Cuypers, J. ; Aerts, C. ; Buzasi, D. ; Catanzarite, J. ; Conrow, T. ; Laher, R.

published in Stellar Structure and Habitable Planet Finding, 485, pp. 41-47 (2002)

Abstract: The Wide-field Infra Red Explorer (WIRE) was launched in March 1999. Its main mission failed due to loss of coolant, but the 52 mm aperture star camera was used for asteroseismology. A few results are already published, but other bright variable stars were observed as well. Here we present an overview of the preliminary results and detailed period analyses on WIRE data of massive main-sequence pulsators. The period of the δ Scuti star β Cas could be easily recovered. In an almost uninterrupted observing run of 17 days on the 16 Msolar star β Crucis (Mimosa) multiperiodicity could be found in the light variations of this β Cephei variable. Ground-based photometry so far revealed only one period for this star. Although the amplitudes are small (3, 2.7 and 0.6 millimag for the dominant modes), the periods are in perfect agreement with the results of a recent line profile study of this star. Indications of more periods, including a previously suggested one, are present. The results obtained during this unintentional and unadapted asteroseismology project are extremely promising. They show only a tiny fraction of the outcome of a fully adapted asteroseismological mission like Eddington.

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