AAVSO International Database

January 29, 2008: Further to AAVSO Special Notice #93, the pre main-sequence eruptive variable EX Lup (AAVSO 1556-40) appears to be  undergoing a major outburst, exceeding the previous brightest maximum recorded in 1955. Albert Jones (Nelson, NZ) reports that EX Lup reached a visual magnitude of 7.9 on 2008 Jan 29.66 UT (JD 2454495.1600). This exceeds the previous brigtest recorded magnitude of this object (m(vis) = 8.7 on JD 2435385.9 and 2435459.1) in 1955-56.  

January 31, 2008: Rod Stubbings (Tetoora Road, Victoria, Australia) reports via VSNET (vsnet-alert 9869) that the rarely outbursting UGSU star AQ CMi is in outburst. Stubbings reports that AQ CMi was at m(vis) = 14.6 on JD 2454496.978 (2008 Jan 31 11:28 UT). It is unclear whether the current outburst is a normal outburst or a superoutburst. The last confirmed normal outburst occurred on February 28, 2000, and the last confirmed superoutburst occurred in March 1997, nearly 11 years ago.

February 12, 2008

March 6, 2008: Dr. Patrick Godon (Villanova University / STScI) requests observations of the dwarf nova SS Aurigae (AAVSO Designation 0605+47) during the next several weeks in support of XMM-Newton X-ray observations. They request nightly visual and instrumental observations to determine whether the star was in outburst or quiescence during the observation scheduled for 2008 March 22/23 UT. Observations before, during, and after the scheduled X-ray observations will be used in their final analysis. Please begin observing now, and continue until at least April 5.

March 19, 2008: The intense gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B was detected in gamma ray, x-ray, optical light, and early indications by two automated cameras suggest that the optical afterglow of the burst may have briefly reached naked-eye visibility (mag ~ 5.76, GCN 7445, Cwiok et al) within 60 seconds of the onset. It is highly unlikely the burst was caught visually, but it is possible the burst may have been detected if any observers were monitoring this area of the sky (e.g. for minor planet searching).

March 28, 2008

March 31, 2008: V2468 Cyg (Nova Cyg 2008) was announced on March 8, 2008, in Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams Circular No. 8928 (Daniel W. E. Green, editor) and AAVSO Special Notice #98 (E. Waagen). The nova was discovered by Hiroshi Kaneda, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Japan (reported via S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan), at magnitude 8.2 +/- 0.3 on unfiltered CCD images taken March 7.801 UT.

April 23, 2008: Dr. Paula Szkody (University of Washington) and collaborators have requested our help in monitoring the cataclysmic variable SDSS151445 (SDSS J151413.72+454911.9) [PP Boo] for upcoming Hubble Space Telescope observations.  Dr. Szkody requests nightly monitoring of this source beginning immediately, and continuing through 2008 May 10 UT at least. A follow-up AAVSO Special Notice will be issued when the HST observing window has been set.

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