Studies of symbiotic stars. VII. EG Andromedae.

Using cross-correlation techniques on CCD echelle spectra we have determined a new set of precise radial velocities of the late type giant in EG And and have improved its spectroscopic orbit. A detailed monitoring of the Hα and HeI 5876 Å profile evolution along the orbital period is presented and clues to the origin of optical and UV emission lines are given. 154 new B band magnitudes covering the period 1968- 1985 are discussed as well as a number of low resolution spectra covering the period 1968-1992.

The very high baricentric radial velocity indicates that EG And is a quite old (hence low-mass) galactic object. This fact and the derived orbital mass function argue against an eclipse scenario for EG And.