Astron. Astrophys. 364, 557-562 (2000)

Analysis of the U-band orbital variation of the symbiotic binary AG Draconis during quiescence

N.A. Tomov ¹, M.T. Tomova ¹ and A. Ivanova <sup>2

1</sup> Institute of Astronomy and Isaac Newton Institute of Chile Bulgarian Branch, National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen, P.O. Box 136, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria (rozhen@mbox.digsys.bg)
² Institute of Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen, P.O. Box 136, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria

Received 15 October 1999 / Accepted 24 October 2000

Abstract

The photometric U orbital variations of the symbiotic binary AG Dra, caused by occultation of a bright gaseous region by the K giant in this system, are used to derive the emission from the circumbinary nebula, that is supposed to be generated by the cool giant's wind. Assuming spherical symmetry and constant expansion velocity for the wind, and that the giant has the same intrinsic continuum energy distribution of Boo, we derive a cool giant's radius of 2832 and a distance of 15601810 pc. We conclude that the cool giant does not fill its Roche lobe, which is contrasting with the intense, accretion powered X-ray emission.

Key words: stars: binaries: symbiotic stars: individual: AG Dra stars: mass-loss stars: circumstellar matter stars: distances stars: fundamental parameters

Send offprint requests to: N.A. Tomov

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Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. The photometric data analysis
• 3. The mass-loss rate
• 4. The method of calculation and results
• 5. Discussion and conclusions
• Acknowledgements
• References

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 2000

Online publication: January 29, 2001
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