A photometric study of the short-period eclipsing binary 1SWASP J204932.94-654025.8, showing strong third light

1SWASP J204932.94-654025.8 (hereafter J2049) is a newly discovered eclipsing binary system with an orbital period of 0.2299103 days. BVR_c light curves (LCs) are presented and analyzed by using the 2013 version of the Wilson–Devinney (W–D) program. Because the observed LCs are asymmetric, a hot star-spot was employed on the secondary component during our analysis. We found that J2049 is a W-subtype shallow contact eclipsing binary system with an orbit inclination of 62^∘.69 ± 0^∘.95 and a mass ratio of q =1.326 ± 0.056. More importantly, we found the presence of a strong third light, with an average luminosity contribution of 31.3% of the total light. Based on times of the light minima, the orbital period changes of J2049 are studied for the first time, and there is no evidence for any significant dp/dt now. Considering the presence of the third light and the short time span of the eclipse times, more observations are needed in the future.     

VRI photometry and light curve analysis of short period W UMa-Type 1SWASP J222514.69 + 361643.0

We present the first light curve analysis and modeling for the short period close binary 1SWASP J222514.69 + 361643.0. The results show that the system is in over contact with factor ƒ = 53%. The primary component is the massive and hotter one. The system is A-subtype W UMa eclipsing binary with spectral types K2 and K3, respectively.     

Photometric study of three ultrashort-period contact binaries

We carried out high-precision photometric observations of three eclipsing ultrashort-period contact binaries (USPCBs). Theoretical models were fitted to the light curves by means of the Wilson-Devinney code. The solutions suggest that the three targets have evolved to a contact phase. The photometric results are as follows: (a) 1SWASP?J030749.87?365201.7, \(q=0.439\pm0.003\), \(f=0.0\pm3.6\%\); (b) 1SWASP?J213252.93?441822.6, \(q=0.560\pm0.003\), \(f=14.2\pm1.9\%\); (c) 1SWASP?J200059.78+054408.9, \(q=0.436\pm0.008\), \(f=58.4\pm1.8\%\). The light curves show O’Connell effects, which can be modeled by the assumed cool spots. The cool spots models are strongly supported by the night-to-night variations in the \(I\)-band light curves of 1SWASP?J030749.87?365201.7. For a comparative study, we collected the whole set of 28 well-studied USPCBs with \(P < 0.24\) day. Thus, we found that most of them (17 of 28) are in shallow contact (i.e. fill-out factors \(f<20\%\)). Only four USPCBs have deep fill-out factors (i.e. \(f>50\%\)). Generally, contact binaries with deep fill-out factors are going to merge, but it is believed that USPCBs have just evolved to a contact phase. Hence, the deep USPCB 1SWASP?J200059.78+054408.9 seems to be a contradiction, making it very interesting. Particularly, 1SWASP?J030749.87?365201.7 is a zero contact binary in thermal equilibrium, implying that it should be a turn-off sample as predicted by the thermal relaxation oscillation (TRO) theory.     

Kottamia 74-inch telescope discovery of the new eclipsing binary KAO-EGYPT J225702.44+523222.1.: First CCD photometry and light curve analysis

We present the first multicolor CCD photometry for the newly discovered binary system KAO-EGYPT J225702.44+523222.1. New times of light minimum and new ephemeris were obtained. The VR I light curves were analyzed using WD code, the difference in maximum light at phase 0.25 is modeled with a cool spot on the secondary component. The solution show that the system is A-subtype, overcontact binary with fill-out factor = 42% and low mass ratio, q = 0.275. The two components of spectral types K0 and K1 and the primary component is the massive one. The position of both components on the M-L and M–R relations revealed that the primary component is a main sequence star while the secondary is an evolved component.     

RV Piscium: a marginal contact binary system

The first complete charge-coupled device (CCD) light curves in B and V bands of the short-period binary system, RV Psc, are presented. It is found that the light curves of RV Psc are symmetric and belong to the EW type rather than the EA type as described in the 4th edition of the GCVS. Photometric solutions were derived by using the 2003 version of the Wilson–Devinney (W-D) method. It is shown that RV Psc is a marginal contact system (f=5.8%±6.6%) with a mass ratio of q=0.5978±0.0096. The temperature difference between both components is only 17 K. Analysis of the O-C curve suggests that the period of RV Psc shows a long-term continuous decrease at a rate of dP/dt=?5.89×10^?8 days/year. The long-time period decrease, the marginal-contact configuration, and the astrophysical parameters of the binary system, all suggest that it is a newly formed marginal contact binary from a case A mass transfer and will evolve into a normal overcontact binary.     

Absolute and geometric parameters of the W UMa‐type contact binary V404 Pegasi

We present the results of our investigation of the geometrical and physical parameters of the W UMa‐type binary V404 Peg from analysis of CCD (BVRI) light curves and radial velocity data. The photometric data were obtained during 2010 at Ankara University Observatory (AUO). Light and radial velocity observations were analyzed simultaneously by using the well‐known Wilson‐Devinney (2007 revision) code to obtain absolute and geometrical parameters. Our solution indicates that V404 Peg is an A‐type overcontact binary with a mass ratio of q = 0.243 and an overcontact degree of f = 32.1 %. Combining our light curves with the radial velocity curves from Maciejewski & Ligeza (2004), we determined the absolute parameters of this system as follows: a = 2.672 R_⊙, M₁ = 1.175 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.286 M_⊙, R₁ = 1.346 R_⊙, and R₂ = 0.710 R_⊙. Finally, we discuss the evolutionary condition of the system (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

First multi-color photometric investigation of the shortest-period semi-detached binary SWASPJ222302.02+195031.8

SuperWASPJ222302.02+195031.8 is an eclipsing binary with an orbital period about 0.22517657 days that is close to the short-period limit of contact binaries. Multi-color photometric light curves of the short-period binary in B, V, R_c and I_c bands are presented and analyzed by using the Wilson–Devinney (W–D) method. It is discovered that the system is a semi-detached binary where the secondary component is already filling the critical Roche lobe, while the primary is filling just 77.1% of its Roche lobe. The temperature of the primary is about 4300 K, and the temperature difference between the two components is about 500 K. The asymmetries in the light curves are explained by the coverage of stellar dark spots on the less massive component via magnetic activity. An analysis of all available eclipse times suggests that there are no any changes in the O-C diagram. This may indicate that there are no mass transfers between the two components. The semi-detached configuration with the dark spot on the surface of the lobe-filling secondary and no variations in the orbital period make the binary an interesting target for further investigations.     

Photometric analysis of the eclipsing binary 2MASS 19090585+4911585

We report on observations of the eclipsing binary 2MASS 19090585+4911585 with the 25 cm auxiliary telescope of the University Observatory Jena. We show that a nearby brighter star (2MASS 19090783+4912085) was previously misclassified as the eclipsing binary and find 2MASS 19090585+4911585 to be the true source of variation. We present photometric analysis of VRI light curves. The system is an overcontact binary of W UMa type with an orbital period of (0.288374 ± 0.000010) d (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Photometric Studies of Twelve Deep, Low-mass Ratio Overcontact Binary Systems

The formations of the blue straggler stars and the FK Com-type stars are unsolved problems in stellar astrophysics. One of the possibilities for their formations is from the coalescence of W UMa-type overcontact binary systems. Therefore, deep (f > 50%), low-mass ratio (q < 0.25) overcontact binary stars are a very important source to understand the phenomena of Blue Straggler/FK Com-type stars. Recently, 12 W UMa-type binary stars, FG Hya, GR Vir, IK Per, TV Mus, CU Tau, V857 Her, V410 Aur, XY Boo, SX CrV, QX And, GSC 619-232, and AH Cnc, were investigated photometrically. Apart from TV Mus, XY boo, and GSC 619-232, new observations of the other 9 binaries were obtained. Complete light curves of the 10 systems, FG Hya, GR Vir, IK Per, TV Mus, CU Tau, V857 Her, GSC 619-232, V410 Aur, XY Boo, and AH Cnc, were analyzed with the 2003 version of the W-D code. It is shown that all of those systems are deep (f > 50%), low-mass ratio (q < 0.25) overcontact binary stars. We found that the system GSC 619-232 has the highest degree of overcontact (f = 93.4%). The derived photometric mass ratio of V857 Her, q = 0.0653, indicates that it is the lowest-mass ratio system among W UMa-type binaries.Of the 12 sample stars, long-term period changes of 11 systems were found. About 58% (seven) of the sample binaries show cyclic period oscillation. No cyclic period changes were discovered for the other 5 systems, which may be caused by the short observational time interval or by insufficient observations. Therefore, we think that all W UMa-type binary stars may contain cyclic period variations. By considering the long-term period changes (both increase and decrease) of those binary stars, we proposed two evolutionary scenarios evolving from deep, low-mass ratio overcontact binaries into Blue Straggler/FK Com-type stars.     

New CCD photometry and light curve analysis of two WUMaBinaries: 1SWASP J133417.80+394314.4 and V2790 Orion

We present a new multicolor CCD photometry and light curve analysis of two eclipsing binary systems, 1SWASP J133417.80 + 394314.4 and V2790 Orion. The photometric solutions for both binaries were carried out using the updated version of the Wilson– Devinney code. The results showed that first systems is A- type W UMa with mass ratios q = 0.158 while the second system is W- type with q = 3.2. The systems show over contact configuration with fill-out factors of f = 43% and 14% respectively. We calculated the orbital and absolute physical parameters for both systems and investigated their evolutionary state.     

New CCD photometry of the eclipsing binary system V1067 Her

We present a new set of CCD photometric observations for the short period eclipsing binary 1SWASP J1743 (= V1067 Her). We have determined the available times of light minima and two new linear and quadratic ephemerides have been obtained. The photometric solutions for the system have been performed using Wilson and Devinney Code. The 3D and fill out configuration revealed that V1067 Her is an over contact W UMa binary with relatively low fill-out factor of about 16%.We investigated the period variation for the system. It showed a strong evidence of period changes by using the (O-C) residual diagram method and we have concluded long-term orbital period decrease rate dP/dt= −3.0 × 10⁻⁷ d/yr, corresponding to a time scale 8.6 × 10⁵ yr. Such period decrease in the A-type W UMa systems is usually interpreted to be due to mass transfer from the more to the less massive component.     

First photometric investigation of two short-period eclipsing binaries NSVS 7377756 and for UCAC3 276-106147

We present the first CCD sets of complete light curves for two W Ursae Majoris Systems, UCAC3 276-106147 and NSVS 7377756. These light curves are here analyzed and modelled using the latest version of the Wilson-Devinney Code. We found that UCAC3 276-106147 is a W-subtype shallow-contact eclipsing binary (fill-out factor 7.5%), with a mass ratio of q = 2.88 (1/q = 0.347), a small temperature difference between the components of about ΔT =200K. NSVS 7377756 is an H-subtype binary system with a high mass ratio of q = 1.09 (1/q = 0.947), a weak degree of contact factor f = 3.8% and a temperature difference between the components of ΔT = 398 K. The light curves of both the systems appear to be unspotted. By using our 4 and 7 times of minimum light and the 30 and 104 ToMs extract from the SWASP observations, respectively for UCAC3 276-106147 and NSVS 7377756, the orbital periods are here revised. The elements obtained from this analysis are used to compute the physical parameters of the systems combining our photometric solution with the 3-D correlation obtained for contact binaries by Gazeas (2009). Based on these estimated parameters the evolutionary state of the components of the systems is investigated and discussed.     

A photometric study of the W UMa-type binary DF Canum Venaticorum

We present new photometric observations for the eclipsing binary DF CVn, and determined five light minimum times. By using the Wilson–Devinney code, two sets of photometric solutions were deduced from our observations in 2009. The asymmetric light curves obtained on 2009 March 5 were modeled by a dark spot on the more massive component. The results indicate that DF CVn is a W-type weak-contact binary, with a mass ratio of q ～ 0.28 and an overcontact degree of f ～ 20%. From the O ? C curve of minimum times, it is found that there exists a cyclic variation, whose period and semi-amplitude are P₃ = 17.2(±0.9) year and A = 0.^d0070(±0.^d0008), respectively. This kind of cyclic oscillation may possibly result from the light-time effect due to the presence of an unseen third body. This kind of additional body may extract angular momentum from the central system. The low-amplitude changes of the light curves on a short-time scale (e.g., half a month) may be attributed to the dark spot activity, which may result in angular momentum loss via magnetic breaking. With angular momentum loss, the weak-contact binary DF CVn will evolve into a deep-contact configuration.     

The first CCD photometric analysis and modeling for short period eclipsing binary system 1SWASPJ210423.7+073140.4.

We present the first light curve analysis of the new eclipsing binary of WUMa type 1SWASP J2104. A detailed photometric analysis was carried out in VRI bands using the most recent version of Wilson–Devinney (WD) code. The absolute physical parameters of the system were obtained and the previously determined period was confirmed. The evolution state shows that the primary component is slightly evolved above the ZAMS track while the secondary is on TAMS track. Our results show that the spectral types of the primary and secondary stars of the studied system are K4 and K5, respectively. The distance to 1SWASP J2104 was calculated to be 307 ± 21pc.     

Photometry of the contact binary system V471 Cas

UBV photoelectric observations of the W UMa-type binary V471 Cas were made from September to November 1984. Its colour indices were found to be(B-V)=0 _. ^m 771±0 _. ^m 02 and(U-B)=0 _. ^m 196±0 _. ^m 02. TheU, B, andV light curves of V471 Cas show some photometric fluctuations. We found that its orbital period is not 0.335998 days which was given by GCVS (1986), but 0.405356 days.Photometric orbital elements of V471 Cas were found using the Wilson-Devinney method. V471 Cas is a contact system, in which the overcontact factor is 0.19, its mass ratio of two components is 0.5947, and orbital minclination is in 83.29 degrees.     

Photometric Mass Ratios of Eclipsing Binary Stars

Following a brief history of measurement of eclipsing binary mass ratios from light curves, we show that photometric mass ratios for overcontact and semi-detached binaries are reliable because the relative stellar radii, R/a, are accurately measured and not, as commonly claimed, because of information in the light variation outside eclipse. We explore the accuracy of photometric mass ratios by solving synthetic data of typical precisions for a semi-detached and an overcontact binary for orbital inclinations from 89^∘ down into the partial eclipse range.     

UBV photometry of the WR binary CQ Cephei

Photoelectric observations of the WR binary CQ Cephei (WN6+O9) are presented. the depths of the eclipses in the light curves are best represented by an inclination of the orbit i = (68°.8±0.6) and the width of the very asymmetric eclipse curves can be represented by only an overcontact configuration (Ω₁ = Ω₂ = 3.65 ± 0.05, and f = 27%). Simultaneous solution of the light and radial velocity curves strongly supports CQ Cep's membership of the Cep OB1 association. By considering this membership we obtained absolute dimensions of the system, which lead to a consistent physical model for CQ Cephei. The more luminous WR primary turns out to be the hotter but slightly less massive component: M_WR = 20.8 M⊙, R_WR = 8.2R⊙, T_eff(WR) = 43600 K, and M_o = 21.4 M⊙, R_o = 8.3 R⊙, T_eff(O) = 37000 K.     

First Ground-Based Photometry and Light Curve Analysis of the Recently Discovered Contact Binary Hx Uma

Photoelectric UBV light curves of the recently discovered eclipsing binary HX UMa were obtained and studied to determine the preliminary physical parameters of the system for the first time. The observations were taken at the TüBİTAK¹ – Turkish National Observatory (TUG) on three nights in April 2003. A simultaneous analysis of the light and radial velocity curves yields a typical A-type contact binary with a high degree of overcontact. The influence of the close visual companion to the total light of the system was taken into account during the analysis. ¹TüBİTAK: The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey.     

Kottamia 74-inch telescope discovery of the new eclipsing binary 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475.: First CCD photometry and light curve analysis

A CCD photometric study is presented for the eclipsing binary system 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475. Observations of the system were obtained in the V, R and I colours with the 2Kx2K CCD attached to 1.88 m Kottamia Optical Telescope. New times of light minimum and new ephemeris were obtained. The V, R and I light curves were analyzed using the PHOEBE 0.31 program to determine geometrical and physical parameters of the system. The results show that 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475, is A-Type WUMa and is an overcontact binary with high fill-out factor = 69%. The current evolutionary status of the system indicates that the primary component lies very close to the main sequence while the secondary is evolved. The asymmetric maxima were studied and a modeling of the hot spot parameters is given.     

An updated period analysis for ER Orionis: A definitive solution

An updated period analysis for the overcontact eclipsing binary ER Orionis is presented. Featured is an improved derivation of parameters for the light time effect (LTE) due to the third star (in actuality, a pair of stars) utilising the latest set of eclipse timings. The very good fit between the eclipse timing differences (ETD) plot (otherwise known as an O–C diagram) and the theoretical ETD curve makes possible an improved determination of the rate of mass interchange between the binary pair, dm₁/dt = +1.83(6) × 10⁻⁷ M_ʘ/year. In addition, the mass of the companion system (in actuality, m₃ sin i) and the elements of its orbit were computed. A suggestion is made for a method of future determination of the inclination of the orbit of the companion system.