HL Tau 76 is a variablewhite dwarfstar of the DAV (or ZZ Ceti) type. It was observed by G. Haro and W. J. Luyten in 1961,[8][9] and was the first variablewhite dwarf discovered when, in 1968, Arlo U. Landolt found that it varied in brightness with a period of approximately 749.5 seconds, or 12.5 minutes.[9] Like other DAV white dwarfs, its variability arises from non-radial gravity wave pulsations within itself.[10], § 7. Later observation and analysis has found HL Tau 76 to pulsate in over 40 independent vibrational modes, with periods between 380 seconds and 1390 seconds.[11]
The designation HL Tau 76 derives from the discovery of this star as a white dwarf, when it was described as Taurus no.76 in a publication authored by Guillermo Haro and Willem Jacob Luyten.[8] The exact designation HL Tau 76 was then used in subsequent papers, including one giving the star its designation EGGR 265 where it was noted to be variable.[12] It was then included in the 57th name-list of variable stars and given the variable star designation V441 Tauri.[13] The unusual designation HL Tau 76 continues to be used by most authors.[14]
^ abHaro, G.; Luyten, W. J. (1961). "Nueva estrella enana blanca en las nubes obscuras del Toro". Boletín de los Observatorios de Tonantzintla y Tacubaya. 3: 35. Bibcode:1961BOTT....3...35H.
^Kukarkin, B. V.; et al. (October 1970). "57th Name-List of Variable Stars". Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 480 (1): 1. Bibcode:1970IBVS..480....1K.
