S Cnc as a Case Study of Classical Algol Evolution

Abstract

AbstractBasic information on empirical determinables for the system S Cnc are reviewed. Whilst the photometric information can be clearly analysed along well known lines, the spectrographic information is far from clear and requires further study, though a semi-detached configuration, at least, can be confidently deduced.The potentially important question of some physical relationship of the variable to the open cluster Praesepe is considered, but the result is in the negative.The evolutionary status of the binary is examined in a general way by making use of some summary formulae, some guidelines for which were taken from previous more general work of Refsdal and Weigert. S Cnc is in good overall agreement with the low mass Case B theoretical mode of binary evolution, and even the absence of a detectable rate of period variation is shown to be not in serious conflict with this picture. Interesting close comparisons with the well known example AS Eri are possible.