AAVSO International Database

Alert Notice 379: Support for Spitzer observations of tremendous outburst amplitude dwarf novae (TOADs)

May 16, 2008 : Dr. Steve Howell (NOAO) requests monitoring of a subset of the known and suspected tremendous outburst amplitude dwarf novae (TOADs) in support of Spitzer Space Telescope observations of these objects. Observers are asked to increase their monitoring of the objects in the table below in support of this campaign.  We note that several of these objects -- notably the WZ Sge stars WZ Sge, GW Lib, and V455 And -- are not expected to superoutburst during the next year, but observations are still encouraged in case they exhibit unexpected behavior.  

Alert Notice 380: Nova in Ophiuchus

May 27, 2008

Event: Nova in Ophiuchus

Discovered By: independently by several Japanese observers using unfiltered CCDs:
        -- K. Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, and F. Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken
        -- H. Nishimura, Kakegawa, Shizuoka-ken
        -- K. Haseda, Toyohashi, Aichi; via H. Yamaoka, Kyushu University

Discovery Date: 2008 May 25 (JD 2454612)

Discovery Magnitude: approximately 10.2 (visual estimate)

Alert Notice 381: Second possible nova in Ophiuchus - Nova Oph 2008 No. 2

June 2, 2008

Event: Second (Possible) Nova in Ophiuchus in 2008 - N OPH 2008 NO. 2

Discovered By: K. Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan, and F. Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan

Discovery Date: May 31.608 and 31.609 UT

Discovery Magnitude: unfiltered CCD magnitude 11.3 (two 30-s CCD frames using a 105-mm f/5.6 camera lens)

Alert Notice 382: Outburst of the symbiotic star CI Cygni

August 31, 2008 : Further to AAVSO Special Notice #121, we urgently request visual
observations and instrumental photometry of the outbursting symbiotic variable star CI Cygni, beginning immediately (2008 August 31; JD 2454710) and continuing for at least the next several weeks as the outburst evolves.

Alert Notice 383: Nova Scorpii 2008

September 6, 2008

Event: Nova in Scorpius

Discovered By: K. Nishiyama (Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan) and F. Kabashima (Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan); Y. Sakurai (Mito, Ibaraki-ken, Japan); and Guoyou Sun (Qufu, Shandong, China) and Xing Gao (Urumqi, Xinjiang, China)

Discovery Date: 2008 September 02.4594 UTC (JD 2454711.9594)

Discovery Magnitude: m = 9.5 (unfiltered)

Position: RA = 17h 57m 32.93s , Dec = -30d 43m 10.1s (from Nishiyama and Kabashima)

Alert Notice 384: Outburst of GK Persei

September 24, 2008: As reported in AAVSO Special Notice #125, the cataclysmic variable GK Persei appears to be entering another outburst.  The object began a slow rise on or about 2008 September 10 UT (JD 2454719.5), rising nearly one magnitude above its typical quiescent level of m(vis) = 13, to near m(vis) = 12.2 at present (2008 September 24 UT, JD 2454733.5).  This rate of brightening is typical of past outbursts, and suggests a rise to full outburst may occur soon.  However, this activity comes much sooner than expected based on past intervals between outbursts, and

Alert Notice 385: SN 2008fw in NGC 3261

September 29, 2008 : As announced in CBET 1521 (Monard and Morrell; Daniel W.E. Green, editor), SN 2008fw, a supernova of type Ia, has been discovered in the spiral galaxy NGC 3261 by L.A.G. "Berto" Monard of South Africa.  The most recent observation placed the supernova at an unfiltered magnitude of 14.2 on 2008 September 26.123 (JD 2454735.623).  It has been within 0.1 magnitude of that measure since its discovery, and it is believed to be no more than one week past maximum.  N.

Alert Notice 386: Low state of VY Scl

October 2, 2008 : The cataclysmic variable VY Scl appears to have recently entered a low state according to observations recently submitted to the AAVSO. Javier Temprano reports positive detections of VY Scl at CV=17.46 on JD 2454730.46181 (2008 Sept 20.9618) and at CV=18.23 on JD 2454730.572 (2008 Sept 21.072).  All other recent AAVSO and ASAS-3 (Pojmanski, G.

Alert Notice 387: V1721 Aql (Nova Aql 2008)

October 3, 2008
 

Event: Nova in Aquila

Discovered By: K. Itagaki (Yamagata, Japan)

Discovery Date: 2008 September 22.5 UTC (JD 2454732.0)

Discovery Magnitude: m = 14.0 (unfiltered)

Position: RA = 19h 06m 28.58s , Dec = +07d 06m 44.3s (from Itagaki)

Charts: Finter charts for this object may be plotted using VSP:
http://www.aavso.org/vsp

Alert Notice 388: Nova Mus 2008 = QY Mus

October 6, 2008
 

Event: Nova in Musca

Discovered By: W. Liller (Vina del Mar, Chile)

Discovery Date: 2008 September 28.998 UT (JD 2454738.498)

Discovery Magnitude: m=8.6 (Tech Pan phot + orange filter)

Position: RA = 13h 16m 36.44s , Dec = -67d 36m 47.8s (from P. Nelson)

Charts: Finder charts for this object may be plotted by entering the coordinates above into VSP: http://www.aavso.org/vsp