2025A&A...702A.103S

The neutron star X-ray transient MAXI J1807+132 underwent outbursts in 2017, 2019, and 2023. We conducted an R-band time series photometry campaign using the Isaac Newton Telescope during the 2022 quiescent state. We detected a periodic variation in the light curve that is consistent with ellipsoidal modulation, which allowed us to determine an orbital period of P_orb = 4.258 ± 0.008 h. By modelling the light curve, we obtained a binary inclination of i = 72 ± 5 deg and a mass ratio $ q = 0.24^{+0.19}_{-0.14} $ (68% confidence level). Furthermore, our analysis indicates the presence of an early M-dwarf companion that contributes between 30 and 50% to the total flux in the R band. We have extended the previously established absolute magnitude versus orbital period correlation for black hole X-ray transients to neutron star systems. We applied the correlation to MAXI J1807+132, estimating its distance to be 6.3 ± 0.7 kpc and its height above the Galactic plane to be 1.6 ± 0.2 kpc.