cataclysmic variables

Special Notice #265: Bright Symbiotics in Sgr, Cyg, and Oph

March 3, 2012: Observer S. O'Connor reported late last week that the symbiotic stars V4018 Sgr, CH Cyg, and V2523 Oph all appeared to be in outburst or brighter than normal.  He reports: V4018 Sgr at V=11.59 on JD 2455981.021 (2012 Feb 23.521); CH Cyg at V=7.30 on 2455982.976 (Feb 25.476); and V2523 Oph at V=11.67 on 2455981.0 (Feb 23.5).  Other more recent visual observations of CH Cyg by G. Holmberg (vis=7.6 on 2455983.4993) and D. Barrett (vis=7.4 on 2455985.6013) confirm the star is well above magnitude 8.0 at this time.

New results on FS Aurigae

The paper "Optical and X-ray Variability of the Peculiar Cataclysmic Variable FS Aurigae with a Magnetic and Freely Precessing White Dwarf" by Vitaly Neustroev and collaborators is now available on arXiv.org.  The paper was co-authored by several AAVSO observers, and involves data taken during the 2010-2011 observing campaign.

Special Notice #261: Outburst of the UGWZ Candidate BW Scl

October 21, 2011: The short period cataclysmic variable BW Scl appears to be in outburst. The object was detected in outburst at m(vis)=9.6 by M. Linnolt on 2011 October 21.3146 (JD 2455855.8146), and confirmed by A. Plummer at m(vis)=9.4 on October 21.3424.  Observations of this object are encouraged.  The object has conflicting classifications in astronomical literature, but is probably a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova rather than a novalike variable.

BW Scl is located at the following (J2000) coordinates:

Alerta de AAVSO 436

Erupción de la nova recurrente T Pyxidis
14 de abril de 2011

La nova recurrente T Pyxidis ha sido descubierta en erupción. Fue detectada por M. Linnolt (Hawaii, Estados Unidos) con magnitud visual 13.0 en abril 14.2931, 2011 (JD 2455665.7931), y confirmada por A. Plummer (m(vis)=12.2, JD 2455665.8847) y S. Kerr (m(vis)=11.3, JD 2455665.9410).  Esta es la primer erupción de T Pyx desde el 7 de diciembre de 1966, hace casi 45 años. Se solicitan urgentemente observaciones de esta rara variable eruptiva, comenzando inmediatamente.

Special Notice #233: Bright outburst of the cataclysmic variable SDSS J133941.11+484727.5

February 7, 2011: The star SDSS J133941.11+484727.5 has been reported in outburst by Jeremy Shears (Bunbury, UK).  Shears reports this star at magnitude 10.4 on 2011 February 7.919 (JD 2455600.419).  This is approximately 7 magnitudes above quiescence, which suggests a superoutburst of an SU UMa star or a WZ Sge-like outburst.  Gary Poyner (Birmingham, UK) confirms this outburst, estimating the star at 10.5 on February 7.959 (2455600.459).