A photometric light variation and a 1500 days secondary period in the W UMa system TZ bootis

Photoelectric observations of the eclipsing variable TZ Bootis, obtained in 1983 and 1986, in the two coloursB andV are presented: They are compared with the previous light curves of the system. The light curve changes show that the system TZ Bootis has a solar-like activity cycle with a period of 1500 days. The primary shows a transit, whereas the secondary shows an occultation minima. The maxima exhibit a large difference suggesting a large complication in the system. The (O-C) trend indicates that the period did not remain constant; a satisfactory representation of all the observed time of minimum light was obtaiend assuming a linear trend in the (O-C)s. The star may be classified to A-type W UMa systems.     

Photometric solution for the eclipsing binary system AO Camelopardalis

UBV light curves of AO Cam were analyzed with Wilson and Devinney's model. The system was found to be a contact configuration with a degree of overcontact of 1.4%. The mass ratio of the system is about 1.30, and the inclination is 75 _. ⁰ 9. The primary eclipse appears to be an occultation. Thus AO Cam has the characteristics of a W-type W UMa system. Its location in a period-spectral type diagram suggests that the system may be a zero-age contact system.     

Seven years photometry of the W UMa‐type eclipsing binary V2612 Oph

We present the first long‐term Johnson UBVR observations and comprehensive photometric analysis of the W UMa‐type eclipsing binary V2612 Oph. Observations in the time interval between 2003 and 2009 enabled us to reveal the seasonal and long‐term variations of the light curve. Hence, we found that the mean brightness level of the light curve shows a variation with a period of 6.7 years. Maximum and minimum brightness levels of the light curve exhibit a variation from year to year which we attribute to a solar‐like activity. The O – C variation of eclipse timings of the system shows a decreasing parabolic trend and reveals a period decrease at a rate of P = 6.27×10^‐7 day yr^‐1 with an additional low‐amplitude sinusoidal variation that has a similar period as the long‐term brightness variations. Our light curve analysis shows that the system is a W‐subtype W UMa eclipsing binary. We calculated masses and radii of the primary and secondary components as M₁ = 1.28 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.37 M_⊙ and R₁ = 1.31 R_⊙, R₂ = 0.75 R_⊙, respectively. The derived absolute photometric parameters allow us to calculate a distance of 140 pc, which confirms that the system is a foreground star in the sky field of the Galactic open cluster NGC 6633. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The round chroms of contact binaries

It is shown that the formation of a roundchrom, i.e. a common chromosphere,in W UMa type contact binaries is inevitable. The geometrical forms of roundchroms for ten contact binaries are obtained. For contact binaries the round-chroms of open type are predicted along with a possibility of outflow of round-chrom's gaseous matter from the outer Lagrangian point L₂. The main parameters of roundchroms, the electron concentration n _e, efficient emission volume V, power of emission in magnesium doublet 2800 MgII etc. are obtained for the ten contact binaries. The decrease of the mean electron concentration in roundchrom n _e with the increase of the intercomponent distance a is discovered: n _e ∼ a ^-1. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

New CCD photometry for the extreme lower mass-ratio binary AW Ursae Majoris

This paper presents charge-couple device (CCD) photometric observations for the eclipsing binary AW UMa. The V-band light curve in 2007 was analyzed using the 2003 version of the Wilson–Devinney code. It is confirmed that AW UMa is a total eclipsing binary with a higher degree of contact f=80.2% and a lower mass ratio of q=0.076. From the (O−C) curve, the orbital period shows a continuous period decrease at a rate of dP/dt=−2.05×10⁻⁷ d yr⁻¹. The long-term period decrease suggested that AW UMa is undergoing the mass transfer from the primary component to the secondary one, accompanied by angular momentum loss due to mass outflow L ₂. Weak evidence indicates that there exists a cyclic variation with a period of 17.6 yr and a small amplitude of A=0. ^d 0019, which may be attributed to the light-time effect via the third body. If the existence of an additional body is true, it may remove a great amount of angular momentum from the central system. For this kind of contact binary, as the orbital period decreases, the shrinking of the inner and outer critical Roche lobes will cause the contact degree f to increase. Finally, this kind of binary will merge into a single rapid-rotation star.     

New absolute magnitude calibrations for WUrsa Majoris type binaries

Parallaxes of W UMa stars in the Hipparcos catalogue have been analyzed. 31 W UMa stars, which have the most accurate parallaxes (σ_π /π < 0.15) which are neither associated with a photometric tertiary nor with evidence of a visual companion, were selected for re‐calibrating the Period‐Luminosity‐Color (PLC) relation of W UMa stars. Using the Lutz‐Kelker (LK) bias corrected (most probable) parallaxes, periods (0.26 < P < 0.87, P in days), and colors (0.04 < (B – V)₀ < 1.28) of the 31 selected W UMa, the PLC relation have been revised and re‐calibrated. The difference between the old (revised but not bias corrected) and the new (LK bias corrected) relations are almost negligible in predicting the distances of W UMa stars up to about 100 pc. But, it increases and may become intolerable as distances of stars increase. Additionally, using (J – H)₀ and (H – K_s)₀ colors from 2MASS (TwoMicron All Sky Survey) data, a PLC relation working with infrared data was derived. It can be used with infrared colors in the range –0.01 < (J – H)₀ < 0.58, and –0.10 < (H – K_s)₀ < 0.18. Despite of the fact that the 2MASS data refer to single epoch observations which are not guaranteed to be taken at maximum brightness of theWUMa stars, the established relation has been found surprisingly consistent and reliable in predicting LK corrected distances of W UMa stars (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

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.     

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)     

Photoelectric study of AW UMa

UBV photoelectric photometry of the eclipsing binary system AW UMa has been presented. A slightly improved period of 0 _. ^d 4387304 has been given. The colour of the system has been discussed. Eccentricity is present in the system. Light and colour curves show that intrinsic light variations may be present in the system. The presence of mass transfer is a possibility.     

Optimal set of photometric elements of the eclipsing variable TZ Bootis

The eclipsing system of W UMa-type TZ Bootis has been examined on the basis of six light curves analyzed by the means of the Fourier techniques. An optimal resulting set of geometric elements for the system is obtained from both minima, through there magnitudes variations during the periods 1967, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1978, and 1980.The intrinsic variability of the system has been discussed in the light of the behaviour of the light curves.     

A photometric study of BO Canum Venaticorum

Photometric BV light curves of BO CVn obtained in 1992 and new times of minima are presented. The primary minimum shows a transit, whereas the secondary minimum, shows an occultation. The system may be classified as an A‐type W UMa system. A complete study of minima allows one to detect a possibly increasing period by about 0.037 s/yr. This indicates that the conservative mass transfer rate from the less massive component to the more massive one is 1.57 10^—10M_⊙ /yr. Because of the variable period, the new ephemeris is determined for future observations. Using the Wilson‐Devinney code a simultaneous solution of the B and V light curves is also performed. The analysis shows that the system is in a contact configuration with q = 0.205 ± 0.001 and fillout factor (f) = 0.18, T₁ = 7240 K (fixed), T₂ = 7150± 10 K. The high orbital inclination i = 87°.54 ± 0.26 was con firmed by photometric observations of the secondary minimum.     

Photometric analysis of recently discovered eclipsing binary GSC 00008-00901

Photometric analysis of BVR _C light curves of newly discovered eclipsing binary GSC 0008-00901 is presented. The orbital period is improved to 0.28948(11) days. Photometric parameters are determined as well. The analysis yielded to conclusion that system is an over-contact binary of W UMa type with components not in thermal contact. The light curves from 2005 show the presence of a spot on the surface of one of the components, while light curves from 2006 are not affected by maculation.     

Biperiodic orbital period modulation of the W UMa binary system CK Bootis

A study of the orbital period variation of the W UMa system CK Bootis is made using an extended observational time base. The biperiodicity of the orbital period modulation is emphasized. Both detected periodicities (24.14 yr and 10.62 yr) cannot be explained through the light-time effect unless the companion would be a white dwarf as suggested by other authors, too. Moreover, we also argue that, nowadays at least, it seems that there is no causal relation between the orbital period variation and the recently discovered visual companion. Consequently, we infer that at least one of the two periodicities may be related to the magnetic activity cycles in the component stars of CK Boo, while the other periodicity could be related to the presence of a fourth companion in the system.     

Analysis of the properties of galaxy clusters in the Leo supercluster region

We analyze the properties of galaxy clusters in the region of the Leo supercluster using observational data from the SDSS and 2MASS catalogs. We have selected 14 galaxy clusters with a total dynamical mass of 1.77 × 10¹⁵ M _⊙ in the supercluster region 130 by 60 Mpc in the plane of the sky (z ≃ 0.037). The composite luminosity function of the supercluster is described by a Schechter function with parameters that, within the error limits, correspond to field galaxies and does not differ from the luminosity function of the richer Ursa Major (UMa) supercluster for the same luminosity range (the bright end). The luminosity functions of early-type and late-type galaxies in Leo at the faint end are characterized by a sharp decrease (α = −0.60±0.08) and a steep increase (α = −1.44± 0.10) in the number of galaxies, respectively. In the virialized cluster regions, the fraction of early-type galaxies selected by the u-r color, bulge contribution, and concentration index among the galaxies brighter than M _K ^* + 1 is, on average, 62%. This fraction is smaller than that in the UMa supercluster at a 2–3σ level. The near-infrared luminosities of galaxy clusters down to a fixed absolute magnitude correlate with their masses almost in the same way as for other samples of galaxy clusters (L _200,K ∝ M ₂₀₀^0.63±0.11)).     

Ultraviolet light curves of V535 Arae

Observations of V535 Ara obtained with IUE define the light curve of this long-period W UMa binary in the ultraviolet and let us estimate its gravity darkening. This star was chosen as a contact binary near the high-T _eff limit for convection. The ultraviolet colours and spectral type correspond to (B–V)₀=0.24, or A8V, and imply the star should have very little residual convection in its envelope. The gravity darkening thus ought to be large, as in a radiative star, unless it is modified by circulation in the common envelope, or unless all stars this warm are convective. The light-curve analysis is complicated by a long-term wave that depresses the orbital phases before and after secondary eclipse. We have obtained four solutions to a combination of optical and ultraviolet light curves, two for high, radiative gravity darkening and two for low, convective gravity darkening. For each value of the gravity-darkening exponent, we let the larger, more massive binary component either (a) have a dark spot in its back side or (b) have an excessively hot side facing its companion. The light curves were fitted equally well in all four cases; however, in all but the one with low-gravity darkening and a hot inner face there was a rather large global temperature difference between the two stars. The primary component of this system appears to be significantly undermassive for its spectral type, more so than the primary in AW UMa, but this probably results simply from systematic errors in a radial-velocity solution by Schöffel. It is suggested that the W UMa binaries are found only at spectral types later than about A8 because their outer envelopes must be convective to transfer luminosity.     

Detection of a coherent oscillation with a 769.63-s period in the intermediate polar EI UMa (PG 0834+488)

Recently, it has been shown that the cataclysmic variable EI UMa should be attributed to intermediate polars on the basis of its X-ray spectrum. However, no short-period oscillations with a high degree of coherence typical of intermediate polars could be detected in this star. Therefore, it was suggested to call it a “hidden” intermediate polar. Using a multichannel photometer and a 70-cm telescope, we performed observations of EI UMa for 60 h. Analysis of the observations has clearly revealed a brightness oscillation with a period of 769.63±0.10 s and a mean semiamplitude of 0_· ^m 008 completely coherent during one month of our observations that was detectable during each of the 13 observing nights. On the basis of this detection, EI UMa should be considered a classical intermediate polar rather than a hidden one. In addition, we have managed to detect the orbital variability of EI UMa for the first time. The orbital light curve is extremely interesting, showing evidence of partial eclipses of the accretion flow.     

The K spectral type contact binary NSVS 1557555: Photometric solution and preliminary elements

We present the first CCD sets of complete light curves for the W Ursae Majoris system NSVS 1557555.The observations were performed in the B, V and I_c bands using the 0.25  m telescope of the Stazione Astronomica Betelgeuse Northern Italy, during 8 nights in October and November 2016.Based on our new eleven Time of Minima (ToM), and two recent ones found in bibliography, the short orbital period of the system is confirmed and revised to P = 0.2725163 days .A reasonable fit of the synthetic light curves of the data indicate that NSVS 1557555 is a late-type (K1+K3) shallow contact binary system of W-Subtype of the W Ursae Majoris systems, with a mass ratio of q = 1.8, a degree of contact factor f = 12.5%, a temperature difference between the components of 240K and inclination i = 85°.The light curves show asymmetries at the maxima with the maximum at phase 0.75 higher the other one (inverse O’Connell effect).To explain the light asymmetries we used a model that involves an hot spotted region on the surface of the cooler star.The definitive solution is only possible with a large amount of third light (L₃ = 0.58 in B Filter). It may come from a hot tertiary component.The absolute dimensions of the system are estimated. From the logM-logL diagram it is seen that both components of NSVS 1557555 follow the general pattern of the W subtype W Ursae Majoris systems.The orbital angular momentum is compared with those of other W UMa type binaries and is normal.     

Analysis of the properties of clusters of galaxies in the region of the Ursa Major supercluster

We analyze the properties of the clusters of galaxies in the region of the Ursa Major (UMa) supercluster using observational data from SDSS and 2MASS catalogs. The region studied includes a supercluster (with a galaxy and cluster overdensity of 3 and 15, respectively) and field clusters inside the 150-Mpc diameter surrounding region. The total dynamical mass of 10 clusters of galaxies in UMa is equal to 2.25 × 10¹⁵ M _⊙, and the mass of 11 clusters of galaxies in the UMa neighborhood is equal to 1.70 × 10¹⁵ M _⊙. The fraction of early-type galaxies brighter than M _K ^* + 1 in the virialized regions of clusters is, on the average, equal to 70%, and it is virtually independent on the mass of the cluster. The fraction of these galaxies and their average photometric parameters are almost the same both for UMa clusters and for the clusters located in its surroundings. Parameters of the clusters of galaxies, such as infrared luminosities up to a fixed magnitude, the mass-to-luminosity ratio, and the number of galaxies have almost the same correlations with the cluster mass as in other samples of galaxies clusters. However, the scatter of these parameters for UMa member clusters is twice smaller than the corresponding scatter for field clusters, possibly, due to the common origin of UMa clusters and synchronized dynamical evolution of clusters in the supercluster.     

The Photometric Observations and the Light Curve Analysis of U Pegasi

The system of U Pegasi was observed photometrically in B and V filtersin 1998 at Birouni Observatory, University of Shiraz, Iran. Two Lightcurves were obtained and have been analyzed separately of Wilson-Devinneycode. New geometrical and physical elements for the system are given. Theabsolute dimensions of the binary have been derived by combining thephotometric solution with spectroscopic data of the system. The lightcurves analysis indicate that U peg is an overcontact W UMa system with Wtype components which fill their corresponding Roche lobe. The resultsobtained in this study indicate that U Peg may be lied on main sequencewith estimated masses of 0.565 M and 0.362 M .