The first photometric analysis and period investigation of the K-type W UMa type binary system V0842 Cep

TL;DR

This study presents the first detailed photometric analysis and period investigation of the neglected W UMa-type binary V0842 Cep, revealing its shallow contact nature and a decreasing orbital period likely due to stellar wind.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive photometric and period analysis of V0842 Cep, characterizing its contact binary properties and orbital period change.

Findings

V0842 Cep is a shallow contact binary with 8.7% fill-out factor.

The system has a high orbital inclination (>80°), ensuring reliable photometric results.

The orbital period is decreasing at a rate of 1.50×10^{-7} days per year.

Abstract

V0842 Cep is a W UMa-type binary star that has been neglected since its discovery. We analysed the VR$_c$I$_c$ light curves, obtained by the 1 m telescope at the Weihai Observatory of Shandong University, using the Wilson-Devinney code. V0842 Cep was found to be a shallow contact binary system (f=8.7$\%$) with a mass ratio of 2.281. Because its orbital inclination is greater than 80$^\circ$, the photometric results are reliable. A period study is included which reveals a continually decreasing orbital period ($\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}t}$=1.50($\pm$0.42)$\times$10$^{-7}$dyr$^{-1}$). This trend could be attributed to the angular momentum loss via stellar wind.