The Period of RU Sextantis

Volume 22 number 2 (1993)

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David B. Williams
9270-A Racquetball Way, Indianapolis, IN

Abstract

The variable star RU Sextantis (BV 715, BD -6° 2990) was discovered at Barnberg and reported to be an eclipsing binary of Beta Lyr type with a period of 13.07 days and magnitude range of 10.6-11.4 ptg (Strohmeier et al. 1965). Although the system would be of considerable interest if it were indeed so similar to Beta Lyrae in period and depth of eclipses, the star was neglected until a study by Brelstaff and Isles (1986), based on 57 visual estimates. They concluded that RU Sex is probably an RR Lyr variable with a period of 0.5398 day and a small visual range of about magnitude 10.5-10.9.