Spectrometric and photometric study of the eclipsing variable AM Leo

The results of quasi-simultaneous spectroscopic and photometric observations of a W UMatype eclipsing variable star AM Leo are presented. The observations were carried out with a 1.2-m telescope equipped with a high-resolution echelle spectrometer, and a telescope-reflector (D = 0.45m) of the Kourovka Astronomical Observatory of Ural Federal University. New values of semi-amplitudes of the radial velocity curves of the components, K₁ = 109.6kms^?1 and K₂ = 252.4kms^?1 and the systemic radial velocity V₀ =-9.3 kms^?1 are obtained, comparable to the data published in the literature. The semi-amplitude of the radial velocity curve of a more massive component K₁ and the mass ratio of the components q = 0.412 appeared to be slightly smaller than the values obtained by other authors. An assumption wasmade that a possible reason of this is the presence of hot and/or cold spots on the surface of the components, shifting the effective center of brightness of the visible disk of the component with respect to its center of mass position. It was shown that the AM Leo light curve variations on the time scales of one and more days, registered within the photometric part of the study may be described by the choice of appropriate model of the spot structure.     

Spatial closeness of the white hypergiants HD 168607 and HD 168625

Our spectroscopic monitoring of the hypergiants HD 168607 (B9.5 Ia-0) and HD 168625 (B5.5 Ia-0) with resolutions from 15000 to 70000 confirms that both stars belong to the Ser OB1 association, proves their spatial closeness, and increases the probability that they constitute a physical pair.     

Parameters of the apparent relative orbit of the third body in the SZ Cam system

A complete set of parameters of the apparent relative orbit of the third body in the SZ Cam system is determined for the first time based on new speckle-interferometric and photometric observations of the eclipsing binary SZ Cam made with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences and 0.5-m telescope of the Astronomical Observatory of Ural State University and published data. The mass of the third body and the distance to SZ Cam are estimated at M ₃ = 23.4M _⊙ and d = 1125 kpc, respectively. The binary nature of the third body is confirmed. It is suggested that SZ Cam is possibly not a member of the open star cluster NGC 1502 onto whose center it projects. A total of 16 new times of minima of SZ Cam are reported.     

Study of variable stars associated with maser sources: G025.65+1.05

We report variation of K-band infrared(IR) emission in the vicinity of the G025.65+1.05 water and methanol maser source. New observational data were obtained with the 2.5 m telescope at the Caucasian Mountain Observatory(CMO) of Moscow State University on 2017–09–21 during a strong water maser flare. We found that the IR source situated close to the maser position had decreased brightness in comparison to archive data. This source is associated with a massive young stellar object(MYSO) corresponding to the compact IR source IRAS 18316–0602(RAFGL 7009 S). A similar decrease in K-brightness of the IR source close to the maser position was observed in March 2011 when the water maser experienced a period of increased activity. The dips in MYSO brightness can be related to the maser flare phases. Maser flares that are concurrent with dips in the IR emission can be explained if the lower IR radiation field enables a more efficient sink for the pumping cycle by allowing IR photons to escape the maser region.     

Results of a long-term monitoring of the multiple system SZ Cam

We present the results of the reduction of our photometric and spectroscopic observations for the eclipsing binary SZ Cam performed with the telescopes at the Astronomical Observatory of the Ural Federal University and the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1996–2014. Based on an 11-year-long photometric monitoring of SZ Cam, we have obtained new elements of its photometric orbit and parameters of its components. We have detected low-amplitude periodic light variations in SZ Cam that are possibly related to the ellipsoidal shape of the components of the spectroscopic binary third body. Based on published data and our new spectroscopy, we have found new values for the mass ratio, q = 0.72 ± 0.01, and parameters of the radial velocity curves of the components, V ₀ = ?3.6 ± 1.7 km s^?1, K ₁ = 190.2 ± 1.9 km s^?1, and K ₂ = 263.0 ± 2.4 km s^?1. The component masses have been estimated to be M ₁ = 16.1 M _⊙ and M ₂ = 11.6 M _⊙. We have obtained new light elements and parameters of the radial velocity curves for the third body, V ₀ ^3b = 4.2 ± 0.6 km s^?1 and K ₁ ^3b = 26.6 ± 0.8 km s^?1. We have improved the period of the relative orbit of SZ Cam and the third body, P _orb = 55.6 ± 1.5 yr.     

CCD spectrophotometry of CC Cas. I. Radial velocity curves

We report the results of the first-ever CCD spectroscopic observations of the eclipsing variable CCCas with massive early-type components. The measured semi-amplitudes of the radial velocity curves of the components, K ₁ = 123.9 km/s and K ₂ = 292.4 km/s, are comparable with the published data, and the center-of-mass velocity of the system was found to be V ₀ = ?20.4 km/s, which is about ?10 km/s greater than the earlier published results. This fact may support the published hypothesis about the presence of a third body in the system.     

Cyclical Changes in the Extraeclipse Brightness and the Period of W UMa-TYPE Close Binary System AM Leo

Astronomy Reports - The results of 14-year photometric monitoring of the contact close binary system (CBS) W UMa-type AM Leo are presented. Low-amplitude cyclic variations in brightness with a...     

Features of optical characteristics of atmospheric aerosol in the Middle Urals

The results of studies into the aerosol optical depth (AOD) for the atmosphere in the Middle Urals in the spectrum range of 0.34–1.02 μm for 2004–2010 is presented. The interannual, annual, seasonal, and daily variations in the AOD are analyzed. The major statistical characteristics of the AOD, the parameters of the probability density function of distributions over different wave lengths, and the parameters of Angstrom’s formula for the different seasons are calculated. The monitoring stations in the Russian segment of the AERONET network are ranked with respect to the AOD value. A shift from March to May in the spring maximum of the AOD is revealed in comparison with the results of the actinometric observations for the period of 1960–1986. A qualitative assessment is given to the influence of forest and peat fires in the region on the AOD. A classification of the states of aerosol haze in the atmosphere according to the AOD values is proposed.     

Circumstellar Properties of the Herbig Be Star HD 259431. I. Signatures of Magnetospheric Accretion

Astrophysics - Results are presented from a spectroscopic study of the Ae/Be Herbig star HD 259431 conducted from 2010 to 2019 using high-resolution spectrographs at: (a) the Crimean Astrophysical...     

Eclipsing binary UU Cas: Radial-velocity curves

This paper reports the results of spectroscopic observations of UUCas obtained with the highresolution (R = 15 000) fiber-fed echelle spectrometer of the 1.2-m telescope of Kourovka Astronomical Observatory of Ural Federal University. The radial velocities of the secondary, more massive and fainter component are measured for the first time. The component mass ratio is found to be q = M ₁/M ₂ = 0.54. The component masses, M ₁ = 9.5M _⊙ and M ₂ = 17.7M _⊙, and the radius of the or bit, A = 52.7R _⊙, are computed for the published orbital inclination of i ~ 69°. Evidence is presented for a disk surrounding the more massive component and a common expanding envelope.