The orbital plane for this system is nearly aligned with the line of sight to the Earth, so with each orbit the components are seen to eclipse each other over an orbital period of 75.67 days. However, these eclipses are shallow so there is not a complete occultation. The orbit has been circularized by tidal forces between the stars, but only the more massive component has had its rotation tidally synchronized with the orbit.[1] The system is fully detached with neither component overrunning its Roche lobe.[4]
The primary component, designated TZ Fornacis 1, has a spectrum that matches an aging G-type giant star with a stellar classification of G8 III. It is estimated to be 1.2 billion years old and is spinning in synchronicity with the orbital rotation. Based on the abundance of iron, the metallicity of this star is essentially the same as in the Sun. It has double the mass of the Sun and has expanded to over 8 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 37 times the luminosity of the Sun from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,930 K.[4]
The secondary star, designated TZ Fornacis 2, is an F-typesubgiant star with a class of F7 III. Models suggest it has just left the main sequence.[4] The star is still small enough that its rotation rate hasn't been significantly impacted by tidal interaction. It has a relatively high projected rotational velocity of 46 km/s.[10] The star has nearly double the mass of the Sun and four times the Sun's radius. It is radiating 23 times the luminosity of the Sun at an effective temperature of 6,650 K, making it the hotter star in this system.[4]
References
^ abcAndersen, J.; et al. (June 1991), "TZ Fornacis : stellar and tidal evolution in a binary with a fully-fledged red giant (absolute dimensions of eclipsing binaries. XVII).", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 246: 99, Bibcode:1991A&A...246...99A.
^Andersen, J.; Nordström, B. (September 1977), "Bright southern stars of astrophysical interest", Astronomy and Astrophysics, Supplement Series, 29: 309–312, Bibcode:1977A&AS...29..309A.
^Olsen, E. H. (August 1977), "HD 20301: an Eclipsing, Double-Lined Early G Giant", Information Bulletin on Variable Stars, 1317: 1, Bibcode:1977IBVS.1317....1O.
Valle, G.; et al. (April 2017), "Statistical errors and systematic biases in the calibration of the convective core overshooting with eclipsing binaries. A case study: TZ Fornacis", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 600, id. A41, arXiv:1612.07066, Bibcode:2017A&A...600A..41V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201628240.
Claret, A.; Gimenez, A. (April 1995), "Stellar and tidal evolution of TZ Fornacis: a case of asynchronism", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 296: 180, Bibcode:1995A&A...296..180C.
Clausen, J. V.; et al. (June 1991), "Four-colour photometry of eclipsing binaries. XXXIII. Light curves of TZ Fornacis", Astronomy and Astrophysics, Supplement Series, 88: 535, Bibcode:1991A&AS...88..535C.
Andersen, J.; et al. (1984), Maeder, Andre; et al. (eds.), "A New Test Case for Normal Giant Evolution - TZ-Fornacis", Observational Tests of the Stellar Evolution Theory. International Astronomical Union Symposium No. 105, held in Geneva, Switzerland, September 12–16, 1983, vol. 105, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Boston, MA, Hingham, MA.: D. Reidel Publishing Company, p. 397, Bibcode:1984IAUS..105..397A.