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BD And is a fairly bright (V = 10.8), active and close (P = 0.9258 days) eclipsing binary. The cyclic variability of the apparent orbital period as well as third light in the light curves indicate the presence of an additional late-type component. The principal aim is the spectroscopic testing of the third-body hypothesis and determination of absolute stellar parameters for both components of the eclipsing binary. First medium and high-resolution spectroscopy of the system was obtained. The broadening-function technique appropriate for heavily-broadened spectra of close binaries was used. The radial velocities were determined fitting the Gaussian functions and rotational profiles to the broadening functions. A limited amount of photometric data has also been obtained. Although the photometric observations were focused on the obtaining the timing information, a cursory light-curve analysis was also performed. Extracted broadening functions clearly show the presence of a third, slowly-rotating component. Its radial velocity is within error of the systemic velocity of the eclipsing pair, strongly supporting the physical bond. The observed systemic radial-velocity and third-component changes do not support the 9 year orbit found from the timing variability. Masses of the components of the eclipsing pair are determined with about 0.5% precision. Further characterization of the system would require long-term photometric and spectroscopic monitoring., Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, online data table

VW~LMi is the tightest known quadruple system with 2+2 hierarchy. It consists of a W UMa-type eclipsing binary (P12 = 0.47755 days) and another detached non-eclipsing binary (P34 = 7.93 days) orbiting around a common center of mass is about P1234 = 355 days. We present new observations of the system extending the time baseline to study long-term perturbations in the system and to improve orbital elements. The multi-dataset modeling of the system (4 radial-velocity curves for the components and the timing data) clearly showed an apsidal motion in the non-eclipsing binary at a rate of 4.6 degrees/yr, but no other perturbations. This is consistent with the nearly co-planarity of the outer, 355-day orbit, and the 7.93-day orbit of the non-eclipsing binary. Extensive N-body simulations enabled us to constrain the mutual inclination of the non-eclipsing binary and the outer orbits to j34-1234 < 10 degrees., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS in press

Context. EE Cep is one of few eclipsing binary systems with a dark, dusty disk around an invisible object similar to {\epsilon} Aur. The system is characterized by grey and asymmetric eclipses every 5.6 yr, with a significant variation in their photometric depth, ranging from ~ 0 m .5 to ~ 2 m .0. Aims. The main aim of the observational campaign of the EE Cep eclipse in 2014 was to test the model of disk precession (Galan et al. 2012). We expected that this eclipse would be one of the deepest with a depth of ~ 2 m .0. Methods. We collected multicolor observations from almost 30 instruments located in Europe and North America. This photometric data covers 243 nights during and around the eclipse. We also analyse the low- and high-resolution spectra from several instruments. Results. The eclipse was shallow with a depth of 0 m .71 in V-band. The multicolor photometry illustrates small color changes during the eclipse with a total amplitude of order ~ +0 m . 15 in B-I color index. The linear ephemeris for this system is updated by including new times of minima, measured from the three most recent eclipses at epochs E = 9, 10 and 11. New spectroscopic observations were acquired, covering orbital phases around the eclipse, which were not observed in the past and increased the data sample, filling some gaps and giving a better insight into the evolution of the H {\alpha} and NaI spectral line profiles during the primary eclipse. Conclusions. The eclipse of EE Cep in 2014 was shallower than expected 0 m .71 instead of ~ 2 m . 0. This means that our model of disk precession needs revision., Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures, 29 tables in appendix, submited to Astronomy & Astrophysics

We present the discovery of a unique object, a chemically peculiar Ap-type star showing $\delta$ Scuti pulsations which is bound in an eclipsing binary system with an orbital period shorter than 3 days. HD 99458 is, therefore, a complex astrophysical laboratory opening doors for studying various, often contradictory, physical phenomena at the same time. It is the first Ap star ever discovered in an eclipsing binary. The orbital period of 2.722 days is the second shortest among all known chemically peculiar (CP2) binary stars. Pulsations of $\delta$ Scuti type are also extremely rare among CP2 stars and no unambiguously proven candidate has been reported. HD 99458 was formerly thought to be a star hosting an exoplanet, but we definitely reject this hypothesis by using photometric observations from the K2 mission and new radial velocity measurements. The companion is a low-mass red dwarf star ($M_{2}=0.45(2)$ M$_{\odot}$) on an inclined orbit ($i=73.2(6)$ degrees) that shows only grazing eclipses. The rotation and orbital periods are synchronized, while the rotation and orbital axes are misaligned. HD 99458 is an interesting system deserving of more intense investigations., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables, accepted in MNRAS

We report new multi-colour photometry and high-resolution spectroscopic observations of the long-period variable V501 Aur, previously considered to be a weak-lined T-Tauri star belonging to the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region. The spectroscopic observations reveal that V501 Aur is a single-lined spectroscopic binary system with a 68.8-day orbital period, a slightly eccentric orbit (e ~ 0.03), and a systemic velocity discrepant from the mean of Taurus-Auriga. The photometry shows quasi-periodic variations on a different, ~55-day timescale that we attribute to rotational modulation by spots. No eclipses are seen. The visible object is a rapidly rotating (vsini ~ 25 km/s) early K star, which along with the rotation period implies it must be large (R > 26.3 Rsun), as suggested also by spectroscopic estimates indicating a low surface gravity. The parallax from the Gaia mission and other independent estimates imply a distance much greater than the Taurus-Auriga region, consistent with the giant interpretation. Taken together, this evidence together with a re-evaluation of the LiI~$\lambda$6707 and H$\alpha$ lines shows that V501 Aur is not a T-Tauri star, but is instead a field binary with a giant primary far behind the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region. The large mass function from the spectroscopic orbit and a comparison with stellar evolution models suggest the secondary may be an early-type main-sequence star., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. Accepted to MNRAS

We report results of the first five observing campaigns for the open stellar cluster NGC 7243 in the frame of project Young Exoplanet Transit Initiative (YETI). The project focuses on the monitoring of young and nearby stellar clusters, with the aim to detect young transiting exoplanets, and to study other variability phenomena on time-scales from minutes to years. After five observing campaigns and additional observations during 2013 and 2014, a clear and repeating transit-like signal was detected in the light curve of J221550.6+495611. Furthermore, we detected and analysed 37 new eclipsing binary stars in the studied region. The best fit parameters and light curves of all systems are given. Finally, we detected and analysed 26 new, presumably pulsating variable stars in the studied region. The follow-up investigation of these objects, including spectroscopic measurements of the exoplanet candidate, is currently planned., Comment: 25 pages, AN accepted

We report our investigation of the first transiting planet candidate from the YETI project in the young (~4 Myr old) open cluster Trumpler 37. The transit-like signal detected in the lightcurve of the F8V star 2M21385603+5711345 repeats every 1.364894+/-0.000015 days, and has a depth of 54.5+/-0.8 mmag in R. Membership to the cluster is supported by its mean radial velocity and location in the color-magnitude diagram, while the Li diagnostic and proper motion are inconclusive in this regard. Follow-up photometric monitoring and adaptive optics imaging allow us to rule out many possible blend scenarios, but our radial-velocity measurements show it to be an eclipsing single-lined spectroscopic binary with a late-type (mid-M) stellar companion, rather than one of planetary nature. The estimated mass of the companion is 0.15-0.44 solar masses. The search for planets around very young stars such as those targeted by the YETI survey remains of critical importance to understand the early stages of planet formation and evolution., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures

We present a new observational campaign, DWARF, aimed at detection of circumbinary extrasolar planets using the timing of the minima of low-mass eclipsing binaries. The observations will be performed within an extensive network of relatively small to medium-size telescopes with apertures of ~20-200 cm. The starting sample of the objects to be monitored contains (i) low-mass eclipsing binaries with M and K components, (ii) short-period binaries with sdB or sdO component, and (iii) post-common-envelope systems containing a WD, which enable to determine minima with high precision. Since the amplitude of the timing signal increases with the orbital period of an invisible third component, the timescale of project is long, at least 5-10 years. The paper gives simple formulas to estimate suitability of individual eclipsing binaries for the circumbinary planet detection. Intrinsic variability of the binaries (photospheric spots, flares, pulsation etc.) limiting the accuracy of the minima timing is also discussed. The manuscript also describes the best observing strategy and methods to detect cyclic timing variability in the minima times indicating presence of circumbinary planets. First test observation of the selected targets are presented., Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Astron. Nachrichten

We present the Young Exoplanet Transit Initiative (YETI), in which we use several 0.2 to 2.6m telescopes around the world to monitor continuously young (< 100 Myr), nearby (< 1 kpc) stellar clusters mainly to detect young transiting planets (and to study other variability phenomena on time-scales from minutes to years). The telescope network enables us to observe the targets continuously for several days in order not to miss any transit. The runs are typically one to two weeks long, about three runs per year per cluster in two or three subsequent years for about ten clusters. There are thousands of stars detectable in each field with several hundred known cluster members, e.g. in the first cluster observed, Tr-37, a typical cluster for the YETI survey, there are at least 469 known young stars detected in YETI data down to R=16.5 mag with sufficient precision of 50 milli-mag rms (5 mmag rms down to R=14.5 mag) to detect transits, so that we can expect at least about one young transiting object in this cluster. If we observe 10 similar clusters, we can expect to detect approximately 10 young transiting planets with radius determinations. The precision given above is for a typical telescope of the YETI network, namely the 60/90-cm Jena telescope (similar brightness limit, namely within +/-1 mag, for the others) so that planetary transits can be detected. For planets with mass and radius determinations, we can calculate the mean density and probe the internal structure. We aim to constrain planet formation models and their time-scales by discovering planets younger than 100 Myr and determining not only their orbital parameters, but also measuring their true masses and radii, which is possible so far only by the transit method. Here, we present an overview and first results. (Abstract shortened), Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, AN accepted 2011 June 15