AU Pegasi revisited: period evolution and orbital elements of a peculiar Type II Cepheid

Abstract

New analysis on the period changes of Type II Cepheid AU Peg is presented. The available recent photometric measurements were collected and analysed with various methods. The period has been found to be constant for certain time intervals, although increasing in overall, in contrast with the previous expectations, which suggested the period change to reverse. Superimposed on overall period change, a formerly unknown periodic behaviour has been found in the O‑C diagram of AU Peg, which cannot be matched to the radial velocity variations. Since the Cepheid is a member of a binary system, it is probable that the unusual period change is in connection with the companion's tidal force. The orbital elements of the binary system involving AU Peg have been also revised.