B and V photometry and analysis of the eclipsing binary RZ Cas

Photoelectric light curves of the eclipsing binary RZ Cas are presented forB andV filters. The light curves are analysed for light and geometrical elements, starting with a previously suggested preliminary method. The approximate results thus obtained are then optimised through the Wilson-Devinney computer programs.     

Aq Psc – Analysis of New Light Curves

New BV light curves of the A-type W UMa star AQ Psc (P = 0.476d) have been observed and are described. A few times of minimum light are obtained and the ephemeris is improved. The light curves are analyzed for the binary parameters with a light curve synthesis method. Combining the results with Lu and Rucinski’s spectroscopic mass ratio we determined the masses and radii of the components: M ₁ = 1.69M _⊙, M ₂ = 0.38M _⊙, R ₁ = 1.77R _⊙, and R ₂ = 0.89R _⊙.     

DifferentialUBV photometry of the eclipsing binary SVS 2086

PhotoelectricUBV differential observations of the eclipsing binary SVS 2086 are presented. The system shows a W UMa-type light curve, with an amplitude of 0.5 inV light; the period seems to be longer than previously believed.     

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.     

Preliminary Analysis of Photometric Variations of the Central Star of the Planetary Nebula Sh 2-71

We confirm the presence of regular UBV(RI)_C light variations of the object in the center of the planetary nebula Sh 2-71, with an improved period of P = 68.132 ± 0.005 days. The shapes and amplitudes of light curves, in particular colours, are briefly discussed.     

Fourier analysis of the light curves of eclipsing variables,X

The aim of the present paper will be to develop methods for computation of the Fourier transforms of the light curves of eclipsing variables — due to any type of eclipses — as a function of a continuous frequency variablev. For light curves which are symmetrical with respect to the conjunctions (but only then) these transforms prove to be real functions ofv, and expressible as rapidly convergent expansions in terms of the momentsA _2m+1 of the light curves of odd orders. The transforms are found to be strongly peaked in the low-frequency domain (attaining a maximum forv=0), and become numerically insignificant forv>3. This is even more true of their power spectra.The odd momentsA _2m+1 — not encountered so far in our previous papers — are shown in Section 3 of the present communication to be expressible as infinite series in terms of the even momentsA _2m well known to us from Papers I–IV; and polynomial expressions are developed for approximating them to any desired degree of accuracy. The numerical efficiency of such expressions will be tested in Section 4, by application to a practical case, with satisfactory results.Lastly, in Section 5, an appeal to the Wiener-Khinchin theorem (relating the power spectra with autocorrelation function of the light curves) and Parseval's theorem on Fourier series will enable us to extend our previous methods for a specification of quadratic moments of the light curves in terms of the linear ones.     

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.     

A photometric study of the contact binary AZ Virginis

New light curves and photometric solutions of the contact binary AZ Vir are presented in this paper. The light curves appear to exhibit a typical O'Connell effect, with Maximum I being 0.021 mag (V) and 0.023 mag (B) brighter than Maximum II, respectively. From the observations, six times of minimum light were determined and from the present times of minimum light and those collected from the references, the light elements of the system were improved. The light curves were analyzed by means of the Wilson‐Devinney program. The results suggest that AZ Vir is a W‐subtype contact binary with a mass ratio of q = 0.623(2). The asymmetry of the light curves is explained by star spot models. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The CCD photometric study of the newly identified RS CVn binary star V1034 Hercules

This paper presents a new CCD Bessell VR_cI_c light curves and photometric analysis of the newly discovered RS CVn type eclipsing binary star V1034 Her. The light curves were obtained at the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Observatory in 2006. Variations of the orbital period of the system were firstly studied. The (O − C) diagram with a low range of observing time of about 20 years shows an upward parabola, which indicates a secular increase in the orbital period of the system. The light curves are generally those of detached eclipsing binaries; however, there are large asymmetries between maxima. The VR_cI_c light curves were analysed with two different fitting procedures: Wilson–Devinney method supplemented with a Monte Carlo type algorithm and Information Limit Optimization Technique (ILOT). Our general results find V1034 Her. as a well detached system, in which the components are filling 65% of their Roche lobes. Light curve asymmetries of the system are explained in terms of large dark starspots on the primary component. The primary star shows a long-lived spot distribution with active longitudes in the same hemisphere.     

Analysis of the light curve of the magnetic CP star HD 56022

An examination of the published observational data concerning the light curves of magnetic CP stars has shown that only one star — HD 56022 — shows a light curve with a very long phase interval of light constancy. Only for this type of variability it is imaginable that the equatorial symmetry of the surface brightness distribution could be excluded. However, the analysis of the light curve of HD 56022 in the colour u of the Strömgren system has indicated that the possibly equatorial position of the small bright spot is not in contradiction to this observed curve. From the analysis in u the maximum amplitude of a light curve at another wavelength, where the curve is in counterphase to the light curve in u, can be predicted. The amplitude of such a light curve must be much smaller than 0.1 mag. From unpublished observations of HD 56022 by the satellites TD-1 A and ANS we have determined the amplitude at $LD = 155 nm, where the light curve is in counterphase to that in u, to be 0.2 mag. The consequences from the contradiction between the model and the observations in UV are discussed.     

New photoelectric observations and elements of the eclipsing W UMa-type system V839 Oph

The W UMa-type system V839 Oph was observed photoelectrically in two wavebands (B andV) during 1985 at the Kryonerion Astronomical Station of the National Observatory of Greece. The light curves of the system are analysed using the frequency-domain techniques and new geometric and photometric elements are given. The light variations of the system are also discussed.     

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.     

CK Bootis: a W UMa system with a small mass ratio

We present an analysis of BV R light curves of an eclipsing binary CK Bootis, a system with a very small mass ratio. The light curves appear to exhibit a typical O'Connell effect. The light curves are analyzed by means of the latest version of the WD program. The asymmetry of the light curves is explained by a cool star spot model. The simultaneous BV R synthetic light curve analysis gives a tiny mass ratio of 0.12, an extremely large fill‐out factor of 0.65, and a very small difference between the component temperatures of 90 K. The absolute parameters of the system were also derived by combining the photometric solutions with the radial velocity data. The mass of the secondary is very low (0.15 M_⊙) and it continues losing mass. Thirty seven new times of minimum are reported. It is found that the orbital period of the system has a quasi periodic variation, superimposed on a period increase. The long‐term period increase rate is deduced to be dP/dt = 3.54x10^–7 d yr^–1, which can be interpreted as being due to mass transfer from the less massive star to the more massive component. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Light and colour curve observations and analysis of the short period eclipsing binary system UV Psc

In the present work we have presented and analysedB andV light curves and the (B-V)-colour curve of the short period (RS CVn type) binary system UV Psc, and derived absolute information from the available data.x ² minimization procedures were utilized to a large extent in fitting light and colour curves.The solutions show the binary to be at a distance of about 90 pc with two detached components which are close to the main sequence (G2 and K0). The inclination of the orbit is close to 90°Photometric irregularities present in the light curve are briefly considered in relation to current ideas on RS CVn systems, and the colour information indicates a locally hotter (rather than cooler) region is responsible for the irregularities.     

Different ages of lunar light plains

The crater populations of 18 lunar light plains (Cayley plains) show a variation in relative ages by a factor of about 4 in crater frequency of regions in the surroundings of the Orientale resp. Imbrium basin, and by a factor of greater than 25 for more distant sites. Thus the idea of a Moonwide synchronism in the emplacement of the lunar light plains with the formation of the basins Imbrium or Orientale cannot be supported.Some light plains are younger than the youngest basin Orientale. Since these plains cannot have been emplaced by any other basin-forming event and local impact-derived origin can certainly be excluded, an endogenic (magmatic) origin is proposed for these plains.Age determination data (D _L -values) by Soderblom and Lebofsky (1972) and Soderblom and Boyce (1972) are shown to be correlated with own cumulative crater frequency data (N) for surfaces younger than 3.8 × 10⁹ years; we findD _L × N ^0.6, different from the originally proposed relationD _L × N. For ages > 3.8 × 10⁹ years, theD _L data by those authors, especially their light plains data, are incompatible with our crater frequency data.     

The Central Regions of M82 – Scattered Light and Extinction

Photographic photometric measurements of 2 arcsec resolution of the central regions of M82 are presented in the three colours U, B, V. The observed light is decomposed into two parts: stellar light and light from the central source scattered by dust. The variation of the reddening of both components is derived. The dust distribution pattern is different near the spatial centre of M82 and farther out. The equator of the dust complex obscuring the central source is inclined to the overall symmetry plane of M82. The outer dust clouds responsible for the obscuration of the visible stellar light are probably arranged in a spiral-like fashion; the “plane” containing these clouds is strongly warped and distrubed. The light of the bright knots A and C consists to a considerable part of scattered light from the central source nearly behind them. H_α light and scattered continuum light is strongly correlated in M82, pointing to an ionisation of the gas by the source of this continuum in addition to the presence of scattered H_α.     

BV photometry of the RRc variable star DH Pegasi

Revised light elements of the RR Lyrae variable star DH Pegasi are presented together with a newBV light curve.     

Classical Meteor Light Curve Morphology

We investigate the morphological variation of classical meteor light curves, under the constant velocity assumption, for a series of idealized atmospheric density profiles. We look specifically at the t _rise /t _fall ratio, which compares the rise time to maximum brightness against the time to fall from maximum brightness. We demonstrate that for a classical meteoroid undergoing rapid ablation in an isothermal atmosphere that t _rise/t _fall > 1, indicating that all such light curves are late peaked. For a classical meteoroid ablating in a region over which the density is constant, t _rise/t _fall≡ 0, and the light curve is necessarily downward concave in the height vs. intensity diagram. If ablation occurs over a region in which the density increases linearly with decreasing height, then t _rise/t _fall=1/(√5 – 1) ≈ 0.81, indicative of an early peaked, near symmetric light curve.     

The line-ratio method applied to vectormagnetographic measurements

Since solar magnetic fields are inhomogeneous, the averaging of Stokes parameter I within the entrance slit of the magnetograph is different from averaging Stokes Q₀ and V, because the former contains also light from non-magnetic, while the latter only contain light from magnetic regions. If the magnetographic calibration functions are calculated for homogeneous magnetic fields, errors arise, when they are used to reduce measurements of inhomogeneous fields. Therefore, we propose to use the line-ratio method to transform magnetographic measurements into the parameters of the magnetic vector field. The Q ratios and the V ratios of two carefully selected lines are free from errors of this kind. This is also the case for the Q ratios in line core and line wings in single-line magnetographs. An iterative method is presented to calculate the magnetic field parameters using the corresponding new calibration functions. An important advantage is, that the influence of scattered light in sunspots is also eliminated in a good approximation and the filling factor in plages can be estimated. This method is now used to determine magnetic vector fields in plages and sunspots of active regions with a new double-vector magnetograph.     

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.