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F. P. Maloney, E. L. Fitzpatrick, E. F. Guinan, L. E. DeWarf (Villanova), D. H. Bradstreet (Eastern Coll.), I. Ribas (U. de Barcelona), A. Gimenez (LAEFF, Vilspa, Sp.)
We report on the progress in our study of selected eclipsing binaries in the Magellanic Clouds, begun with IUE and continued with HST. The chief aims are the determination of accurate temperatures, reddenings, and chemical abundances for the component stars. Twelve systems were observed with IUE during 1993-1995, mainly with the SWPLO camera (115-200nm). During 1996/97, HST/FOS observations (in the 115-480nm range) were secured from ten of these systems. These UV results are being combined with radii and masses of the stars obtained from ground-based photometry and spectroscopy. This yields the first directly determined Mass-Luminosity relation for stars outside our Galaxy. Moreover, these eclipsing binaries can serve as "standard candles", providing direct, independent and accurate distances to the LMC and SMC. We present preliminary results for the SMC eclipsing binary HV2226 (B0 IV + B3 IV; Vmax = +15.3mag; P = 1.90d), and the LMC system HV2241 (O8.5 III + B2 IV; Vmax = +13.5mag; P = 4.34d).