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MM Herculis: An eclipsing binary of the RS CVn type

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Abstract

Differential photoelectric photometry inV, B, andU has been obtained for the eclipsing binary MM Her, a member of the RS Canum Venaticorum class. The light outside eclipse was Fourier-analyzed to study the wave. The migration and amplitude of the wave and the mean light level of the system now have been monitored from 1976 through 1980. The phase of wave minimum has decreased from 0 P. 80 to 0 P. 25, the wave amplitude has varied between 0 m. 06 and 0 m. 12, and the mean light level has fluctuated between 0.94 and 0.99. Observations within eclipse revealed that the eclipses are partial, not total as previously thought, and a new time of mid-eclipse was found to be JD (hel.)=2444 500.6665±0 d. 0008. The Russell model was used to solve the 1980 light curve. Elements of the rectified light curve werei=86 °. 35±0 °. 09,r h =0.070±0.002,r c =0.125±0.001,L h (V)=0.585±0.008 andL h (B)=0.683±0.010. The geometric elements were forced on the pre-1980 light curves and found to be compatible. With these elements and previously obtained double-lined radial velocity curves, new absolute dimensions have been calculated: 1.18M ⨀ and 1.58R ⨀ for the hotter star and 1.27M ⨀ and 2.83R ⨀ for the cooler star. By plotting color indices on the color-color curve, spectral types of G2V and K21V were found, each uncertain by a couple of subclasses.

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Author notes

  1. J. R. Sowell

    Present address: Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  2. G. W. Henry

    Present address: McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dyer Observatory, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., USA

    J. R. Sowell, D. S. Hall & G. W. Henry

  2. Department of Physics, King College, Bristol, Tenn., USA

    E. W. Burke Jr.

  3. Department of Physics, University of Calgary, Canada

    E. F. Milone

Authors
  1. J. R. Sowell
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  2. D. S. Hall
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  3. G. W. Henry
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  4. E. W. Burke Jr.
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  5. E. F. Milone
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Additional information

Guest Observer Kitt Peak National Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, under contract with the National Science Foundation.

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Sowell, J.R., Hall, D.S., Henry, G.W. et al. MM Herculis: An eclipsing binary of the RS CVn type. Astrophys Space Sci 90, 421–435 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00650073

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00650073

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