Searching for binary central stars of planetary nebulae with Kepler

Deep Sky Hunters CollaborationAbstract.The Kepler Observatory o ers unprecedented photometric precision ( <1 mmag) and cadencefor monitoring the central stars of planetary nebulae, allowing the detection of tiny periodic lightcurve variations, a possible signature of binarity. With this precision free from the observationalgaps dictated by weather and lunar cycles, we are able to detect companions at much largerseparations and with much smaller radii than ever before. We have been awarded observing timeto obtain light-curves of the central stars of the six con rmed and possible planetary nebulaein the Kepler eld, including the newly discovered object Kn 61, at cadences of both 30 minand 1 min. Of these six objects, we could con rm for three a periodic variability consistent withbinarity. Two others are variables, but the initial data set presents only weak periodicities. Forthe central star of Kn 61, Kepler data will be available in the near future.