CK Aqr time keeping. Evidence for a third body

TL;DR

This study presents new photometric data for CK Aqr, revealing oscillations in its O-C diagram indicative of a third body influencing the binary system with an 8.2-year period.

Contribution

The paper provides new observational data and evidence for a third body in CK Aqr through analysis of timing variations, improving understanding of its orbital dynamics.

Findings

Oscillations in the O-C diagram suggest a third body presence.

Derived an improved ephemeris for CK Aqr.

Estimated third body orbital period of 8.2 years.

Abstract

Photometric measurements of the contact binary system CK Aqr are presented. 49 new times of minimum were obtained between 2005 and 2020. Along with already published observations, this allows the derivation of an improved ephemeris. The resulting O-C diagram shows oscillations which are interpreted as the light time travel effect due to a third component, with a period of 8.2 years.