The multi-band CCD photometric investigation of short-period eclipsing binary V1044 Her

•We observed the new VR bands of V1044 Her on May 22, 23 and 24, 2015.•Photometric orbital parameters and starspot parameters of V1044 Her are derived.•The orbital period of V1044 Her exists a cyclic variation.•The cyclic variation of V1044 Her can caused by LITF or magnetic cyclic

We present new CCD photometric observations of V1044 Her obtained on May 22, 23 and 24, 2015. From our data, we derived five new light curve minimum times. Combining our new results with previously available CCD light minimum times, we derived an updated ephemeris and discovered that the period of this binary system exhibits an oscillation. The cyclic variation may be caused by the light-time effect via the presence of a third body or magnetic activity cycle. We calculated the corresponding period of the third body to be 14.1 ± 1.4 years or magnetic cycle to be 12.2 ± 0.7 years. We analyzed our new asymmetric light curves to obtain photometric solutions and starspot parameters using the Wilson and Devinney program. The final results show that V1044 Her is a contact binary system with a degree of contact factor f = 3.220( ± 0.002)%.