A Photometric Study of the Contact Binary V737 Cephei

Volume 46 number 1 (2018)

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Edward J. Michaels

Stephen F. Austin State University, Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy, P.O. Box 13044, Nacogdoches, TX 75962; emichaels@sfasu.edu

Abstract

Presented are the first multiband CCD photometry of the eclipsing binary star V737 Cephei. The observations resulted in 22 new times of minimum. New linear and quadratic ephemerides were computed from all available minimum light timings. The orbital period was found to be rapidly decreasing. The light curves were analyzed with the Wilson-Devinney program to find the best-fit stellar model. The model required a large third-light contribution and a cool spot on the larger star to fit light curve asymmetries. A fill-out of 19% is consistent with a W-subtype contact binary.