The photometric investigation of the newly discovered W UMa type binary system GSC 03122-02426

TL;DR

This study presents photometric analysis of the newly discovered W UMa-type binary GSC 03122-02426, revealing its contact nature, physical parameters, and potential evolutionary stage, contributing to understanding contact binary formation.

Contribution

First detailed photometric analysis of GSC 03122-02426, identifying it as a shallow contact W-subtype binary and discussing its evolutionary implications.

Findings

Mass ratio q = 2.70

Contact degree f = 15.3%

Total eclipsing binary with high inclination

Abstract

The $B$ $V$ $R_c$ $I_c$ bands light curves of the newly discovered binary system \astrobj{GSC 03122-02426} are obtained and analyzed using the Wilson-Devinney (W-D) code. The solutions suggest that the mass ratio of the binary system is $q = 2.70$ and the less massive component is $422K$ hotter than the more massive one. We conclude that \astrobj{GSC 03122-02426} is a W-subtype shallow contact (with a contact degree of $f = 15.3\,\%$) binary system. It may be a newly formed contact binary system which is just under geometrical contact and will evolve to be a thermal contact binary system. The high orbital inclination ($i = 81.6^{\circ}$) implies that \astrobj{GSC 03122-02426} is a total eclipsing binary system and the photometric parameters obtained by us are quite reliable. We also estimate the absolute physical parameters of the two components in \astrobj{GSC 03122-02426}, which will provide fundamental information for the research of contact binary systems. The formation and evolutionary scenario of \astrobj{GSC 03122-02426} is discussed.