We have acquired simultaneous high-precision space photometry and radial velocities of the bright hybrid β Cep/SPB pulsator γ Peg. Frequency analyses reveal the presence of six g modes of high radial order together with eight loworder β Cep oscillations in both data sets. Mode identification shows that all pulsations have spherical degrees ℓ = 0 − 2. An 8.5 M ⊙ model reproduces the observed pulsation frequencies; all theoretically predicted modes are detected.We suggest, contrary to previous authors, that γ Peg is a single star; the claimed orbital variations are due to g-mode pulsation. γ Peg is the first hybrid pulsator for which a sufficiently large number of high-order g modes and low order p and mixed modes have been detected and identified to be usable for in-depth seismic modeling.

Context. Blue supergiant stars are known to display photometric and spectroscopic variability that is suggested to be linked to stellar pulsations. Pulsational activity in massive stars strongly depends on the star's evolutionary stage and is assumed to be connected with mass-loss episodes, the appearance of macroturbulent line broadening, and the formation of clumps in the wind. Aims. To investigate a possible interplay between pulsations and mass-loss, we carried out an observational campaign of the supergiant 55 Cyg over a period of five years to search for photospheric activity and cyclic mass-loss variability in the stellar wind. Methods.We modeled the H, He i, Si ii, and Si iii lines using the nonlocal thermal equilibrium atmosphere code FASTWIND and derived the photospheric and wind parameters. In addition, we searched for variability in the intensity and radial velocity of photospheric lines and performed a moment analysis of the line profiles to derive frequencies and amplitudes of the variations. Results. The Hα line varies with time in both intensity and shape, displaying various types of profiles: P Cygni, pure emission, almost complete absence, and double or multiple peaked. The star undergoes episodes of variable mass-loss rates that change by a factor of 1.7-2 on different timescales. We also observe changes in the ionization rate of Si ii and determine a multiperiodic oscillation in the He i absorption lines, with periods ranging from a few hours to 22.5 days.Conclusions. We interpret the photospheric line variations in terms of oscillations in p-, g-, and strange modes. We suggest that these pulsations can lead to phases of enhanced mass loss. Furthermore, they can mislead the determination of the stellar rotation. We classify the star as a post-red supergiant, belonging to the group of α Cyg variables.

V440 Per is a Population I Cepheid with a period of 7.57 d and low‐amplitude, almost sinusoidal light and radial velocity curves. With no reliable data on the first harmonic, its pulsation mode identification remained controversial. We obtained a radial velocity curve of V440 Per with our new high‐precision and high‐throughput Poznań Spectroscopic Telescope. Our data reach an accuracy of 130 m s−1 per individual measurement and yield a secure detection of the first harmonic with an amplitude of A2= 140 ± 15 m s−1. The velocity Fourier phase φ21 of V440 Per is inconsistent at the 7.25σ level with those of fundamental‐mode Cepheids, implying that the star must be an overtone Cepheid, as originally proposed by Kienzle et al. Thus, V440 Per becomes the longest‐period Cepheid with securely established overtone pulsations. We show that a convective non‐linear pulsation hydrocode can reproduce the Fourier parameters of V440 Per very well. The requirement to match the observed properties of V440 Per constrains the free parameters of the dynamical convection model used in the pulsation calculations, in particular the radiative loss parameter.

First spectroscopic and new photometric observations of the eclipsing binary FM Leo are presented. The main aims were to determine orbital and stellar parameters of two components and their evolutionary stage. First spectroscopic observations of the system were obtained with DDO and PST spectrographs. The results of the orbital solution from radial velocity curves are combined with those derived from the light-curve analysis (ASAS-3 photometry and supplementary observations of eclipses with 1 m and 0.35 m telescopes) to derive orbital and stellar parameters. JKTEBOP, Wilson-Devinney binary modelling codes and a two-dimensional cross-correlation (TODCOR) method were applied for the analysis. We find the masses to be M_1 = 1.318 $\pm$ 0.007 and M_2 = 1.287 $\pm$ 0.007 M_sun, the radii to be R_1 = 1.648 $\pm$ 0.043 and R_2 = 1.511 $\pm$ 0.049 R_sun for primary and secondary stars, respectively. The evolutionary stage of the system is briefly discussed by comparing physical parameters with current stellar evolution models. We find the components are located at the main sequence, with an age of about 3 Gyr.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in MNRA

The existence of pulsations in HgMn stars is still being debated. To provide the first unambiguous observational detection of pulsations in this class of chemically peculiar objects, the bright star HD 45975 was monitored for nearly two months by the CoRoT satellite. Independent analyses of the light curve provide evidence of monoperiodic variations with a frequency of 0.7572 d −1 and a peak-topeak amplitude of ∼2800 ppm. Multisite, ground-based spectroscopic observations overlapping the CoRoT observations show the star to be a long-period, single-lined binary. Furthermore, with the notable exception of mercury, they reveal the same periodicity as in photometry in the line moments of chemical species exhibiting strong overabundances (e.g., Mn and Y). In contrast, lines of other elements do not show significant variations. As found in other HgMn stars, the pattern of variability consists in an absorption bump moving redwards across the line profiles. We argue that the photometric and spectroscopic changes are more consistent with an interpretation in terms of rotational modulation of spots at the stellar surface. In this framework, the existence of pulsations producing photometric variations above the ∼50 ppm level is unlikely in HD 45975. This provides strong constraints on the excitation/damping of pulsation modes in this HgMn star.