The impact of CoRoT on close binary research

The space experiment CoRoT will provide continuous monitoring and high accuracy light curves of about sixty thousand stars. Selected binary systems will be observed in the Additional Program frame as targets of long and continuous pointed observations. Moreover, thousands of new binaries will certainly be detected and hundreds of them will have extremely accurate light curves. This will allow studies of fine effects on the light curves, monitoring of stellar activity and, in combination with ground-based observations, will provide exquisite determination of stellar parameters. Among the new discoveries of interesting systems of special value will be those of low mass binaries.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, contribution to "Colse binaries in the 21th century", Syros (Greece), June 2005. To be published by Ap&S

Detection of a classical Delta Scuti star in the new eclipsing binary system HIP 7666

HIP 7666 is a variable star newly discovered during the Hipparcos mission and classified as of unknown type (ESA 1997). During 23 nights between July 2000 and November 2000, over 2300 CCD observations in the V band were obtained from Hostalets de Pierola and Monegrillo observatories in Spain. These data show that the new variable is a detached eclipsing binary system with an orbital period of 2.37229 days. In addition, one of the components undergoes very short-period oscillations with a main pulsation frequency of 24.46 or 25.47 c/d. HIP 7666 is therefore a new member of the presently very few known detached eclipsing binary systems with a Delta Scuti type component.Comment: 6 pages, 8 Postscript figure