2003AJ....126..370D

We describe photometry of 3 Vulpeculae obtained with the Four College Automated Photoelectric Telescope and spectroscopy obtained with the 1.22 m telescope of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. We have analyzed differential uvby photometric observations obtained over 7 yr. Three main frequencies (f₁=0.9719, f₂=0.7923, and f₃=0.8553 cycles/day) were found, as well as a sum frequency (f₁+f₂=1.76420 cycles/day). A study of the photographic region using high-dispersion spectrograms obtained with a Reticon detector at the coudé spectrograph confirms the variable nature of 3 Vul as a 53 Persei star and indicates that the star's abundances are normal for main-sequence band B stars. The new spectra were combined with those previously published to confirm an orbital period very close to 1 yr. Finally, comparison with models yielded both a mass (4.16 M_☉) and an age (25 Myr), and a mass range for the companion (0.6-1.1 M_☉). With an orbital period of almost 1 yr and a pulsation period of almost 1 day, this star is indeed an observer's nightmare.