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

Abstract

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 variations 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 ± 0.01 R⊙, R2 = 1.11 ± 0.02 R⊙, and M1 = 1.24 ± 0.02 M⊙, M2 = 0.96 ± 0.05 M⊙ and for star ID494 of R1 = 1.22±0.02R⊙, R2 = 0.81±0.01 R⊙, and M1 = 1.20±0.06 M⊙, M2 = 0.47±0.01 M⊙.