Quiescent and Active States of V1413 Aql I: Photometric Activity Criterion and the Detection of a Secondary Minimum

Abstract

We present the results of our photometric UBV JHKL observations for the symbiotic star V1413 Aql obtained in 2012–2018. An analysis of the data has shown that inMay 2017 the system passed to a quiescent state with B − V ≈ 0_ṃ 6 for the first time since 1993. It lasted no more than five months. The J − K color at the primary minimum of 2012 reached 1_ṃ 5, which, given the interstellar reddening, corresponds to spectral type M5-M6 III of the cool component. A secondary minimum has been detected at φ ≈ 0.5 on the JK phase light curves constructed for the dates of observations with B ≥ 13.