Two-colour photoelectric investigation of AR Lacertae

The RS CVn-type eclipsing binary AR Lac has been observed in two colours,B andV, in 1978 and 1979. Several times of minima have been obtained during the observations and the new light elements have been calculated. The orbital period of the system was found to be decreasing with an amount of 14.6 s century^–1.The light curves of the system obtained inB andV show a significant wave-like distortion outside eclipses. The amplitudes of the wave-like distortion inB andV are about 0 _. ^m 09 and 0 _. ^m 10 in 1978, and, 0 _. ^m 12 and 0 _. ^m 13 in 1979, respectively. The minima of the wave-like distortion have shifted with an amount of 0 _. ^p 40 in one year, thus indicating the migration period of the wave-like distortion is about 2.5 yr.A noticeable variation of light during the totality of primary minimum has also been observed. This variation can be attributed to the distortion wave which has been moving towards decreasing phases.     

UBV observations of the eclipsing binary FW Monocerotis

Photoelectric observations of FW Monocerotis inU,B, andV filters have been discussed. The depths of the primary minimum inU BV colours are 2 _. ^m 63, 2 _. ^m 17 and 1 _. ^m 76, respectively. No variation in the period has been found and its revised value is 3 _. ^d 8735868.     

Eclipsing binary UW Bootis

Photometric observations of primary minimum inU, B, andV filters have been discussed. The amplitude of variation in all the three filters is 0 ^m .66. We do not find variations in the period and its revised value is 1^d.0047115.     

Two-colour photoelectric investigation of SZ Pisces

The RS CVn-type eclipsing binary SZ Psc was observed in two coloursB andV, in 1981. The rate of change of the period was calculated using two different least-squares procedures. The amplitudes of the light variations at outside eclipses are 0 _. ^m 181 and 0 _. ^m 213 inB andV colours, respectively. The light curves of the system have been solved using a new approximation. The radius of the cooler component is only 82% of its Roche-radius and the system is detached one.     

Photoelectric photometry of the eclipsing binary MM herculis: Preliminary results

The RS CVn-type eclipsing binary star MM Her has been observed in two colours,B andV, in 1979, 1980, and 1983. Several minima times were obtained during the observations and new light elements calculated. The light curves of the system obtained in blue and yellow lights show a significant wave-like distortion which migrates towards the decreasing orbital phases. Its migration period was estimated to be about 3.5 yr. The amplitudes of the wave-like distortion inB andV appear to change each year. The primary minimum of the system is a total eclipse with a duration of 0^d.08.     

RS CVn-type variables

Photometric observation of HR 1099 inV andB obtained on 18 nights between January and March 1977 is presented. The amplitude of the asymmetric light curve is found to be 0^m.10±0^m.004 both inV andB. On three occasions—namely, JD 2443164. 17, JD 2443176. 14 and JD 2443177.12—the star brightened by 0^m.05. Four H spectrograms at 42 Å mm^–1 dispersion were obtained during October–November 1978. The profile and equivalent width of H of 14 November, 1978 suggest a probable major outburst.Analysis of all available photometry shows that (1) the amplitude and shape of the light curve change in a few orbital periods, (2) the phase of the minimum light migrated towards decreasing orbital phase during the interval JD 2442720 to JD 2443000 and from JD 2443200, there is almost a linear increase of the phase of the minimum light and (3) the phase of the light minimum sometimes shows to and fro behaviour suggesting the migration of the wave is not taking place smoothly.     

Short-term variations of some UV-ceti type flare stars

Sinusoidal variations in bothV - andB-bands were detected in some flare stars of the UV Ceti type outside of flares. This detection has confirmed the light variation detection in Johnson'sV -band in EV Lac at quiet-state luminosity by Pettersen (1980) with a cyclic period equals about 4 _. ^d 378 and an amplitude of about 0 _. ^m 07. An interpretation of these short cyclic periods is that they are due to intensity modulations from a photospheric spot group as a result of stellar equatorial rotations. A short period of 14 days with an amplitude of 0 _. ^m 099 was detected inB-band in AD Leo. For the two flare stars, BD+55° 1823 and DO Cep in bothV- andB-bands, cyclic periods of more than 3 days and less than 17 days with amplitudes more than 0 _. ^m 090 and less than 0 _. ^m 250 have been registered. A significant contribution has been found in the flare star EV Lac in bothV- andB-bands at its quiescent-state luminosity where the detected cyclic periods are agreed with that which was detected by Pettersen (1980) in the same flare star in Johnson'sV-band, about 4 days. Furthermore, we found the same cyclic period in the colour index,B - V (about 4 days) which strengthens starspot phenomenon. This colour index period could not be detected by Pettersen (1980).     

54 Cam: A new variable star

Differential photometry of the RS CVn-type binary 54 Cam in 1978, 1979, and 1980 shows its light to be variable with a period of 10 _. ^d 163±0 _. ^d 009 and an amplitude inV (max. to min.) which increased from 0 _. ^m 03 to 0 _. ^m 06 between 1979.19 and 1980.82. An epoch of light minimum was JD 2444529.7. The 9% difference betweenP(phtm.)=10 _. ^d 163 andP(orb.)=11 _. ^d 0764,a much larger difference than is characteristic of other RS CVn binaries, is suggested as an explanation for the radio emission.Guest Investigator, Kitt Peak National Observatory,which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, under contract with the National Science Foundation.Of the AAVSO.     

BV observations of the eclipsing binary WX Eridani

Photoelectric observations of WX Eridani inB andV filters have been discussed. The maximum magnitudes of the system areB=9 ^m .70 andV=9 ^m .46. TheB-V colours of the components are 0 ^m .16 and 0 ^m .80 for the primary and the secondary, respectively, while their spectral types are A5+K0. The period has been found to be constant and its revised value is 0^d.823 270 76.     

Stellar populations as a function of radius in giant elliptical galaxies

Accurate surface photometry has been obtained inJ andK for 12 giant elliptical galaxies. Ellipses have been fitted, to obtain luminosity, ellipticity, and major axis position angle profiles. The results have been combined with visual profiles from CCD observations. We find that elliptical galaxies become bluer inV - K on the average by 0.3 (mag/sq xr _e) going outward from the nucleus. Radial colour gradients inV - K correlate strongly with those inU - V andB - V. By modelling, using theoretical isochrones, it is found that the observed colour gradients can be explained by a gradient in metallicity, if in addition the proportion of hot stars rises very rapidly with decreasing metallicity.     

Photoelectric study of the eclipsing system CD Eridani

Limiting photometric solutions for the system CD Eri inB andV filters have been obtained. The secondary minimum was found to be absent.     

1990 photometry of a small amplitude W UMa system LS Delphini

DifferentialUBV observations, carried out in 1990 observing season, of a small amplitude (0 _. ^m 15 inV andB) W UMa system LS Del = HD 199497 are presented. Wavelength-dependent light variations from cycle to cycle indicate that the system is in a very active phase, probably due to magnetic flare activity or mass transfer in the system. An analysis of the minima times indicate a probable secular increase of the photometric period which requires a mass transfer from less massive to more massive component. If this is true then the reverse-algol model by Liuet al. (1988) for this system would not be valid.     

Photometry of HU Tauri

Photoelectric observations of the bright eclipsing binary system HU Tauri are presented. The observations were made with standardB andV filters. Observations made during the eclipses yielded six epochs of minimum light. A study of all the available times of minimum light has been made. Analysis of all the photoelectric times of minimum light yielded the following new ephemeris: JD 2441275.3166 +2 _. ^d 0563107E. Asymmetries in the light curves of HU Tauri were noticed.     

Eclipsing binary system AV Hydrae

The eclipsing binary AV Hya has been observed photoelectrically inU, B andV filters on 15 nights. The primary eclipse appeared to be total with a totality of 23 min duration. A modified period of 0^d.6 834 062 has been obtained. Geometrical elements could only be determined for partial transit case.     

Three-colour photometry of TW Cas

Photoelectric elements of the system TW Cas have been determined inU, B andV filters. A refined period of 1 _. ^d 428 324 77 has been given though no change in period is noticed. Spectroscopic elements given by Struve have been used to get the absolute elements. The system is found to be a detached one.     

Light variations of RT Lac during the last ten years

The RS CVn-type eclipsing binary star RT Lac has been observed inB andV colours, during 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988 observing seasons. The orbital period of the system was found to be decreasing with an amount of 62 s century^–1. The brightnesses both at minima and maxima are changing with time. It seems that the variations of the brightnesses at mid-primary and second quarter are similar, but at second first quarters are opposite to each other. We believe that these variations are mainly related with the spots (or spot groups) located on the surface of the component star which is in front during the primary minimum. We also estimate the period of the spot activity cycle to be approximately six years.     

Photometric calibration of the CCD camera of 1-m telescope at VBO

Calibration of the CCD camera of the 1m telescope at the Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur, to theB V R system is reported here based on the observations of stars in the ‘dipper asterism’ in the open cluster M 67 (NGC 2682). Transformations involvingB andV have negligible colour terms, while those involvingR are slightly colour dependent. The possibility of using scaled-downR band fluxes to estimate the continuum flux at Hα is investigated by comparing the counts inR band with those through an interference filter centred at Hα. The scaling factor is found to remain constant over a wide range of colours. The sensitivity of the telescope-filter-CCD combination is estimated to be 2.0 per cent, 8.3 per cent and 9.7 per cent inB, V andR bands, respectively. The star F117 appears to be a small-amplitude (∼ 0.05 mag) variable.     

The very short period W UMa system V 1022 Ophiuchi

Photoelectric light curves of V1022 Oph inB andV are presented. It has been confirmed that it is a W UMa type eclipsing binary with one of the shortest periods known (P<0.^d25). Some general properties of the system have been derived.Based on observations made at the European Southern Observatory (La Silla/Chile)     

BV 690, a new bright Type II Cepheid

B andV observations of the suspected variable BV 690 = NSV 04298 are reported. The star shows light variations with a period of l^d.2400 and with amplitudes of 0^m.27, 0^m.36 and 0^m.11 inV, B, andB-V respectively. The light curves show steeper rise than decline, and there is evidence for the presence of a bump in the descending branch around the phase of 0.35. From considerations of the period, spectral type, presence of the bump and high tangential velocity we conclude that BV 690 belongs to the BL Herculis class of Typen Cepheids     

GW Cephei,A W UMa type system

Photoelectric light curves inB andV are presented for GW Cep. The light elements (P=0^d.319) have been refined. Orbital elements have been determined according to the Russell-Merrill method. They show great similarity with those of at least four other well known W UMa systems, e.g. W UMa itself. The similarities of that group are discussed.