THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS 25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA INTERNET: aavso@aavso.org Tel. 617-354-0484 FAX 617-354-0665 AAVSO ALERT NOTICE 209 (June 21,1995) OUTBURST OF 2325+43 DX ANDROMEDAE We have been informed by AAVSO member Jack Nordby, Moorhead, MN, and by Tonny Vanmunster, Landen, Belgium (Belgian Astronomical Society, WS, Cataclysmic Variables Circular (CVC) No. 42), that the dwarf nova type cataclysmic variable DX And is undergoing an outburst, as indicated by the following observations: May 20.979 UT, < 13.0, T. Vanmunster, Landen, Belgium; 21.938, < 13.8, Vanmunster; 22.983, < 13.0, Vanmunster; 27.933, < 13.0, Vanmunster; 29.053, 14.9, G. Poyner, Birmingham, England; 30.038, < 13.8, Vanmunster; Jun 1.930, < 13.0, Vanmunster; 2.972, < 13.8, Vanmunster; 6.001, < 13.0, Vanmunster; 7.943, < 13.8, Vanmunster; 8.990, < 13.8, Vanmunster (via CVC); 9.010, < 13.0, P. Schmeer, Bischmisheim, Germany (via CVC); 10.010, < 13.4, Schmeer;18.351,12.1, J. Nordby, Moorhead, MN; 18.993,12.2, Vanmunster; 19.001, 12.3, G. Poyner, Birmingham, England (via CVC); 19.009, 12.3, E. Broens, Mol, Belgium (via CVC); 19.939, 12.6, Vanmunster; 19.996, 12.3, Schmeer; 20.007, 12.3, J. Pietz, Erftstadts, Germany; 20.284, 12.3, Nordby; 20.461, 12.5, R. Royer, Lakewood, CA; 21.26, 12.9, G. Dyck, Assonet, MA. The most recent outbursts of this cataclysmic variable occurred in September 1994 (see AAVSO Alert Notice 193), when DX And reached magnitude 11.6 at maximum, and in August 1993, when it reached magnitude 11.0. The outbursts generally last two to three weeks. Please monitor the current outburst of DX And closely, using the "e" scale AAVSO preliminary chart distributed with AAVSO Alert Notice 193, and report your observations to AAVSO Headquarters. OUTBURST OF 2318+17 EP PEGASI We have been informed by Tonny Vanmunster, Landen, Belgium, that the dwarf nova IP Peg has gone into outburst. The most recently-observed outbursts of IP Peg occurred in December 1994, when the star reached magnitude 12.0 (AAVSO Alert Notice 192), and in August 1994, when it reached magnitude 11.8. Recent observations include: May 10.074 UT, < 12.6, T. Vanmunster, Landen, Belgium; 21.043, < 12.9, Vanmunster; 28.024, < 13.8, Vanmunster; 30.056, < 13.8, Vanmunster; Jun 3.019, < 12.9, Vanmunster; 7.979, < 12.9, Vanmunster; 8.994, < 12.9, Vanmunster; 19.014, 13.0, Vanmunster; 20.007, 13.9, Vanmunster; 20.029, 13.8, J. Pietz, Erftstadts, Germany; 20.455, 13.8, R. Royer, Lakewood, CA. Please monitor IP Peg closely, using the "e" scale AAVSO preliminary chart distributed with AAVSO Alert Notice 192, and report your observations to AAVSO Headquarters. IP Peg is a cataclysmic variable that has deep eclipses of two magnitudes or more with a period of 3.8 hours and a duration of several tens of minutes. Monitoring the eclipses during the outburst is valuable and recommended; report the timing of all positive observations to the minute (four decimal places). NEW VARIABLE IN CRUX: 1250-60 VAR CRU We have been informed by D. Green, Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT), of the discovery of a new variable star in Crux by astronomers (no names available) at the Observatorio Astronomico del Colegio Cristo Rey, Rosario, Argentina. The astronomers reported CCD observations of March 21 UT, 11.29; May 30, 9.53; and June 2, 9.44. Green reports a precise position provided by A. Gilmore and P. Kilmartin, Mount John University Observatory, New Zealand, for epoch 2000: R. A. = 12h 56m 25.64s Dec. = -60deg 57' 56.6" G. Williams, CBAT, examined the Digital Sky Survey, but found no corresponding image to magnitude 16-17 (assumed V), implying that the object is of relatively large amplitude. Kilmartin found an image on the Vehrenberg Atlas Stellamnt, but did not find an image on the Papadopoulos Tiue Visual Magnitude Photographic Star Atlas. (Green) Observations made by Kilmartin and Gilmore (via Green), and W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, indicate that the object is very red, and is most likely a long period variable. Additional observations of Var Cru include: 1992 Jun 1.02 11.2 PTG orange filter, W. Liller Jun 9.20 11.3 PTG orange filter, Liller 1994 Jan 30.28 11.0 PTG red filter, Liller Jul 30.04 <11.5 PTG orange filter, Liller Sep 2.04 <11.5 PTG orange filter, Liller 1995 Mar 22.40 <11:5 PTG orange filter, Liller May 21.01 11.5: PTG orange filter, Liller May 29.02 11.2 PTG orange filter, Liller Jun 3.12 11.3 PTG orange filter, Liller Jun 5.98 11.8 CCDV, Liller Jun 5.98 10.7 CCDR with IR block, Liller Jun 7.39 11.94 V, P. Kilmartin Please use the accompanying AAVSO 'b" and "d" scale preliminary charts prepared by C. Scovil, to observe Var Cru, and report your observations to AAVSO Headquarters. Congratulations to the astronomers at the Observatorio Astronomico del Colegio Cristo Rey on their discovery! OUTBURST OF 0846 + 58 BZ URSAE MAJORIS The dwarf nova-type cataclysmic variable BZ UMa has undergone a short outburst, as indicated by the following observations: Jun 1.915 UT, < 13.7, T. Vanmunster, Landen, Belgium; 2.935, < 13.7, Vanmunster; 7.911, < 13.7, Vanmunster; 7.957, < 13.7, G. Poyner, Birmingham, England; 8.986, < 13.7, Vanmunster; 9.89, < 13.3, P. Schmeer, Bischmisheim, Germany; 9.941, < 13.7, Poyner; 10.906, < 12.6, Schmeer; 11.90, < 12.6, Schmeer; 14.950, 11.5, Poyner; 15.956, 12.7:, B. Worraker, Didcot, England (via G. Poyner); 16.924, < 11.7, Schmeer; 18.991, < 13.7, Vanmunster; 19.929, < 13.7, Vanmunster; 19.938, < 13.2, Schmeer. The last recorded outburst of BZ UMa was in October 1994, when it reached magnitude 11.2. REMINDERS TO MONITOR 0409-71 VW HYDRI AND 2138+43 SS CYGNI 0409-71 VW Hydri. As was requested of our southern hemisphere observers in AAVSO Alert Notice 208, please monitor VW Hyi closely between June 23 and July 14, and notify us IMMEDIATELY when it becomes brighter than magnitude 12.5. Timely notification is crucial in order to schedule EUVE observations as part of a coordinated observing run with the EUVE, Voyager, and ALEXIS satellites by astronomers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 2138+43 SS Cygni. As was also requested in AAVSO Alert Notice 208, please keep a close eye on SS Cyg between now and the end of January 1996, and inform us when you see it going into or in outburst, i.e., when it is brighter than 11.3, so we may inform astronomers at the IUE station in Vilspa, Spain, who are interested in observing SS Cyg with the IUE when it is undergoing an anomalous outburst, i.e., when it is slow in rising to maximum brightness. The answering machine at AAVSO Headquarters is on nights and weekends for your convenience. Please call our charge-free number (800-642-3883) to report your observations. We also encourage observers to send observations by fax to 617-354-0665 or by e-mail through the Internet to observations@aavso.org. When telephoning in observations, please state the name of the star, the magnitude, and the time of the observation. Please speak clearly. The preferred time is either your local time (be sure to state the time zone and whether it is Standard or Daylight Savings Time) or Universal Time. You do not need to give the designation of the star. Please also include the comparison stars you have used in making the observation. Many thanks for your efforts and your valuable observations. Good observing! Janet A. Mattei Director