Long-term photometric study of a faint W UMa binary in the direction of M31

We carry out a re-analysis of the photometric data in Rclc bands which were taken during the Nainital Microlensing Survey from 1998 to 2002 with the aim to detect gravitational microlensing events in the direction of M31. Here, we do photometric analysis of a faint W UMa binary CSS_JO04259.3＋410629 identified in the target field. The orbital period of this star is found to be 0.266402±0.000018 d. The photometric mass ratio, q, is found to be 0.28±0.01. The photometric light curves are investigated using the Wilson-Devinney （WD） code and absolute parameters are determined using empirical relations which provide masses and radii of the binary as M1 = 1.19±0.09M⊙, M2 = 0.33±0.02M⊙ and R1 = 1.02±0.04R⊙, R2 = 0.58±0.08Re respectively based on Rc band data. Quite similar values are found by analyzing/c band data. From the photometric light curve examination, the star is understood to be a low mass-ratio overcontact binary of A-subtype with a high fill-out factor of about 47%. The binary system is found to be located approximately at a distance of 2.64±0.03 kpc having a separation of 2.01 ±0.05 Re between the two components.

Photometric studies of two W UMa type variables in the field of distant open cluster NGC 6866

We present photometric analysis of the two W UMa type binaries identified in the field of distant open star cluster NGC 6866. Although these systems, namely ID487 and ID494, were reported by Joshi et al., a detailed study of these stars has not been carried out before. The orbital periods of these stars are found to be 0.415110±0.000001 day and 0.366709±0.000004 day, respectively. Based on the photometric and infrared colors, we find their respective spectral types to be K0 and K3. The photometric light vari- ations of both stars show the O＇Connell effect which can be explained by employing a dark spot on the secondary components. The V and I band light curves are analyzed using the Wilson-Devinney （WD） code and relations given by Gazeas which yield radii and masses for the binary components of star ID487 of R1 = 1.24 ± 0.01R,R2 = 1.11 4- 0.02Re, and M1 = 1.24 ± 0.02Me, M2 = 0.96 ±0.05Me and for star ID494 of R1 = 1.22 ± 0.02Re, R2 = 0.81 4- 0.01 Re, and M1 = 1.20 4- 0.06 Me, M2 = 0.47 4- 0.01 Me.

CCD Photometry of Asteroid (147) Protogeneia

We measured the light-curve of the asteroid （147） Protogeneia in November 2004, with a CCD detector attached to the 1-meter telescope at the Yunnan Observatory, China. The synodic period and maximum amplitude of （147） at this apparition are 7.852 hours and 0.25 mag, respectively. The value of a/b for （147）, from a preliminary estimation, is not less than 1.26：1.

Light curve inversion of asteroid(585)Bilkis with Lommel-Seeliger ellipsoid method

The basic physical parameters of asteroids, such as spin parameters, shape and scattering parameters, can provide us with information on the formation and evolution of both the asteroids themselves and the entire solar system. In a majority of asteroids, the disk-integrated photometry measurement constitutes the primary source of the above knowledge. In the present paper, newly observed photometric data and existing data on（585） Bilkis are analyzed based on a Lommel-Seeliger ellipsoid model. With a Markov chain Monte Carlo（MCMC） method, we have determined the spin parameters（period, pole orientation）and shape（b/a, c/a） of（585） Bilkis and their uncertainties. As a result, we obtained a rotational period of 8.5738209 h with an uncertainty of 9×10^-7h, and derived a pole of（136.46°, 29.0°） in the ecliptic frame of J2000.0 with uncertainties of 0.67°and 1.1°in longitude and latitude respectively. We also derived triaxial ratios b/a and c/a of（585） Bilkis as 0.736 and 0.70 with uncertainties of 0.003 and 0.03 respectively.

A new multi-wavelength solar telescope: Optical and Near-infrared Solar Eruption Tracer (ONSET)

A new multi-wavelength solar telescope, the Optical and Near-infrared Solar Eruption Tracer （ONSET） of Nanjing University, has been constructed. It was fabricated at the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics ＆ Technology, and the oper- ation is jointly administered with Yunnan Astronomical Observatory. ONSET is able to observe the Sun in three wavelength windows： He I 10830 A, Ha and white-light at 3600 A and 4250 A, which are selected in order to simultaneously record the dynam- ics of the corona, chromosphere and photosphere respectively. Full-disk or partial-disk solar images with a field of 10~ at three wavelengths can be obtained nearly simultane- ously. It is designed to trace solar eruptions with high spatial and temporal resolutions. This telescope was installed at a new solar observing site near Fuxian Lake in Yunnan Province, southwest China. The site is located at E102N24, with an altitude of 1722 m. The seeing is stable and has high quality. We give a brief description of the scientific objectives and the basic structure of ONSET. Some preliminary results are also pre- sented.