Observations of the eclipsing binary b Persei

Active Dates: Jan. 5, 2015 – Jan. 17, 2015


Abstract:

Dr. Robert Zavala (USNO-Flagstaff) and collaborators request observations of the bright variable star b Persei for the next two weeks, in hopes of catching a predicted eclipse on 2015 January 15 UT. This is a follow-up to the February 2013 campaign and will be used as a photometric comparison for upcoming interferometric observations with the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI) in Arizona.

Justification:

Our goal now is to get good time resolution photometry as the third star passes in front of the close ellipsoidal binary. The potential for multiple eclipses exists. The close binary has a 1.5 day orbital period, and the eclipsing C component requires about 4 days to pass across the close binary pair. The primary eclipse depth is 0.15 magnitudes. Photometry to 0.02 or 0.03 mags would be fine to detect this eclipse. The eclipse prediction date is based on one orbital period from the 2013 eclipse.

Requested Data Types:

Photometry



Spectroscopy Lines:

No spectroscopy lines provided

Photometry Filters:

No photometry filters provided

Comparison Stars:

No comparison stars provided


Co-Authorship

Observers are not eligible for co-authorship.

Additional Observer Input:

Not provided

Additional Submission Location:

Not provided


Forum URL

N/A


Notes:

Principal Investigator: Dr. Robert Zavala; Imported Campaign (Alert Notice #507)