Timing of eclipsing binary V0873 Per: a third body candidate

TL;DR

This paper investigates the timing variations of the eclipsing binary V0873 Per and suggests the presence of a third body influencing its orbit, based on analysis of minima timings from literature and new observations.

Contribution

It presents evidence for a third body in V0873 Per using timing analysis, with new observational data and a proposed third body candidate.

Findings

Detected periodic variation in orbital period

Estimated third body mass around 0.2 solar masses

Third body likely has an orbital period of approximately 300 days

Abstract

We analyse a set of moments of minima of eclipsing variable V0873 Per. V0873 Per is a short period low mass binary star. Data about moments of minima of V0873 Per were taken from literature and our observations during 2013-2014. Our aim is to test the system on existence of new bodies using timing of minima of eclipses. We found the periodical variation of orbital period of V0873 Per. This variation can be explained by the gravitational influence of a third companion on the central binary star. The mass of third body candidate is $\approx 0.2 M_{\odot}$, its orbital period is $\approx 300$ days. The paper also includes a table with moments of minima calculated from our observations which can be used in future investigations of V0873 Per.