On the effect of emission lines on the UBVR photometry

Abstract

We investigate the effect on the U, B, V, Rc and Rj magnitudes of the removal of emission lines from a spectrum. We determined "Dm" corrections from the ratio of fluxes with and without emission lines, transmitted from the object through the photometric filter. An exact and a simplified approach for operative use were applied. The effect was demonstrated for classical symbiotic stars, symbiotic novae and the classical nova V1974 Cyg. It was found that about 20-30, 30-40, 10 and 26/20 percents of the observed flux in the U, B, V and Rc/Rj filter, respectively, is radiated in the emission lines of the investigated classical symbiotic stars. The largest effect was found for symbiotic novae (RR Tel and V1016 Cyg) and the classical nova V1974 Cyg at 210 days (in average of 74, 79, 56 and 66/60 percents). Examples for practical application are suggested.