Previous
abstract 
Next
abstract
Session 45 - Eclipsing Binaries.
Display session, Thursday, January 08
Exhibit Hall,
A analysis of U, B, V precision, well-covered light curves of CN Andromedae is presented. The binary is of short-period (P=0.463 d) and of F-spectral type with an EB-type light curve, indicating it is in a state of near or shallow contact. The observations were made on 1997 September at Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona. The 0.79-m Lowell reflector was used in conjunction with a thermoelectrically cooled PMT and standard U, B, V filters. Over 1000 observations were collected in each pass band. We determined three epochs of minimum light made during one primary and two secondary eclipses: HJD Min I = 2450698.9423, HJD Min II = 2450701.9521(5) and 2450702.8775(5). A period study spanning 47 years indicates that the period has been constantly decreasing over the interval. This may indicate binary coalescence due to magnetic breaking arising from stellar winds. Our light curves show Max I is 0.03 mags brighter than Max II (in V) which would also indicate the presence of strong solar-type act ivity. Further details are presented in this preliminary study. Much of this work was done as a part of our undergraduate research program.
