The main aim of the present paper is the very first analysis of the
binary-orbit precession out of our Galaxy. The light curves of an eclipsing
binary MACHO 82.8043.171 in the Large Magellanic cloud (LMC) were studied in
order to analyse the long-term evolution of its orbit. It is a detached system
that is undergoing rapid orbit precession. The inclination of the orbit towards
the observer has been changing, which has caused the eclipse depth to become
lower over the past decade, and this is ongoing. The period of this effect was
derived as only about 77 years, so it is the second fastest nodal motion known
amongst such systems nowadays. This is the first analysis of an extragalactic
binary with nodal precession. This effect is probably caused by a distant third
body orbiting the pair, which could potentially be detected via spectroscopy.
Some preliminary estimates of this body are presented. However, even such a
result can tell us something about the multiplicity fraction in other galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, published in 2013A&A...559A..41
