BO Monocerotis (BO Mon) is a severely neglected short-period (2.23 days) Algol-type eclipsing binary star system undergoing angular momentum variations that are likely due to the evolved secondary star experiencing cycles of magnetic activity. We present the first CCD light curves of BO Mon, which were observed at the Kutztown University Observatory (Kutztown, PA) in 2012 using B, V , and I filters. The analysis presented here is the first of its kind for BO Mon and provides the first physical model of the system's parameters. We also incorporate over 40 yr of published times of minimum light to provide a new ephemeris curve and perform a period study that greatly improves, while differing significantly from, an earlier ephemeris analysis that was done more than 13 yr ago. The observed variations in BO Mon's orbital period supply evidence for mass transfer and magnetic activity and our photometric model affords the basic properties of the system for use in future photometric and spectroscopic studies.

We present a new photometric study of Y Piscium (Y Psc), which includes BVI light curves and a period analysis. With an orbital period of 3.77 days, this neglected system undergoes period changes described by an overall quadratic ephemeris with oscillating variability superimposed. Variations in the light curve and ephemeris curve, possibly resulting from changes in the accretion structure and mass transfer rate, suggest that Y Psc may be a direct-impact system like U Coronae Borealis and U Sagittae, which are known to exhibit variable accretion states. The 0.46 m modified Cassegrain telescope at the Kutztown University Observatory (Kutztown, PA) was used to obtain the new CCD photometry over 18 nights of observation between 2011 October 5 and 2012 January 15. We present a new photometric model that was determined using the computer program PHOEBE and suggest a reclassification of the spectral type of the primary star. An analysis of previously recorded times of minimum, in conjunction with our observations, was used to suggest possible physical mechanisms intrinsic to the system. These include magnetic activity (Applegate mechanism) and angular momentum transfer, while the possibility of a third body is ruled out. The results presented here demonstrate that Y Psc is an excellent candidate for a high-resolution spectroscopic study.