%0 Journal Article
%T Visual minima timings of eclipsing binaries: To use or not to use?
%A Zden¨§k Mikul¨¢£¿ek
%A Miloslav Zejda
%A Liying Zhu
%A Shen-Bang Qian
%A Ji£¿¨ª Li£¿ka
%A Stefanus Nicholas de Villiers
%J Physics
%D 2012
%I arXiv
%X Plenty of mid-eclipse timings of short-periodic eclipsing binaries derived from series of visual observations appear to be an acceptable source of information for orbital period analyses, namely if they were done in time-intervals not covered by other types of observations. However, our thorough period analysis of the nearly contact eclipsing binary BS Vulpeculae proves that visually determined timings done in 1979--2003 were undoubtedly biased to accommodate the existing linear ephemeris. The heavily subjective character of visual observations disqualifies them as a source of true phase information apt for fine eclipsing binary period analyses. Consequently we warn against the use of visual timings without a preceding careful verification.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.5519v1