Achieving Precision Photometry of T Tauri Stars With a DSLR Camera

T Tauri stars are known to exhibit variability at all wavelengths. Starspots, cool magnetic field

regions on the star’s surface, contribute to this variability and lead to incorrect predictions in stellar

evolution models. While many studies on starspot activity have been conducted at a single wavelength

range, few surveys have monitored variation in multiple bands simultaneously, providing an incomplete picture

of young star formation. We have developed a procedure to conduct multiband observations of T Tauri

stars using a consumer-grade DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera. Utilizing a multi-aperture photometry algorithm, as well

as binning, and subsequent co-adding, of data, we achieve <4% photometric precision in the G channel

of 11.7 magnitude stars. We then use our method to observe spot variability of multiple T Tauri stars in the R, G, and B color channels. These results pave the

way for low-cost, multiband surveys moving forward.