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A Photometric Study of the Eclipsing Binary System V566 Ophiuchi

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Ronald H. Kaitchuck

Newton G. Sprague

Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana

Abstract

The eclipsing binary star system V566 Ophiuchi was discovered and classified by Hoffmeister (1935, 1943). This W Ursae Majoris system was studied photoelectrically without a filter by Fresa (1954), while Binnendijk (1959, 1965) made observations at hte effective wavelengths of 4220 and 5300 ?. The unusual stability of this system was indicated by Bookmyer (1969), whose light curves could be superimposed almost perfectly onto those observed by Binnendijk nine years earlier. Bookmyer also confirmed that the secondary minimum is a total eclipse, and determined a new set of light elements based on a fourteen year interval of observation. From these observations, which are summarized in the above publication (Bookmyer 1969) she concluded that V566 Oph had a constant orbital period from 1952 to 1966. More recent epochs of minimum light have been published by Popovici (1971) and Pohl and Kizilirmak (1970, 71, 72). In light of the unusal history of this W Ursae Majoris system, the authors obtained some further observations.