UBV PHOTOMETRY OF THE WR BINARY CQ CEPHEI

Photoelectric observations of the WR binary CQ Cephei (WN6+O9) are pre sented. The depths of the eclipses in the light curves are best repres ented by an inclination of the orbit i = (68.8 degrees+/-0.6) and the width of the very asymmetric eclipse curves can be represented by only an overcontact configuration (Omega(1) = Omega(2) = 3.65+/-0.05, and f = 27%). Simultaneous solution of the light and radial velocity curve s strongly supports CQ Cep's membership of the Cep OB1 association. By considering this membership we obtained absolute dimensions of the sy stem, which lead to a consistent physical model for CQ Cephei. The mor e luminous WR primary turns out to be the hotter but slightly less mas sive component: M-WR = 20.8 M., R-WR = 8.2R., T-eff(WR) = 43600 K, and M-O = 21.4 M., R-O = 8.3 R., T-eff(O) = 37000 K.