Visual Minima Timings of Eclipsing Binaries: To Use or not to Use?

Investor logo

Warning

This publication doesn't include Institute of Computer Science. It includes Faculty of Science. Official publication website can be found on muni.cz.
Authors

MIKULÁŠEK Zdeněk ZEJDA Miloslav ZHU Liying QIAN Shengbang LIŠKA Jiří DE VILLIERS S. N.

Year of publication 2013
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Central European Astrophysical Bulletin
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Field Astronomy and astrophysics
Keywords eclipsing binaries; minima timings
Description Plenty of mid-eclipse timings of short-periodic eclipsing binaries derived from series of visual observations appear to be an acceptable source of information for orbital period analyses, namely if they were done in time-intervals not covered by other types of observations. However, our thorough period analysis of the nearly contact eclipsing binary BS Vulpeculae proves that visually determined timings done in 1979-2003 were undoubtedly biased to accommodate the existing linear ephemeris. The heavily subjective character of visual observations disqualifies them as a source of true phase information apt for fine eclipsing binary period analyses. Consequently we warn against the use of visual timings without a preceding careful verification.
Related projects:

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.

More info