The intriguing orbital period variability of Y Leonis

The orbital period variation of the oEA system Y Leo is revised by taking into account new times of minimum light covering an extended time base of 101.8 yr. A multiperiodic ephemeris was finally established by carefully approaching the problem of periodicity detection for the considered periodic components. A method relying on Monte Carlo simulations was applied. The problem of the long-term behaviour of the O–C curve was taken into account using parabolic, and parabolic + periodic ephemerides. The physical interpretation of the mathematical models describing both long- and short-term behaviour of the O–C curve was performed by considering different mechanisms: the conservative mass transfer, the light-time effect, and the orbital period modulation through the cyclic magnetic activity of the late spectral type secondary component in the system. The consequences of these interpretations are rather intriguing and emphasize the need of new and detailed observational studies on Y Leo.     

A study on the O–C diagram and pulsation behaviour of KZ Hydra

New differential time-series observations of KZ Hya were secured using the V filters, and 28 new times of light maximum were identified. We collected 157 times of light maximum from the literature, unpublished data and open database, and proceeded to investigate the variations of the O–C values for light maxima with the total of 185 times of light maximum. A quasi-sinusoidal character of the O–C diagram was confirmed, and this was interpreted as a light travelling time effect due to a companion moving in an eccentric (e=0.23) orbit with a period of about 24.77 years. The periods of KZ Hya were investigated and nine frequencies were determined using the Fourier decomposition method. All nine were harmonic frequencies and no other frequency was identified.     

The multi-band CCD photometric investigation of short-period eclipsing binary V1044 Her

We present new CCD photometric observations of V1044 Her obtained on May 22, 23 and 24, 2015. From our data, we derived five new light curve minimum times. Combining our new results with previously available CCD light minimum times, we derived an updated ephemeris and discovered that the period of this binary system exhibits an oscillation. The cyclic variation may be caused by the light-time effect via the presence of a third body or magnetic activity cycle. We calculated the corresponding period of the third body to be 14.1 ± 1.4 years or magnetic cycle to be 12.2 ± 0.7 years. We analyzed our new asymmetric light curves to obtain photometric solutions and starspot parameters using the Wilson and Devinney program. The final results show that V1044 Her is a contact binary system with a degree of contact factor f = 3.220( ± 0.002)%.     

The Eccentric Eclipsing Binary V889 Aquilae

Several new times of minimum light recorded with photoelectric or CCD means have been gathered for the eccentric eclipsing binary V889 Aql (P = 11.1 days, e = 0.37). Its O–C diagram is presented, and improved elements of the apsidal motion and the light-time effect (LITE) are given. We found a long apsidal motion period of about 24 400 ± 2400 years and a period of the third body of about 52 ± 2 years.     

Period studies of classical Algol-type binaries II: UX Leo,RW Mon,EQ Ori,XZ UMa and AX Vul

This study presents an investigation of the orbital period variations of five Algol type binaries, UX Leo, RW Mon, EQ Ori, XZ UMa and AX Vul based on all available minima times. The O–C diagrams of all systems exhibit a periodic variation superimposed on a downward parabolic segment. The mass loss due to magnetic braking effect in the cooler components is assumed to account for the parabolic variation with a downward shape, while it is suggested that the light-time effect (LITE) due to an unseen component around the eclipsing binaries explains the tilted sinusoidal changes in their O–C diagrams. The orbital period decrease rates for the systems are estimated as approximately between about 0.7 and 2.5 s per century. It is clearly seen that mass loss effect is more dominant than the expected mass transfer for classical Algols in this study. The minimum mass of the probable third bodies around the eclipsing pairs was calculated to be ?0.5 M_⊙ except for UX Leo, in which it was estimated to be approximately 0.9 M_⊙. In order to search for third lights in the light curves of five systems, the V-light curves of the systems were analyzed and their physical and photometric parameters were determined. For UX Leo, a significant third light contribution was determined. We found a very small third light that can be tested using multi-color light curves, for RW Mon, EQ Ori and XZ UMa, while a third light for AX Vul could not be exposed.     

The Period Variation of V839 Oph

In this study we present the results of the preliminary analysis of the period variation of V839 Oph based on the extensive series of minima times collected from the literature. The character of the (O–C) diagram can be approximated with a cyclic variation superimposed on a quadratic variation. The quadratic variation can be explained in terms of mass exchange/loss mechanism in the system, while the cyclic variation could be attributed to the light-time effect of a gravitationally bound third body to the system or the magnetic activity cycle of the primary component.     

Monitoring Possible Light-Time Effect in the Orbital Period of Some Eclipsing Binaries at the Ankara University Observatory

A significant number of close binaries are known to be members of physically bound triple or multiple star systems. The O – C analysis technique which is based on the minima times of an eclipsing binary can reveal the light-time effect due to the presence of gravitationally bound and generally unseen close component(s) in the system. In this study we present shortly the O – C analysis results based on the light-time effect possibilities for two of the eclipsing binaries observationally followed by our group; TZ Boo and CF Tau.     

Photometric and periodic investigations of W-type W UMa eclipsing binary BB Peg

In this study, photometry was conducted for the W UMa type eclipsing binary BB Peg through V and R Johnson filters during several nights in September and October 2016. The light curves were obtained at Dr. Mojtahedi Observatory, of the University of Birjand, Iran. Data reduction was performed using IRIS software. Orbital parameters were obtained by analyzing the light curves using PHOEBE software. The radial velocity information was then used to obtain the absolute parameters of the system. Some minimum light times were obtained forthe system and variations in the orbital period of BB Peg were analyzed by adding the new minimum light times to the O-C diagram to obtain a new ephemeris for the system. The period change appeared to be due to the light-time effect. A justifiable fit was obtained using the third and fourth stars. However, this fit was not confirmed and it may need revision when further data are obtained. The variation could be attributed to other sources, such as magnetic cycles or non-conservative mass transfer from the system.     

The (O–C) diagram problem of triple pre-cataclysmic system V471 Tau solved

V471 Tau was discovered as a spectroscopic binary by Wilson (General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities, p. 44, 1953). It is the prototype of a post-common envelope system and a progenitor of a cataclysmic binary. The system consists of a cool red dwarf, K2 V, very probably a main sequence star and a hot white dwarf. The object was classified as a close binary with an orbital period of around 0.5 days. Moreover, on the light curve are observed light variations with a period of 191 days, which are connected with an ellipsoidal shape of the red dwarf as well as with the migration of spots on the surface of this cool component. The eclipse of the white dwarf in the binary remains 49 minutes and declines to the minimum and the increase from the minimum takes only 55 s. Such photometric behaviour hinders obtaining good eclipses. In this paper we have obtained during four years seven eclipses with high time resolution with all four contacts to reach precise times of minima. Fortunately these times of the minima show a change of trend in the (O–C) diagram, and we were able to decide about the physical processes responsible for the behaviour of the (O–C) diagram. We showed that this behaviour is caused by a third body in the system with an orbital period of 33.2 years, and its physical and geometrical parameters are presented. For an inclination larger than 35° we get the mass of this body below the stable hydrogen-burning limit and thus most probably the candidate would be a brown dwarf.     

Light-Time Effect in the Eclipsing Binaries GO Cyg, GW Cep, AR Aur and V505 Sgr

Orbital period changes of the eclipsing binaries GO Cyg and GW Cep are explained by the light-time effect for the first time. New minima of the eclipsing binary AR Aur improve the predicted light-time orbit. The light-time orbit with the quadratic ephemeris of the binary matches the new observations of V505 Sgr better than the linear one. As the light-time effect fits in corresponding O − C diagrams of all four systems have been reaching extreme values, the observations of minima times in forthcoming years are highly desirable.     

Light‐time effect in the eclipsing binary system AM Leonis

We report four new times of minimum light and the improved ephemeris for the well known contact binary AM Leo. The O‐C diagram, constructed with all reliable timings found in the literature was analyzed and the the light‐time effect in the system was confirmed. We found a periodicity of 44.82 years in the O‐C residuals with an amplitude of 0.0058 day. The periodic curve representing the O‐C values is asymmetric indicating a large eccentricity of 0.73 of the third body orbit. The mass of the third body is found to be 0.175 M_⊙ for the orbital inclination of the eclipsing pair's orbit. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The period variation of DY Hercules

In this paper the researchers collected 28 times of maximum light including 4 times of those observed at the Xinglong station, the National Astronomical Observation of China between May 27, 2004 and June 1, 2004 and 1 time of maximum light from a 60 cm telescope on May 4, 1984. It found that the O-C point distribution was more completely compared than in any papers published before. The period is decreasing at the rate of about (1.4±0.1)×10⁻⁸ per year, which should not be caused by stellar evolution. It might be only part of a binary orbital light-time variation or other unknown reason. The time scale is longer than Pocs and Szeidl’s suggestion; the star needs more observations before we can be certain of the exact light-time variation.     

Possible Light-Time Effect in the Eclipsing Binary System TY Boo

The O − C diagram for the eclipsing binary system TY Boo was constructed with the new minima times observed at the Ankara University Observatory along with the collected ones from the literature. The O − C diagram shows a cyclic variation superimposed on a quadratic variation. The quadratic variation can be explained in terms of mass loss/exchange mechanism in the system while the cyclic variation is attributed to a possible light-time effect caused by a third body revolving around the close binary.     

Eccentric Eclipsing Binary YY Sagittarii

Seven new precise times of minimum light have been gathered for the triple eccentric eclipsing binary YY Sgr (P = 2^d.63, e = 0.16). Its O--C diagram is presented and improved elements of the apsidal motion and the light-time effect are given. We found a new short period of the third body of about 18.5 years in an eccentric orbit (e ₃ ≃ 0.4).     

Differential Time-Series Photometry of A Distant Halo SX Phe Variable BQ Pisces

New differential time-series observations of the distant halo SX Phe variable BQ Psc are reported. We have determined 19 new times of maximum light. The observed minus calculated (O–C) analysis indicates that the period has been increasing with time. We also applied a Fourier decomposition to the data in order to determine the component frequencies of the synthetic light curve. The multiperiodicity of this variable star was not confirmed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Light-time effect in RT Persei

The minimum time residuals (O–C) of RT Persei, obtained by using all the times of minima is interpreted in terms of light-time effect, caused by the presence of two more distant components. This system possesses a third body of a mass of about 0.74M with 41.86 yr orbital period moving in an orbit of eccentricity equal to 0.3, while the hypothetical fourth body of an approximate mass of 0.59M moving with an orbital period of 100 years has an eccentricity equal to 0.6. The need to study this system astrometrically should be emphasized.     

Y Leonis: light curve solution revised and search for photometric variations of the primary minima

The interest in the study of the Algol binary system Y Leonis is justified not only by its light curve having a very deep primary minimum, and pulsating character of its primary component, but also by the complex behavior of its O–C curve which is featured by the presence of long and short time scale modulations. Taking into account the previously inferred K spectral type of the secondary component, one may expect that one of the involved periodicities could be related to magnetic cycles of this star. We gave the Wilson-Devinney solution of the eclipse light curve using our observational data obtained during 2009. The long- and short-term photometric variability of Y Leo is approached both through literature data and new CCD data. Even though these data are scarce, they revealed significant variability in the maximum and minimum brightness of this binary system at long time-scale. The nature of the rapid photometric variations during the deepest phase of primary minima can hardly be explained only by weak δ Scuti pulsations of the primary component which is still visible in partial eclipses.     

The new light curves and period study of AK Herculis

B andV observations of the W Ursae Majoris-type eclipsing variable system AK Her were made on five nights at the Ege University Observatory. Several times of minima were obtained during the observations and the new light elements were calculated. The light-time period was found to be about 75.72 years. The light curve of the system appears to change in each cycle for both colours. The secondary minimum of the system seems to be a total eclipse with a duration of about 42 ^m .5.     

Is KR Cygni a triple star system?

New multi-colour UBVR light curves of the eclipsing binary KR Cyg were obtained in 2005. Photometric solutions were derived using the Wilson-Devinney method. The result shows that KR Cyg is a near-contact binary system with a large effective temperature difference between the components, approximately 5230 K. All the times of minimum light were collected and combined with our observations obtained in 2010 and 2011. Analysing all the times of mid-eclipse, we found for the first time a possible periodic oscillation with an amplitude of 0.001 days and a period of ∼76 years. The periodic oscillation could be explained by the light-time effect due to a presumed third component.     

Third Body Problem in the Eclipsing Binary Star TV Cassiopeia

The aim of this work is to search for some evidences for the presence of unseen companion(s) in the eclipsing binary star TV Cassiopeia using its O—C diagram. Assuming that the light-time effect is responsible for the periodic components on the O—C diagram, the set of orbital parameters were derived using Irwin's (1959) method. The resulting orbital parameters and mass of the hypothetical third body are physically acceptable. Lacking other proofs of the third body presence, however, the hypothesis can be treated as a probable case only.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.