Timing of AB And eclipses

TL;DR

This paper refines the eclipse timing of the low-mass binary star AB And, analyzing period variations and exploring potential additional companions using new and literature data.

Contribution

It provides updated eclipse timings and discusses the orbital period evolution and possible third and fourth companions in AB And.

Findings

Identified inaccuracies in previous minima classifications.

Analyzed secular orbital period changes.

Suggested possible additional stellar companions.

Abstract

This study aims timing the eclipses of the short period low mass binary star AB And. The times of minima are taken from the literature and from our observations in October 2013 (22 times of minima) and in August 2014 (23 times of minima). We find and discuss an inaccuracy in the determination of the types of minima in the previous investigation by \citet{li2014}. We study the secular evolution of the central binary's orbital period and the possibility of the existence of third and fourth companions in the system.