HW Virginis

HW Virginis

Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension	12h 44m 20.2367s
Declination	−08° 40′ 16.837″
Apparent magnitude (V)	10.9
Distance	590 ± 65 ly (181 ± 20 pc)
Spectral type	sdB / M V
Other designations
HIP 62157
Database references
SIMBAD	data

HW Virginis, abbreviated HW Vir, is an eclipsing binary system (of the Algol type) approximately 590 light-years away (based on the stellar properties and magnitudes: the Hipparcos trigonometric parallax measurement has too high an error value to be useful) in the constellation of Virgo. The system comprises an eclipsing B-type subdwarf star and red dwarf star. The two stars orbit each other every 0.116795 days.

Eclipse timing variations

Based on variations in the timing of the system's eclipses, in 2008 it was claimed that two giant planets were in orbit around the binary: one with a masses of 8.47 and 19.2 times the mass of Jupiter orbiting with periods of 9.1 and 15.8 years respectively. The proposed system was later shown to be extremely unstable, with mean lifetimes less than 1000 years in the parameter space allowed by the uncertainties in the data. An alternate, dynamically-stable orbital solution was proposed with a 14.3 Jupiter mass object on a 12-year orbit and an outer companion of 65 Jupiter masses on a 55-year orbit, however it has been noted that the outer companion's orbital parameters are highly unconstrained, again casting doubt on the reality of this model. The problems with modelling this system and the proposed planets orbiting several other post-common envelope binaries has led to the suggestion that the eclipse timing variations used to infer the existence of planets has a non-planetary origin.

See also

• Algol
• CM Draconis
• QS Virginis
• NN Serpentis
• List of extrasolar planets