AAVSO International Database

Alert Notice 389: Support for VLT spectroscopy of the novalike variable VY Scl

November 11, 2008 : Dr. Steve Howell (NOAO, Tucson) informs us that he has been awarded time to obtain spectroscopic observations of the cataclysmic variable VY Scl with the Very Large Telescope in Chile. These observations are being  sought during VY Scl's current deep minimum, which began some time before 2008 September 20 (JD 2454730). VLT observations are scheduled via prioritized queue, and the exact observation time is not yet known; however, observations are expected within 1-2 weeks.

Alert Notice 392: Supernova 2008hy in IC 334

December 8, 2008: Further to CBETs No. 1608 (Puckett and Langoussis; Daniel W. E. Green, editor) and No. 1610 (Dennefeld et al., and Yamanaka et al.) the supernova SN 2008hy has been identified as a Type Ia supernova, and is believed to be near maximum light (V=14.3 on 2008 Dec 07.13, JD 2454807.63; T. Orff, reported by Puckett and Langoussis).  The object is located approximately 100 arcseconds NNE of the center of IC 334.
 

Independently obtained spectroscopy of the supernova by Dennefeld et al.

Alert Notice 393: Monitoring for a planetary transit of HD 80606

February 3, 2009: Dr. Greg Laughlin (Lick Observatory) requests intensive time-series photometry of the possible transiting extrasolar planetary system HD 80606. This system, recently in the news due to the extreme temperatures to be found on the planet, is predicted to reach conjunction on or around HJD 2454876.5 (2009 Feb 14.0 UT), and there is a low but significant probability (<15%) that the system is eclipsing. If it eclipses, the duration of the eclipse may be as long as 17 hours.

Alert Notice 394: Nova in the Large Magellanic Cloud

February 9, 2009
 

Event: Nova in The Large Magellanic Cloud         [N LMC 2009]

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

Discovery Date: 2009 February 05.067 UT (JD 2454867.567)

Discovery Magnitude: m=10.6 (Tech Pan photograph, unfiltered)

Position: RA = 05h 40m 44.20s , Dec = -66d 40m 11.6s (J2000; H. Bond et al.)

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

Alert Notice 395: Nova in Sagittarius

May 6, 2009
 

Event: Nova in Sagittarius    [subsequently named V5581 Sgr]

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

Discovery Date: 2009 April 21.711 UTC (JD 2454943.211)

Discovery Magnitude: m=11.7 (unfiltered)

Position: RA = 17h 44m 08.44s , Dec = -26d 05m 48.7s (from K. Kinugasa, S. Honda, and O. Hashimoto, Gunma Astronomical Obs.)

Alert Notice 396: Nova in Centaurus

May 15, 2009
 

Event: Nova in Centaurus

Discovered By: G. Pojmanski, D. Szczygiel, and B. Pilecki (Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory)

Discovery Date: 2009 May 08.235 UT

Discovery Magnitude: m=8.235 (ASAS V)

Position: RA = 13h 31m 15.76s , Dec = -63d 57m 38.5s (from L. Elenin, Moscow, Russia, using the Tzec Maun-Pingelly 0.15-m refractor near Perth, Australia)

Alert Notice 397: Request for optical photometry of the bright X-ray binary V884 Sco (4U 1700-377)

June 30, 2009
 

Dr. Jerome Orosz (SDSU) has requested the assistance of southern bright star observers in observing the high-mass X-ray binary star V884 Sco (== 4U 1700-377). Orosz and collaborators are attempting to measure the mass of the compact object to clarify whether the object is a black hole or a neutron star. Optical photometry of the ellipsoidal variations of V884 Sco will be used in conjunction with optical spectroscopy to be performed at Las Campanas in mid-July and early August 2009 to measure the dynamical properties of the system.

Alert Notice 398: Eclipse of epsilon Aurigae

July 10, 2009

The bright, long-period, eclipsing binary star epsilon Aurigae is predicted to begin its next eclipse late July or early August of 2009. The AAVSO is participating in a global campaign to record this eclipse as part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 celebrations, organized by the Citizen Sky project (http://www.citizensky.org). Epsilon Aurigae is now past solar conjunction and has reappeared as a morning object.