Photoelectric photometry of the peculiar emission-line star GG Carinae

The first extensive sets of photoelectric observations of the peculiar emission-line star GG Carinae were obtained from 1977 to 1981, in both the standard UBV and Strömgren systems. A Fourier analysis of 767 independent measurements leads to the determination of a period P = 31[SUP]d[/SUP].020 for the light variations. Different physical arguments based on the analysis of the present photoelectric - as well as previous photographic - data clearly indicate, however, that the true period is P = 62[SUP]d[/SUP].039. The resulting composite lightcurve displays two distinct maxima and minima with a total light amplitude Deltam â ¡ 0.5 mag. Additional interesting features are noticed in the mean lightcurve. Although it is not possible to classify GG Carinae among any known type of variable stars, the light variations of this object are similar to those observed for beta Lyrae-type systems.