M. Fagas

V440 Per: the longest-period overtone Cepheid

V440 Per is a Population I Cepheid with a period of 7.57 d and low-amplitude, almost sinusoidal light and radial velocity curves. With no reliable data on the first harmonic, its pulsation mode identification remained controversial. We obtained a radial velocity curve of V440 Per with our new high-precision and high-throughput Poznan Spectroscopic Telescope. Our data reach an accuracy of 130 m s ―1 per individual measurement and yield a secure detection of the first harmonic with an amplitude of A 2 = 140 ± 15 m s ―1 . The velocity Fourier phase φ 21 of V440 Per is inconsistent at the 7.25σ level with those of fundamental-mode Cepheids, implying that the star must be an overtone Cepheid, as originally proposed by Kienzle et al. Thus, V440 Per becomes the longest-period Cepheid with securely established overtone pulsations. We show that a convective non-linear pulsation hydrocode can reproduce the Fourier parameters of V440 Per very well. The requirement to match the observed properties of V440 Per constrains the free parameters of the dynamical convection model used in the pulsation calculations, in particular the radiative loss parameter.

Physical models of ten asteroids from an observers' collaboration network

Aims. We present physical models of ten asteroids obtained by means of lightcurve inversion. A substantial part of the photometric data was observed by amateur astronomers. We emphasize the importance of a coordinated network of observers that will be of extreme importance for future all-sky asteroid photometric surveys. Methods. The lightcurve inversion method was used to derive spin states and shape models of the asteroids. Results. We derived spin states and shape model for ten new asteroids: (110) Lydia, (125) Liberatrix, (130) Elektra, (165) Loreley, (196) Philomela, (218) Bianca, (306) Unitas, (423) Diotima, (776) Berbericia, and (944) Hidalgo. This increases the number of asteroid models up to nearly one hundred.

Photometry and models of selected main belt asteroids IV. 184 Dejopeja, 276 Adelheid, 556 Phyllis

We report photometric lightcurve observations of 184 Dejopeja (apparition years: 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006), 276 Adelheid (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006), and 556 Phyllis (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006) carried out on 48 nights at four observatories. Using all of the available lightcurves, the spin vectors, senses of rotation, and shape models of these three asteroids have been determined.

Do Slivan states exist in the Flora family? - I. Photometric survey of the Flora region

Context. Recent studies have uncovered evidence that the statistical properties of asteroids’ physical parameters are a fundamental source of information on the physics of their collisions and evolution. The analysis of the spin rates and spin vector distributions helps us to understand the role of various known and new effects. The alignment of spin vectors and the correlation of spin rates are for the first time observed for ten members of the Koronis family. These unexpected non-random orientations of the spin axes and correlations of the spin rates, now known as Slivan states are interpreted in terms of a YORP effect and spin-orbit resonances. Aims. To study non-gravitational-effects, there appears to be a need for new observational campaigns devoted to determining the physical parameters of the asteroid families. Methods. We analysed the photometric observations of the asteroids, which are the most efficient method of studying asteroid physical parameters. Results. We report the results of a ten-year long observational survey of the light variations of objects in the Flora region. We present 544 individual lightcurves of 55 objects obtained at various observing geometries. These lightcurves yield new or refined synodic periods for 32 asteroids and confirm period determinations for 23 objects in our sample. To improve the statistics of the Flora family objects, we add to our dataset 91 objects with reliably determined periods. The distribution of rotation rates for the Flora family is nonMaxwellian at a confidence level of 94% and different from those of the Koronis and the Hungaria families. It seems to be consistent with the long-term influence of the YORP effect, although it is also indicative of a younger age for the Flora family compared to both the Koronis and the Hungaria families. Conclusions. Our new data is a foundation for the spin vector and shape determinations that will be the objectives of the second paper of the series. We search for spin vector and spin periods correlations in order to determine whether Slivan states exist in the Flora family.

Photometry and models of selected main belt asteroids - VIII. Low-pole asteroids

Context. The set of more than 100 asteroids, for which spin parameters have been modelled using an amplitude, magnitude or epoch methods, showed a pronounced gap in the distribution of the asteroid spin axes. These spin axes are rarely aligned with the ecliptic plane. Aims. The number of asteroids with known spin parameters should be increased to allow for statistical investigations. Methods. We gathered extensive photometric datasets on four selected main-belt asteroids to model their spin and shape parameters using the lightcurve inversion method. Our only criterion of selection was their observability for small telescopes. Results. All four of the modelled asteroids happened to have rotational poles that lie close to the ecliptic plane (periods and J2000 north pole coordinates): (94) Aurora − P = 7.226191 h, λp1 = 58 ◦ , βp1 =+ 16 ◦ ; λp2 = 242 ◦ , βp2 =+ 4 ◦ ; (174) Phaedra − P = 5.750249 h, λp = 265 ◦ , βp =+ 5 ◦ ; (679) Pax − P = 8.456016 h, λp1 = 42 ◦ , βp1 = −5 ◦ ; λp2 = 220 ◦ , βp2 =+ 32 ◦ (pole 2 preferred after comparison with AO-resolved observations); (714) Ulula − P = 6.998376 h, λp1 = 42 ◦ , βp1 = −9 ◦ ; λp2 = 227 ◦ , βp2 = −14 ◦ . Conclusions. This work suggests that asteroid spin axes do not avoid the ecliptic plane, contrary to what the classical modelling suggested.

Photometry and models of selected main belt asteroids. VI. 160 Una, 747 Winchester, and 849 Ara

We present a set of new photometric observations of three main belt asteroids: 160 Una, 747 Winchester, and 849 Ara. This, combined with the available data, allowed us to construct their physical models. The lightcurve inversion method was used to obtain their spins and shapes. We have resolved problems with the rotation period of 160 Una, and found it to be 11.033176 ± 0.000011 h, almost twice the value given in the literature.

Absolute properties of the main‐sequence eclipsing binary FM Leo

First spectroscopic and new photometric observations of the eclipsing binary FM Leo are presented. The main aims were to determine the orbital and stellar parameters of the two components and their evolutionary stage. First spectroscopic observations of the system were obtained with the David Dunlap Observatory and Pozna´ n Spectroscopic Telescope spectrographs. The results of the orbital solution from radial velocity curves are combined with those derived from the light-curve analysis (V-band photometry from the All Sky Automated Survey and supplementary observations of eclipses with the 1 and 0.35 m telescopes) to derive orbital and stellar parameters. JKTEBOP, Wilson–Devinney binary modelling codes and a twodimensional cross-correlation method were applied for the analysis. We find the masses to be M

Photometry and models of selected main belt asteroids V. 73 Klytia, 377 Campania, and 378 Holmia

We present photometric observations of three asteroids: 73 Klytia, 377 Campania, and 378 Holmia, together with their spin and shape models. The models were constructed with the lightcurve inversion method, using all available lightcurves of these objects. In the case of Campania, the long persisting doubts about its rotational period have been resolved. Various authors state periods between 8.48 and 16 h, while the period we determined is 11.664401 ± 0.000010 h.

Spectroscopy of HD 86222 – a quintuple system with an eclipsing component

We present spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the quintuple star HD 86222 with an eclipsing component. Until now three visual components A, B, and C of this multiple star were known. Four components in the A/B pair were detected during the examination of the cross correlation functions obtained from the spectra. We noticed that the visual components A and B, separated by , are in fact two binary stars – one eclipsing pair and one spectroscopic system. The pair with higher radial velocity amplitude corresponds to the eclipsing period. Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the eclipsing binary enable us to obtain the Wilson-Devinney model. The masses of this pair are M1 = 1.29 ± 0.09 M⊙ and M2 = 1.33 ± 0.09 M⊙, respectively. The radii, slightly higher than for the main sequence stars, are R1 = 1.35 ± 0.01 R⊙ and R2 = 1.36 ± 0.01 R⊙, respectively. The main parameters of the spectroscopic binary are also estimated, but they must be confirmed by future observations because of the uncertainty of the period. The farthest star named C, is 15 arc seconds from the main A and B components. Assuming that this object is gravitationally connected with the A and B binary pairs, HD 86222 has at least five components.

V342 Andromedae B is an eccentric-orbit eclipsing binary

We present a photometric and spectroscopic study of the visual binary V342 Andromedae. Visual components of the system have angular separations of 3 arcseconds. We obtained two spectroscopic data sets. An examination of both the A and B component spectra reveals that the B component is a spectroscopic binary with an eccentric orbit. The orbital period, taken from the Hipparcos Catalog, agrees with the orbital period of the B component measured spectroscopically. We also collected a new set of photometric measurements. The argument of periastron is close to 270 ◦ and the orbit eccentricity is not seen in our photometric data. About five years after the first spectroscopic observations, a new set of spectroscopic data was obtained. We analysed the apsidal motion, but we did not find any significant changes in the orbital orientation. A Wilson-Devinney model was calculated based on the photometric and the radial velocity curves. The result shows two very similar stars with masses M1 = 1.27 ± 0.01 M� , M2 = 1.28 ± 0.01 M� , respectively. The radii are R1 = 1.21 ± 0.01 R� , R2 = 1.25 ± 0.01 R� , respectively. Radial velocity measurements of component A, the most luminous star in the system, reveal no significant periodic variations. We calculated the time of the eclipsing binary orbit’s circularization, which is about two orders of magnitude shorter than the estimated age of the system. The discrepancies in the age estimation can be explained by the Kozai effect induced by the visual component A. The atmospheric parameters and the chemical abundances for the eclipsing pair, as well as the LSD profiles for both visual components, were calculated from two high-resolution, well-exposed spectra obtained on the 2-m class telescope.