May 2, 2017: Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 538, the campaign from 2016 on V694 Mon (MWC 560) has been continued, but with different requirements. Photometry is no longer specifically requested on a regular basis (although ongoing observations that do not interfere with other obligations are welcome). Spectroscopy on a cadence of a week or two is requested to monitor changes in the disk outflow. V694 Mon is presently nearing opposition, but the request for spectroscopy continues until further notice.
April 28, 2017: Dr. Gregory Sivakoff (University of Alberta) has requested AAVSO observers' assistance in monitoring Swift J1357.2-0933 (CRTS J135716.8-093238) during its current outburst.
Thanks to a lot of hard work on the part of long-time sunspot observer Frank Dempsey and his team, the AAVSO is proud to announce the publication of a brand new observing manual designed to help introduce observers to the art and science of solar observing.
April 25, 2017: Dr. Carlo Manara (ESA Science and Technology SCI-S, the Netherlands) and colleagues have requested AAVSO assistance in monitoring the young, disk-bearing low-mass (M type) pre-main-sequence star EPIC 204278916 (2MASS J16020757-2257467).
April 6, 2017 : Dr. Nicolas Grosso (CNRS, Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg) has requested AAVSO assistance in monitoring the young eruptive star (FUOR type) V2492 Cyg from the optical to the infrared in support of X-ray observations with XMM-Newton scheduled for 2017 April 18 UT.
The XMM observations will take place: 2017-04-18 03:27:07 UT - 2017-04-18 14:17:07 UT.
AAVSO Newsletter 72, April 2017 is now available to members
The AAVSO Newsletter is a periodic, general forum that supports our various observing programs with lists of new targets, observing programming ideas, and general information that spans a wide area of interest. Guest writers contribute pieces that can range from current events to book reviews.
April 3, 2017: Dr. Rudolf Gális (Pavel Jozef Šafárik University (Slovakia)) and colleagues have requested AAVSO assistance in observing the symbiotic variable AG Dra. Observations are requested as a follow-up to spectroscopic observations and in order to monitor the system for an anticipated outburst.
March 16, 2017: Dr. Karen Collins (Vanderbilt University) has requested ground-based, follow-up observations of recently discovered exoplanet Proxima Centauri b. This exoplanet is a suspected Earth-size planet orbiting in the habitable zone of our nearest stellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri (V645 Cen). There exists a rough ephemeris of this target based on radial velocity measurements, so the predicted mid-transit times can vary +/- 6 hours. Therefore, it is requested that observations be as long as possible.
