Spectroscopic and photometric study of the contact binary BO CVn

We present the results of the study of the contact binary system BO CVn. We have obtained physical parameters of the components based on combined analysis of new, multi-color light curves and spectroscopic mass ratio. This is the first time the latter has been determined for this object. We derived the contact configuration for the system with a very high filling factor of about 88%. We were able to reproduce the observed light curve, namely the flat bottom of the secondary minimum, only if a third light has been added into the list of free parameters. The resulting third light contribution is significant, about 20–24%, while the absolute parameters of components are: M1 = 1.16, M2 = 0.39, R1 = 1.62 and R2 = 1.00 (in solar units).The O-C diagram shows an upward parabola which, under the conservative mass transfer assumption, would correspond to a mass transfer rate of dM/dt = 6.3 × 10−8M⊙/yr, matter being transferred from the less massive component to the more massive one. No cyclic, short-period variations have been found in the O-C diagram (but longer-term variations remain a possibility).

► We made a combined solution of multicolor light curves and spectroscopic data of the eclipsing system BO Cvn. ► The physical parameters of components are derived. ► The system configuration was found to be contact with a very high filling factor. ► Introduction of a third light was necessary to reproduce the observed flat bottom secondary minimum.