Complex Analysis of the Stellar Binary V446\,Cep; A New Massive Eclipsing Binary in Cepheus\,OB2 Association

TL;DR

This study provides detailed spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the massive eclipsing binary V446 Cep, determining its physical parameters, age, and distance, and establishing it as a detached Algol-type system in Cepheus OB2.

Contribution

It offers the first comprehensive analysis of V446 Cep's astrophysical parameters, including masses, radii, age, and distance, based on new spectroscopic data and Hipparcos photometry.

Findings

Masses: primary 17.94 M☉, secondary 2.64 M☉

Radii: primary 8.33 R☉, secondary 2.13 R☉

Age estimated at 10 million years

Abstract

We present new spectroscopic observations of the early type, double-lined eclipsing binary V446\,Cep. The radial velocities and the photometric data obtained by $Hipparcos$ were analysed for deriving the astrophysical parameters of the components. Masses and radii were determined as M$_p$=17.94$\pm$1.16 M$_{\odot}$ and R$_p$=8.33$\pm$0.29 R$_{\odot}$, M$_s$=2.64$\pm$0.30 M$_{\odot}$ and R$_s$=2.13$\pm$0.10 R$_{\odot}$ for the components of V446\,Cep. Our analyses show that V446\,Cep is a detached Algol-type system. Based on the position of the components plotted on the theoretical Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, we estimate that the age of V446\,Cep is about 10 Myr, neglecting the effects of mass-loss and mass exchange between the components. Using the UBVJHK magnitudes and interstellar absorption we estimated the mean distance to the system V446\,Cep as 1100$\pm$62\,pc.