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A Photometric Study of the Contact Binary System FU Dra

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Ronald H. Kaitchuck

Robert L. Hill

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47304

Alexander Patrick Corn

Daleville High School, Daleville, IN 47334

Student participant, 2004 Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program

Joshua Gevirtz

Central High School, Muncie, IN 47302

Student participant, 2004 Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program

Kara L. Levell

Daleville High School, Daleville, IN 47334

Student participant, 2004 Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program

Theanamous Leviatha Valenti

Southside High School, Muncie, IN 47302

Student participant, 2004 Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program

Received March 28, 2006; revised January 23, 2007; accepted January 23, 2007

Abstract This paper reports new four-filter CCD observations of the contact

binary FU Dra. The Wilson and Devinney model was used to simultaneously fit

these light curves and published radial velocity data. The stellar masses, sizes, and

densities were calculated. Five additional models involving dark spots, hot spots,

and accretion heating were considered as explanations for the light curve asymmetry

known as the "O'Connell effect" in FU Dra. No conclusive spot model choice could

be made but the Liu and Yang model for accretion heating is an unlikely explanation

for the O'Connell effect in FU Dra.

Datasets
B-Filter data
V-Filter data
R-Filter data
I-Filter data

Link to article on ADS