Distances to eclipsing binaries. III. Masses, radii and absolute magnitudes of 96 stars.

Distances to, and absolute magnitudes of, 96 components of eclipsing binaries with well-determined absolute dimensions have been computed using V-R photometry. The calculations take into account interstellar reddening, which is estimated from existing UBV and uvby-beta photometry, as well as photometric proximity effects. The resulting absolute magnitudes, dimensions, and masses are compared with zero-age main sequences predicted by theory. Theory is in good agreement with the observed data for stars more massive than the sun if a composition (X, Y, Z) = (0.66 + or - 0.03, 0.303 + or - 0.03, 0.037 + or - 0.005) is chosen. The corresponding helium-to-hydrogen number ratio is 0.115 + or - 0.02, in agreement with previous estimates.