V792 Her=HD 155638: A totally eclipsing RS CVn binary

Photometry of HD 155638=V792 Her has been analyzed to determine the elements of this totally eclipsing RS CVn binary. The light variation outside eclipse was found to have a period of 27^d.07±0^d.07, which is slightly different from the 27^d.5384±0^d.0045 orbital period. Analysis of the eclipses was achieved by a modification of the Russell-Merrill technique. With the aid of radial velocity measures, absolute elements were obtained for the hot and cool stars, respectively;R _h=2.58R ,R _c=12.28R ,M _h=1.40M ,M _c=1.46M ,i=80^o.61 and velocity semi-amplitudesK _c=48.36 km s^–1±0.79 km s^–1, andK _h=50.50 km s^–1±0.33 km s^–1. The apparent magnitudes areV _h=9 ^m .73 andV _c=8 ^m .48. The distance to HD 155638 was estimated to be 310 parsecs.     

Spectral classification of Be stars

In the course of observations of the LMC with the Glazar space telescope it was found that the star HD 269665 is unusually bright at 1640 A:m ₁₆₄₀ = 5 _. ^m ± 0 _. ^m 1,m ₁₆₄₀ –V = –6 _. ^m 2.     

Photometric and Colorimetric Observations of Asteroid 423 Diotima and Their Analysis

Series of photometric and colorimetric observations of the Main-Belt asteroid 423 Diotima during its five oppositions were obtained at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. It was concluded, based on the results of a frequency analysis of the V-band photometry obtained in 1990, that the asteroid is a binary system: the rotation period of the primary component is equal to 4_. ^h56, and the period of rotation and the orbital period of the satellite are equal to 14_. ^h90. An analysis of simultaneous BV and BVR observations made in 1993 and 1998–1999 yielded a rotation period of 4_. ^h54 ± 0_. ^h01 for the primary component. An analysis of the sets of V-band observations of the asteroid made from 1982 through 2000 allowed us to find the period of forced precession, which was equal to 113^d (or 226^d). It was suggested that the axis of the primary component of the binary asteroid precesses and the large amplitude of brightness variations (about 1 ^m ) is due to its lenticular shape.     

The cosmic distance scale

Summary The status of the cosmic distance scale problem in early 1989 is reviewed. Internally consistent distances to Local Group galaxies are given in Tables 5 and 6. Within the Local Group the distance scale is found to be 11±5% smaller than that previously adopted by Sandage and Tammann. Distances to nearby galaxies are used as stepping stones to the Virgo cluster. The interpretation of the Tully-Fisher observations of Virgo spirals is found to be ambiguous because it is not yet clear which spirals are cluster members and which are background objects. Distance estimates of the Virgo cluster obtained by different techniques are listed in Table 11. The distance modulus of the Virgo cluster is found to be 31.5±0.2, corresponding to a distance of 20±2 Mpc. The elliptical galaxies in the core of the Virgo cluster haveV ₀=1200±46 kms^–1, which corresponds toV _LG=1082±48 km s^–1. With an infall velocity of 250±50 km s^–1 this yields a cosmological redshiftV=1332±69 km s^–1, from which a Hubble parameter H₀=67±8 km s^–1 Mpc^–1 is obtained. Space Telescope observations of distant Cepheids, Tully-Fisher observations of spirals in the Hercules eluster, and interference filter observations of Virgo planetary nebulae in the light of [O_III], should soon result in a major improvement in the accuracy with which H₀ is known.     

U - B - V photometry of the spectroscopic-visual triple HD 165590

HD 165590 is a visual binary (dG0 + dG5,P = 20 _. ^y 25,e = 0.96) whoseA component is an SB1 double (dG5 + dM:P = 0 _. ^d 88,e0.0). TheA pair (Aa +Ab) undergoes partial eclipses. PhotoelectricUBV photometry from Lines and one of the Automatic Photoelectric Telescopes, andV photometry from Scarfe are examined here. The data are from the 1977, 1984, 1985, and 1986 observing seasons. The non-eclipse light variations are analyzed with a FORTRAN program which does a sinusoidal curve fitvia least squares repeatedly to obtain the best period. Periods found from each observing season and passband are consistent with Boydet al. (1985): the greatest variations seem to be produced by a rotating (0 _. ^d 88), spotted, G0 star (theAa component). To the residuals from the first analysis a further curve fit is made to determine characteristics of the wave due to the ellipticity effect. An early limit on the spectral type of the unseenAb component, based on the primary eclpse depth and the upper limit on the depth of the unseen secondary eclipse, is K2. Eclipse depths and widths seen here suggest that theA pair's inclination = 74 _. ⁰ 9 ± 1⁰, close to theA +B inclination of 82 _. ⁰ 7 ± 2⁰ (Battenet al., 1979). TheA pair's orbital period does not appear to vary, appearing instead to be well-described by a new linear ephemeris (Hel. J.D. = 2443665.4568 + 0 _. ^d 8795045E) which does, however, take into account a variable light-travel-times as theA component orbits theA +B center of mass with a 20 _. ^y 25 period. The maximum light-travel-time O-C thus produced is + /–8 _. ^m 4 = + /–0 _. ^d 0059.     

The variability of the light curve of the WR-eclipsing binary CV serpentis

Two sets of observations of the WR-eclipsing binary CV Ser were carried out in 1982 and 1983 in the standard photometric systemUBV. Since 1982, the depth of the atmospheric eclipse has changed and does not show in theV data obtained in 1983. There is significant intrinsic variability (0 _. ^m 05) in the light curves of CV Ser over both sets of observations and it is suggested that this is due to the changing mass-loss rate from the envelope of the WC8 star on time-scales from days to months. The observed mass-loss rate can change the mass by some 10^–5 M y^–1. An orbital inclinationi=72±2° is obtained.     

Evolution of starspot regions in DM UMa

B andV photometry of DM UMa obtained between January, 1980 and June, 1984 is presented. Analysis yields a mean photometric period 7^d.478±0^d.010, compared to the known oribital period of 7^d.492±0^d.009. Light curves obtained during any two seasons do not agree in any of the following: shape, amplitude, phases of the light maxima and minima, mean light level, or brightness at the light maxima and minima. From the change inB-V over the photometric period, we concludethat the hemisphere visible during the light minimum is cooler than that seen during light maximum. The mean colorB-V=1^m.065±0^m.002 is consistent with K1 III or K2 IV. Phases of light minima lie on two well-separated groups with different slopes; the corresponding periods are 7^d.471±0^d.002 and 7^d.481±0^d.001, in dicating that both migrate linearly towards decreasing orbital phase. In terms of the starspot model this indicates that two respective centers of activity were situated at different longitudes and latitudes on a differentially rotating star. From circumstantial evidence we infer that the dark region seen from 1979 onwards disintegrated sometime between the 1982 and 1983 observing seasons, leaving behind an area of relatively high surface brightness. We can put a lower limit of about four years on the lifetime of a center of activity.     

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.     

Photo-electric study of the eclipsing binary RU Eridani

B andV observations of the eclipsing binary RU Eridani made on 23 nights during 1974–76 are reported. An improved period of 0^d.63219951 is derived. After rectification ofB andV light curves, new elements are derived using Russel-Merrill method. The system is classified as semidetached.     

VR c photometry of dwarf cepheids (I)

In this paper, we present VRc photometric observations of four dwarf cepheids: YZ Boo (P = 0 _. ^d 104, V = 0 _. ^m 5), AD CMi (P = 0 _. ^d 123, V = 0 _. ^m 5), XX Cyg (P = 0 _. ^d 135, V = 0 _. ^m 5), EH Lib (P = 0 _. ^d 088, V = 0 _. ^m 7). The light curves were obtained at West Mountain Observatory, Provo, Utah on 14 nights from 1983 through 1986 and contain 589 data points in each of theV andR bands in the Cousin photometric system. A detailed study of these stars, based on the present light curves, will be published separately.     

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.     

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.     

Photoelectric observations of the flare star BD + 55° 1823

A light variation in Johnson'sV-band of flare star EV Lac has been registered by Pettersen (1980). The cycle length was 4 _. ^d 378 with amplitude about 0 _. ^m 07. A Fourier analysis programme has been applied on our measured data of the flare star BD+55°1823 in Johnson'sV andB bands. A period of 16^d and amplitude of 0 _. ^m 14 have been detected in theV-band.     

Flare-associated high-speed solar plasma streams

Characteristics of flare-associated high-speed solar plasma streams are investigated using measurements from space probes and Earth-orbiting spacecraft for the period 1964–1982. The maximum observed velocity (V _m) of these streams range from 400 to 850 km s^–1} with peak probability for 600 km s^–1}. These remain for the period of 1–10 days with the peak occurrence 3 days. The difference between the pre-stream velocity (V ₀) and the maximum velocity (V _m) of any high-speed stream serves as the measure of its intensity. For about 60% of the flare associated streams, (V _m-V ₀) is well in excess of 200 km s^–1} and in some cases becomes as large as 450 km s^–1}. The yearly percentage occurrence, total duration and the product of mean (V _m - V ₀) with total duration of the high-speed streams during the year correlates well with solar activity, e.g., maximum during high solar activity period and minimum during low solar activity. The study suggests that presence of sunspots plays a significant role in the generation of flare associated high-speed solar streams.     

Phase Curve Changes and Humps in U Her

U Her is studied by using 5294 observations from the AFOEV database. The 4–th order trigonometric fit to the mean light curve corresponds to the period P = 406^d 30 ± 0^d 01. Long–term variations of P are detected. The characteristics of individual cycles are determined and the correlations between them are studied. The variations of the duration of the ascending branch are nearly compensated by the duration of the preceeding descending branch. Other non obvious correlations were found between the brightness at the maximum and the preceeding minimum; between the inverse slope of the light curve dt/dm and the corresponding time interval from the maximum to the crossings of the constant brightness 9^m5 for both ascending and descending branches. The time interval between the hump and the maximum is correlated with the value of dt/dm at the ascending branch.     

Energy spectrum and time variations of hard X-rays from Cyg X-1

Experimental results on the intensity, energy spectrum and time variations in hard X-ray emission from Cyg X-1 based on a balloon observation made on 1971, April 6 from Hyderabad (India) are described. The average energy spectrum of Cyg X-1 in the 22–154 keV interval on 1971 April 6 is best represented by a power law dN/dE=(5.41±1.53)E ^{–(1.92±0.10)} photons cm^–2s^–1 keV^–1 which is in very good agreement with the spectrum of Cyg X-1 derived from an earlier observation made by us on 1969 April 16 in the 25–151 keV band and given by dN/dE=(3.54±2.44)E ^{–(1.89±0.22)} photons cm^–2s^–1 keV^–1. A thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum fails to give a good fit over the entire energy range for both the observations. Comparison with the observations of other investigators shows that almost all balloon experiments consistently give a spectrum of E ^–2, while below 20 keV the spectrum varies fromE ^–1.7 toE ^–5. There is some indication of a break in the Cyg X-1 spectrum around 20 keV. Spectral analysis of data in different time intervals for the 1971 April 6 flight demonstrates that while the source intensity varies over time scales of a few minutes, there is no appreciable variation in the spectral slope. Analysis of various hard X-ray observations for long term variations shows that over a period of about a week the intensity of Cyg X-1 varies upto a factor of four. The binary model proposed by Dolan is examined and the difficulties in explaining the observed features of Cyg X-1 by this model are pointed out.     

NSV 01450: a New Bright Classical Cepheid in the Milky Way Field

Photometric data extracted from more than 5000 CCD observations of theMilky Way field star NSV 01450, with galactic co-ordinates l =145^°.9and b=4^° .9, show that this object is a bright classical Cepheid witha period of 12.639 ± 0.020 days and an average V magnitude of 11.045± 0.016. The computed colour excess is E(B-V)= 0.553± 0.056, yielding a distance modulus m _V -M_V of 15.537 ± 0.212.In addition, it was found that the star GSC 3730_0797 in the field ofNSV 01450 is also variable.     

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.     

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.     

The Diameter of (106) Dione

The mean diameter D = 147 ± 3 km of (106) Dione is derived from visual observations in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands of the occultation of AGK₃ + 25°0989 on 1983 January 19. Photoelectric magnitudes are: B(1, 2°.4) = 8^m.51 ± 0^m.06 and B – V = 0^m.65 ± 0^m.07. The visual albedo is pv = .064. Constraints on the axis of rotation are derived from the observed elliptical contour.