Eclipsing Binary Stars from Space

Abstract

We have begun a programme to obtain high-precision photometry of bright detached eclipsing binary (dEB) stars with the Wide field InfraRed Explorer (WIRE) satellite. Due to the small aperture of WIRE only stars brighter than V=6 can be observed. We are collecting data for about a dozen dEB targets and here we present preliminary results for three of them. We have chosen dEBs with primary components of B and early A type. One of our aims is to combine the information from the light curve analyses of the eclipses with asteroseismic information from the analysis of the pulsation of the primary component.

4 pages, 3 figures. To appear in conference proceedings for IAU Symposium No. 240: Binary Stars as Critical Tools & Tests in Contemporary Astrophysics, eds. W. Hartkopf, E. Guinan & P. Harmanec