The eclipsing Cataclysmic Variable GS Pavonis: Evidence for disk radius changes

Abstract

We have obtained differential time series photometry of the cataclysmic variable GS Pavonis over a timespan of 2 years. These show that this system is deeply eclipsing (~2-3.5 mag) with an orbital period of 3.72 hr. The eclipse depth and out-of-eclipse light levels are correlated. From this correlation we deduce that the disk radius is changing and that the eclipses in the low state are total. The derived distance to GS Pav is 790+/-90 pc, with a height above the galactic plane of 420+/-60 pc. We classify GS Pav as a novalike system.