1. Introduction -- 1.1. Basis properties and early observations of the Andromeda Galaxy -- 1.2. Modern M31 observations with digitized detector -- 1.3. Microlensing surveys and spin-offs -- 1.4. Wide-field camera view of M31 -- 1.5. Deep, multi-wavelength view of M31 2. Techniques for time-domain studies -- 2.1. Image subtraction -- 2.2. Period search algorithms -- 2.3. Classification 3. Periodic and aperiodic variables -- 3.1. Periodic variables -- 3.2. Aperiodic variables 4. Transients -- 4.1. Microlensing -- 4.2. Novae 5. Multi-wavelength studies -- 5.1. X-ray -- 5.2. Ultraviolet -- 5.3. Optical -- 5.4. Infrared -- 5.5. Radio -- 5.6. Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey -- 5.7. Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury -- 5.8. Spectroscopic surveys -- 5.9. Relation to time-domain studies 6. Prospects : deeper, redder, and longer -- Appendix A. ARTIS.
The advent of charge-coupled devices and the subsequent implementation of ultrawide cameras for large imaging surveys has opened up a new window for time-domain astronomy. In the past, time-domain studies were focused on monitoring campaigns of selected dense stellar fields. This included the Milky Way (the Galactic bulge in particular) and its satellites the Magellanic Clouds. The monitoring campaigns also extended to other nearby galaxies such as the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies. However, with advances in technology, time-domain studies have been transformed by un-biased all-sky surveys, such as the All-Sky Automated Survey, Pan-STARRS, Palomar Transient Factory, and Catalina Sky Surveys. With the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) on the horizon, there will be an avalanche of time-series data of the entire southern sky. In light of LSST, it is important to prepare future generations of astronomers with the knowledge and tools to digest the big data in a timely manner.
Students and researchers working on variable stars.
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Chien-Hsiu Lee is an assistant scientist at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, USA. He earned his bachelor and master's degree in Taiwan and then pursued his Ph.D. studies at the International Max Planck Research School on Astrophysics in Germany. He has been involved in several large imaging surveys, including the Pan-STARRS, Palomar Transient Factory, Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program, and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.