Observing campaigns

The Trapezium, BM Orionis, and Young Stellar Objects

Just over one year ago, a small spacecraft called MOST began a month-long observing run on one of the most spectacular objects in Earth's skies, the beautiful Trapezium region at the heart of the Orion Nebula, M42.  My collaborators and I applied for and received this observing time to survey variability in this young stellar cluster -- partly to study the eclipsing binary BM Ori (theta 01 Orionis B), but also to survey as many young stars that we were able to using the unique capabilities of MOST.  Since then, I along with my collaborators -- our Director Arne H

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 #244: Continued close monitoring of T Pyx requested

Continued close monitoring of T Pyx requested

June 30, 2011: Since its outburst on 2011 April 14 (see AAVSO Alert Notice 436), the recurrent nova T Pyx has been very well monitored by visual and instrumental observers who can reach -32o. Thank you! Currently T Pyx is visual/V magnitude ~8.3.

Campaign to monitor the recurrent nova T Pyx throughout 2011 eruption

April 15, 2011: Dr Bradley Schaefer (Louisiana State University) has initiated an international campaign to observe the recurrent nova T Pyx during its current eruption (see AAVSO Alert Notices 436 and 437). He asks the assistance of the AAVSO and our observers, and writes: