FO Aquarii

FO Aquarii

The visual band light curve of FO Aquarii. The main plot shows the dimming which occurred in 2016, and the inset plot shows the short-term variation that occurs during an orbital period. Adapted from Littlefield et al. (2016)[1]
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Aquarius
Right ascension	22h 17m 55.38s[2]
Declination	−08° 21′ 04.6″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)	12.7[3]
Characteristics
Apparent magnitude (B)	13.70[2]
Apparent magnitude (R)	13.60[2]
Apparent magnitude (J)	12.87[2]
Apparent magnitude (H)	12.75[2]
Apparent magnitude (K)	12.51[2]
Variable type	DQ[4]
Orbit
Period (P)	4.85 hr[5]
Other designations
2E 4588, 1RXS J221753.9-082115, CS 22886-0021, H 2215-086
Database references
SIMBAD	data
Data sources:
Hipparcos Catalogue, CCDM (2002), Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.)

FO Aquarii is an intermediate polar^[4] star system in the constellation Aquarius. The white dwarf and companion star orbit each other with a period of approximately 4.85 hours.^[5] The system is famous for a very strong optical pulsation which occurs every 20.9 minutes, corresponding with the rotational period of the accreting white dwarf.^[6] Prior to 2016, the system's long-term optical brightness varied between apparent magnitude 12.7 and 14.2,^[7] but in early 2016, it faded to magnitude 15.8 and thereafter began a slow recovery to its normal brightness, behavior which is indicative of a temporary dropoff in the mass-transfer rate between the two stars.^[8]

References

This variable star–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e