AAVSO Special Notice

Special Notice #238: HST observations scheduled for GW Lib

April 2, 2011: Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 433, Dr. Paula Szkody, University of Washington, informs us that the time of the HST observations of GW Lib has been set for Friday night, 2011 April 8/9. The ground observations to confirm that the object is not in outburst - and allow the HST observations to take place - will thus need to take place on Thursday, April 7/8.

Special Notice #237: Nova Sagittarii 2011 No. 2 = PNV J18102135-2305306 [V5588 Sgr]

March 28, 2011: We have been informed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram 2679, Daniel W. E. Green, ed.) that Koichi Nishiyama, Kurume, Japan, and Fujio Kabashima, Miyaki, Japan, report their discovery of a possible nova [V5588 Sgr] at magnitude 11.7 on two unfiltered CCD frames taken around March 27.832 UT. They confirmed the object on images taken on March 27.832 UT.

Special Notice #236: HST observations scheduled for SDSS074545

March 4, 2011: Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 431, Dr. Paula Szkody, University of Washington, informs us that the time of the HST observations of SDSS074545 has been set for 5:22-9:32 UT on 2011 March 13. This is Saturday night March 12/13. The ground observations to confirm that the object is not in outburst - and allow the HST observations to take place - will then need to take place on Friday, March 11/12.

Special Notice #234: Outburst of FS Aurigae

February 14, 2011: Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 428 (2010 Nov 30), the dwarf nova FS Aurigae appears to be in outburst.  The current outburst was detected simultaneously by P. Lake (Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia) at m(vis)=14.5 on 2011 Feb 14.0969 (JD 2455606.5969), and confirmed shortly after by G. Lubcke (Middleton, WI, USA) at around V=14.4 in time-series observations made simultaneously to the observation of Lake.  Follow-up photometry of this star is encouraged.

Special Notice #231: T Pyx Observations Requested

February 1, 2011: Sumner Starrfield (Arizona State University) has informed us that Chandra is currently observing the cataclysmic variable T Pyx.  He and his colleagues would like supporting optical monitoring of the star during the visitation.  One visit is happening now; the next and final visit will occur on February 5 (UT).

Special Notice #230: Nova Sagittarii 2011 = PNV J17474639-2335112 [V5587 Sgr]

January 31, 2011: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams Electronic Telegram No. 2644 (CBET 2644, Daniel W. E. Green, ed.) announces the discovery by Hideo Nishimura, Miyawaki, Kakegawa, Shizuoka-ken, Japan (reported by S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan), of a nova [V5587 Sgr] in Sagittarius on 2011 Jan. 25.86 UT at unfiltered magnitude 11.2 on two 15-s CCD frames with limiting magnitude 12.5; Nakano measured magnitude 11.4 +/- 0.6 on Nishimura's frames.

Special Notice #228: Supernova 2011K in anonymous galaxy is Type-Ia pre-maximum

January 14, 2011: We have been informed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBET 2636, Daniel W. E. Green, Ed.) that A. J. Drake, California Institute of Technology, et al. report a Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey discovery of a supernova in a faint anonymous galaxy in Catalina Sky Survey unfiltered images on January 13.19 UT at magnitude 15.1.

Coordinates: 04:45:30.38  -07:20:52.7  (J2000.0)

Offset: 2" South of the galaxy center

Special Notice #227: Unusual Behavior of FS Aur - Outburst Imminent?

January 3, 2011: The campaign to monitor activity of the peculiar cataclysmic variable FS Aurigae, as announced in AAVSO Alert Notice 428 (see also AAVSO Special Notice #226), continues. Principal Investigator Dr. Vitaly Neustroev reports that the campaign is going well, and that he is very appreciative of your observing efforts and contributions.

Special Notice #226: Request for observations of FS Aurigae

December 4, 2010: Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 428, the star FS Aurigae appears to be entering outburst.  The star was in quiescence on 2010 December 3.22 (JD 2455533.72; V = 16.3, G. Lubcke) but had risen to V=14.9 on 2010 December 4.23 (JD 2455534.73; R. Campbell).  Subsequent observations by H. McGee and A. Novichonok have confirmed that FS Aur is rising.  Time series observations of FS Aurigae are encouraged at this time; any and all filters may be used including clear, but V filter is preferred.