Abstract. The first multisite photometric campaign devoted to the rapidly oscillating mass-accreting (primary) component of the Algol-type eclipsing binary system AS Eri has confirmed the presence of rapid pulsations with frequency 59.03116 d −1 , and revealed the second and third oscillation modes with frequencies 62.5631 d −1 and 61.6743 d −1 , respectively. These modes are related to the 5−6 overtone oscillations and are among the shortest periods excited in non-magnetic MS A-F stars. The nearly equator-on visibility of eclipsing binaries help to narrow the range of possible mode identifications for the detectable modes as radial or (l, m) = (1, ±1), (l, m) = (2, ±2) and (l, m) = (2, ±0). We checked the high-order pulsation-to-orbital synchronization (POS) using the trial mode identification and the Doppler effect correction for frequencies of non-radial pulsation. We found that (l, m, n) = (1, 1, 5) or (2, 2, 5) and (l, m, n) = (2, −2, 6) identifications for f 1 and f 2 modes respectively satisfied the highorder POS. These mode identifications are in agreement with the range of modes visible in disk integrated light of an equator-on visible pulsating component. The wavelength distribution of pulsation amplitudes in AS Eri is largest in the Strömgren u filter and decreases toward longer wavelengths. We place AS Eri and other known mass-accreting pulsating components of Algols on HR-diagram. They are located inside the instability strip on the Main Sequence. We also discuss the peculiar evolutionary status of primary components in Algols and stress that they are not normal δ Scuti stars, but form a separate group of pulsators. Finally, we discuss proximity and eclipse effects, and have simulated the effect of primary minimum data gaps that may produce the 1/P orb alias sidelobes in DFT analysis of eclipsing binary data. Aliases from gaps in primary minimum observations seem to be the principal limitation on spectral window functions in asteroseismic studies of eclipsing binaries.

We present the results of a three‐continent multisite photometric campaign carried out on the Algol‐type eclipsing binary system RZ Cas, in which the primary component has recently been discovered to be a δ Sct‐type pulsator. The present observations include, for the first time, complete simultaneous Strömgren uvby light curves together with a few Crawford Hβ data collected around the orbital phase of the first quadrature. The new observations confirm the pulsational behaviour of the primary component. A detailed photometric analysis, based on these observations, is presented for both binarity and pulsation. The results indicate a semidetached system where the secondary fills its Roche lobe. The appearance of the light curves reveals the presence of the mass stream from the secondary component and a hotspot where this stream impacts on the surface of the primary star. There are also some indications of chromospheric activity in the secondary. On the other hand, the pulsational behaviour out‐of‐primary eclipse can be well described with only one frequency at 64.1935 cd−1 similar to the main peak found by Ohshima et al. The existence of multiperiodicity is not confirmed in our data. Concerning the mode identification, our results indicate non‐radial pulsation in a high radial order (n= 6), with l= 2, |m|= 1, 2 as the most suitable. However, additional effects must be taken into account in the predictions. Moreover, the pulsation amplitude in the u band is larger than in b and v, which is unusual among the δ Sct‐type variables. This can be explained as due to pulsation in a high n value and close to the blue edge of the δ Sct region. On the other hand, the early data of Ohshima et al. have also been analysed and similar results are found concerning the frequency content and pulsational amplitude. Finally, a revision of all the photometric out‐of‐primary‐eclipse data sets available in the literature is made together with some additional unpublished data leading to interesting findings relative to changes taking place in the pulsation amplitudes and frequencies from season to season. Furthermore, multiperiodicity is probably present in some epochs.

We searched for circumbinary planets orbiting NY Vir in historical eclipse times including our long-term CCD data. Sixty-eight times of minimum light with accuracies better than 10 s were used for the ephemeris computations. The best fit to those timings indicated that the orbital period of NY Vir has varied due to a combination of two sinusoids with periods of P 3 =8.2 yr and P 4 =27.0 yr and semi-amplitudes of K 3 =6.9 s and K 4 =27.3 s, respectively. The periodic variations most likely arise from a pair of light-time effects due to the presence of third and fourth bodies that are gravitationally bound to the eclipsing pair. We have derived the orbital parameters and the minimum masses, M 3 sin i 3 = 2.8 M Jup and M 4 sin i 4 = 4.5 M Jup , of both objects. A dynamical analysis suggests that the outer companion is less likely to orbit the binary on a circular orbit. Instead we show that future timing data might push its eccentricity to moderate values for which the system exhibits long-term stability. The results demonstrate that NY Vir is probably a star-planet system, which consists of a very close binary star and two giant planets. The period ratio P 3 /P 4 suggests that a long-term gravitational interaction between them would result in capture into a nearly 3:10 mean motion resonance. When the presence of the circumbinary planets is verified and understood more comprehensively, the formation and evolution of this planetary system should be advanced greatly.

We present new photometric data of the transiting planet HAT-P-12b observed in 2011. Our three transit curves are modelled using the JKTEBOP code and adopting the quadratic limb-darkening law. Including our measurements, 18 transit times spanning about 4.2 yr were used to determine the improved ephemeris with a transit epoch of 2,454,187.85560±0.00011 BJD and an orbital period of 3.21305961±0.00000035 d. The physical properties of the star-planet system are computed using empirical calibrations from eclipsing binary stars and stellar evolutionary models, combined with both our transit parameters and previously-known spectroscopic results. We found that the absolute dimensions of the host star are77±0.02, ρ b =0.24±0.01 ρ Jup , and T eq =960±14 K. Our results agree well with standard models of irradiated gas giants with a core mass of 11.3 M ⊕ .

New CCD photometry over four successive years from 2005 is presented for the eclipsing binary GW Cep, together with reasonable explanations for the light and period variations. All historical light curves, obtained over a 30 yr interval, display striking light changes, and are best modeled by the simultaneous existence of a cool spot and a hot spot on the more massive cool component star. The facts that the system is magnetically active and that the hot spot has consistently existed on the inner hemisphere of the star indicate that the two spots are formed by (1) magnetic dynamo-related activity on the cool star and (2) mass transfer from the primary to the secondary component. Based on 38 light-curve timings from the Wilson-Devinney code and all other minimum epochs, a period study of GW Cep reveals that the orbital period has experienced a sinusoidal variation with a period and semi-amplitude of 32.6 yr and 0.009 days, respectively. In principle, these may be produced either by a light-travel-time effect due to a third body or by an active magnetic cycle of at least one component star. Because we failed to find any connection between luminosity variability and the period change, that change most likely arises from the existence of an unseen third companion star with a minimum mass of 0.22 M gravitationally bound to the eclipsing pair.