The Asynchronous Polar V1432 Aquilae and Its Path Back to Synchronism (Abstract)
Volume 42 number 2 (2014)
- David Boyd
- CBA (Oxford), 5 Silver Lane, West Challow, Wantage, OX12 9TX, England; davidboyd@orion.me.uk
- Joseph Patterson
- Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, 550 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027; jop@astro.columbia.edu
- William Allen
- CBA (Blenheim), Vintage Lane Observatory, 83 Vintage Lane, RD3, Blenheim 7273, New Zealand
- Greg Bolt
- CBA (Perth), 295 Camberwarra Drive, Craigie, Western Australia 6025, Australia
- Michel Bonnardeau
- Le Pavillon, 38930 Lalley, France
- Tut Campbell
- CBA (Arkansas), Whispering Pine Observatories, 7021 Whispering Pine Road, Harrison, AR 72601
- Jeannie Campbell
- CBA (Arkansas), Whispering Pine Observatories, 7021 Whispering Pine Road, Harrison, AR 72601
- David Cejudo
- CBA (Madrid), Observatorio El Gallinero, El Berrueco, Madrid, Spain
- Michael Cook
- CBA (Ontario), Newcastle Observatory, 9 Laking Drive, Newcastle, ON L1B 1M5, Canada
- Enrique de Miguel
- CBA (Huelva), Observatoria Astronomico del CIECM, Parque Dunar Matalascañas, 21760 Almonte, Huelva, Spain
- Claire Ding
- Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, 550 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027
- Shawn Dvorak
- CBA (Orlando), 1643 Nightfall Drive, Clermont, FL 34711
- Jerrold L. Foote
- CBA (Utah), 4175 E. Red Cliffs Drive, Kanab, UT 84741
- Robert Fried
- Deceased 2003, formerly at Braeside Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ 86002
- Franz-Josef Hambsch
- CBA (Mol), Oude Bleken 12, B-2400, Mol, Belgium
- Jonathan Kemp
- Department of Physics, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753
- Thomas Krajci
- CBA (New Mexico), P.O. Box 1351, Cloudcroft, NM 88317
- Berto Monard
- CBA (Pretoria), P.O. Box 281, Calitzdorp 6661, Western Cape, South Africa
- Yemal Ogmen
- CBA (Cyprus), Green Island Observatory, Gecitkale, North Cyprus
- Robert Rea
- CBA (Nelson), Regent Lane Observatory, 8 Regent Lane, Richmond, Nelson 7020, New Zealand
- George Roberts
- CBA (Tennessee), 2007 Cedarmont Drive, Franklin, TN 37067
- David Skillman
- CBA (Mountain Meadows), 6-G Ridge Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
- Donn Starkey
- CBA (Indiana), 2507 CR 60, Auburn, IN 46706
- Joseph Ulowetz
- CBA (Illinois), 855 Fair Lane, Northbrook, IL 60062
- Helena Uthas
- Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, 550 W 120th Street, New York, NY 10027
- Stan Walker
- CBA (Waiharara), Wharemaru Observatory, P.O. Box 173, Awanui, 0451, New Zealand
Abstract
(Abstract only) V1432 Aquilae is the only known eclipsing asynchronous polar. In this respect it is unique and therefore merits our attention. We report the results of a 15-year campaign by the globally distributed Center for Backyard Astrophysics to observe V1432 Aql and investigate its return to synchronism. Originally knocked out of synchrony by a nova explosion before observing records began, the magnetic white dwarf in V1432 Aql is currently rotating slower than the orbital period but is gradually catching up. The fortuitously high inclination of the binary orbit affords us the bonus of eclipses, providing a regular clock against which these temporal changes can be assessed. At the present rate, synchronism should be achieved around 2100. The continually changing trajectory of the accretion stream as it follows the magnetic field lines of the rotating white dwarf produces a complex pattern of light emission which we have measured and documented, providing comprehensive observational evidence against which physical models of the system can be tested.