Re: finding eclipsing binaries

["Dirk Terrell" <terrell@boulder.swri.edu>]

On Sun, 11 May 2003 21:06:37 -0400, Stupendous Man wrote:

>  I recall from a conversation some years ago that, in order to find
>"a good fraction" of the eclipsing variables in a sample of stars,
>one needed at least 30 -- and maybe 100? -- samples at random times.

It will depend, of course, on the type of EB. For systems with small
relative radii (i.e. the stars are small compared to their separation;
well-detached; long period systems), then you will need more samples.
For large relative radii (like overcontact systems), then fewer samples
will do, maybe even 10 or so would be enough to detect it. It's also
going to depend on the inclination; shallow eclipses will need more
samples to get a good detection. 

Dirk