AAVSO International Database

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.

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.

Edward Smith (STScI) has requested nightly photometric monitoring of the symbiotic star AG Draconis during the period 2009 August 2, and tentatively scheduled to continue through mid-September 2009.

Event: Nova in Sagittarius          [V5583 Sgr]

Discovered Independently By:
a. - Koichi Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan, and Fujio Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan
b. - Grzegorz Pojmanski, Dorota Szczygiel, and Bogumil Pilecki, Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory, observed by ASAS3

Discovery Date:
a. - Aug. 6.494 and 6.495 UT, confirmed on five frames taken around Aug. 6.494
b. - Aug. 6.182 UT

Kunegunda Belle, Don Hoard and Steve Howell are observing two cataclysmic variables with Spitzer during the next couple of weeks.  They request ground-based light curves spanning the observation intervals so that they can identify the state each variable is in during the Spitzer visits.

1. EX HYA (12:52:24.20, -29:14:56.0, AUID 000-BBT-323)

The observations for EX Hya are scheduled for:

2009-08-18  19:25:01.1 UT 3.6micron single exposure
2009-08-18  19:26:52.9 UT 4.5micron light curve

Event: Nova in Ophiuchus     [V2672 Oph]

Discovered By: K. Itagaki (Teppo-Cho, Yamagata, Japan)

Discovery Date: 2009 August 16.515

Position: RA = 17h 38m 19.72s , Dec = -26d 44m 13.7s (+/- 0.6 arcsec
        from L. Elenin, Moscow, Russia, using the Tzec Maun 0.31-m
        Newtonian near Mayhill, NM)

Dr. Brian Espey (Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland) has requested photoelectric photometry and bright star CCD photometry of the semiregular variable V2105 Oph beginning immediately.  These observations are in support of ultraviolet spectroscopy to be obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope on Wednesday, September 2, 2009.  Observations are requested to continue through Sunday, September 6, 2009.

Event: Type-Ia Supernova 2009ig in NGC 1015 has brightened

Discovered By: I. Kleiser, S. B. Cenko, W. Li, and A. V. Filippenko, University of California (LOSS discovery on unfiltered KAIT images)

Discovery Date: Aug. 20.48 UT

Dr. Brian Espey (Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland) has requested photoelectric photometry and bright star CCD photometry of the semiregular variable NSV 99 (= khi Peg) beginning immediately.  These observations are in support of ultraviolet spectroscopy to be obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope in late October and late November 2009. Observations are requested to continue through the end of November 2009.

The observers of the AAVSO are asked to participate in a long-term photometric monitoring campaign on a number of magnetically active dwarf stars, requested by Dr. Styliani (Stella) Kafka of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institute of Washington.  She requests long-term monitoring of these targets with an observing frequency of one observation every three days taken with one or more filters.