A Study of Twelve Potential Merger Candidate Contact Binary Systems

Abstract

Photometric observations and analysis of twelve previously poorly studied contact binary systems is presented. All show total eclipses and have extremely low mass ratios ranging from 0.072 to 0.15. Also, all show characteristics of orbital instability with mass ratios within the theoretical orbital instability range. Although none demonstrate a significant O’Connell effect at least nine of the systems have other indicators of increased chromospheric and magnetic activity.