photometry with an uncertainty of less than 5\\% for stars brighter than 7, 6.5, and 6~mag in the \\(J\\), \\(H\\), and \\(K_ s\\) bands, respectively. The repeatability of the photometric measurements for the same star is better than 1\\% for bright stars. Our observations will provide accurate photometry on bright stars that are lacking in the Two Micron Sky Survey and the Two Micron All-Sky Survey. Repeated observations at a good cadence will also reveal their nature of the variability in the near-infrared.

Non-variable OH/IR stars are thought to have just left the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase. In this conventional picture, they must still show strong circumstellar extinction caused by the dust ejected during the AGB phase, and the extinction is expected to decrease over time because of the dispersal of the circumstellar dust after the cessation of the stellar mass loss. The reduction of the extinction makes the stars become apparently brighter and bluer with time especially in the near-infrared (NIR) range. We look for such long-term brightening of non-variable OH/IR stars by using 2MASS, UKIDSS, and OAOWFC survey data. As a result, we get multi-epoch NIR data taken over a 20-year period (1997-2017) for 6 of 16 non-variable OH/IR stars, and all six objects are found to be brightening. The K-band brightening rate of five objects ranges from 0.010 to 0.130 mag yr\\(^-1\\), which is reasonably explained with the conventional picture. However, one OH/IR star, OH31.0-0.2, shows a rapid brightening, which cannot be explained only by the dispersal of the dust shell. Multi-color (J-, H-, and K-band) data are obtained for three objects, OH25.1-0.3, OH53.6-0.2, and OH77.9+0.2. Surprisingly, none of them appears to have become bluer, and OH53.6-0.2 is found to have been reddened with a rate of 0.013 mag yr\\(^-1\\) in (J-K). Our findings suggest other mechanisms such as rapid changes in stellar properties (temperature or luminosity) or a generation of a new batch of dust grains.

A gravitational wave event, S190510g, which was classified as a binary-neutron-star coalescence at the time of preliminary alert, was detected by LIGO/Virgo collaboration on May 10, 2019. At 1.7 hours after the issue of its preliminary alert, we started a target-of-opportunity imaging observation in Y-band to search for its optical counterpart using the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) on the Subaru Telescope. The observation covers a 118.8 deg\\(^2\\) sky area corresponding to 11.6% confidence in the localization skymap released in the preliminary alert and 1.2% in the updated skymap. We divided the observed area into two fields based on the availability of HSC reference images. For the fields with the HSC reference images, we applied an image subtraction technique; for the fields without the HSC reference images, we sought individual HSC images by matching a catalog of observed objects with the PS1 catalog. The search depth is 22.28 mag in the former method and the limit of search depth is 21.3 mag in the latter method. Subsequently, we performed visual inspection and obtained 83 candidates using the former method and 50 candidates using the latter method. Since we have only the 1-day photometric data, we evaluated probability to be located inside the 3D skymap by estimating their distances with photometry of associated extended objects. We found three candidates are likely located inside the 3D skymap and concluded they could be an counterpart of S190510g, while most of 133 candidates were likely to be supernovae because the number density of candidates was consistent with the expected number of supernova detections. By comparing our observational depth with a light curve model of such a kilonova reproducing AT2017gfo, we show that early-deep observations with the Subaru/HSC can capture the rising phase of blue component of kilonova at the estimated distance of S190510g (~230 Mpc).

We report on multicolor photometry of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae, HV Vir and OT J012059.6+325545 during superoutbursts. These systems show early superhumps with the mean periods of 0.057093(45) d for HV Vir and 0.057147(15) d for OT J012059.6+325545, respectively. The observed early superhumps showed a common feature that the brightness minima correspond to the bluest peaks in color variations, which may be a ubiquitous phenomenon among early superhumps of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae. We confirmed that amplitudes of early superhumps depend on wavelength: amplitudes with longer bandpass filters show larger values. This indicates that the light source of early superhumps is generated at the outer region of the vertically-extended accretion disk. On the other hand, amplitudes of ordinary superhumps are likely to be independent of wavelength. This implies that the superhump light source is geometrically thin. We also examined color variations of ordinary superhumps and found that the bluest peaks in \\(g'-I_ c\\) tend to coincide with the brightness minima, particularily in stage B superhumps. This may reflect that the pressure effect plays a dominant role during stage B superhumps.