News and Announcements
| 25 October | Alert Notice 450: Request for observations of SDSS J080434.20+510349.2 in support of HST observations |
October 25, 2011: Dr. Paula Szkody (University of Washington) has requested the help of AAVSO observers in monitoring the WZ Sge-type cataclysmic variable SDSS J080434.20+510349.2 (SDSS0804+51) in support of Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet spectroscopic observations scheduled for 20:52:40 - 23:32:35 2011 November 3 UT (the night of Wednesday, November 2/3) (JD 2455869.36991-.48096). Nightly observations are requested beginning immediately and continuing through November 30. |
| 25 October | Alert Notice 449: Outburst of the UGWZ Candidate BW Scl |
October 25, 2011 |
| 24 October | Reminder: Observing Challenges End Soon! | |
| 21 October | Special Notice #261: Outburst of the UGWZ Candidate BW Scl |
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: |
| 19 October | AAVSO 100th Anniversary Commemorative Posters |
By popular demand! A set of twenty pdf commemorative posters exhibited at AAVSO Headquarters is available for downloading from our ftp site. The posters show portraits of the AAVSO's Directors, Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, Council members, and Staff from 1911 to 2011, and the top Visual, CCD, PEP, and Photographic/Photovisual observers. Click on the links below to download each poster. |
| 19 October | Deep light curve of GRB 110918A |
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| 18 October | Sky & Telescope to Celebrate Seventy Years! |
It's not only the AAVSO that is celebrating milestones this month. Our close personal friends, Sky & Telescope magazine is celebrating its 70th Anniversary in its own style. |
| 18 October | Group Photo from the AAVSO's 100th Anniversary Meeting |
Click on this link for a downloadable high-resolution group photo (1.7MB)
Click on this link for a downloadable KEY to the photo (877kb pdf)
Downloadable key includes list of those who attended but were not present for the photo |
| 09 October | New HQ Officially Dedicated |
The AAVSO's new headquarters was officially dedicated at a ceremony during the 100th Annual Meeting of the AAVSO, part of our 2011 centennial celebrations. The event was broadcast live on U-Stream. A video archive is still available on their servers. Sky & Telescope has a nice news article covering the dedication and events surrounding it. |
| 29 September | Charts and Sequences Update September 2011 |
The following stars (objects) have new or revised sequences as of September 29, 2011. Please update your charts if you observe any of these objects.
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| 26 September | New eJAAVSO preprint: Recent Minima of 146 EB Stars by G. Samolyk |
ej151: "Recent Minima of 146 Eclipsing Binary Stars" by G. Samolyk |
| 23 September | Astronomy Now Interview w/Williams and Saladyga |
Astronomy Now has posted an interesting dialog with the authors of Advancing Variable Star Astronomy: Tom Williams and Michael Saladyga. |
| 22 September | Special Notice 257: Reminder to observe V455 And for HST observations |
September 22, 2011: As detailed in AAVSO Alert Notice 448, Dr. Paula Szkody has requested monitoring of the WZ Sge-type cataclysmic variable V455 And through October 10. Observations tonight - September 22/23, tomorrow, and Saturday are crucial. |
| 16 September | Request to Take Astronomy Knowledge Survey |
Dear AAVSO Members and Observers, |
| 16 September | Special Notice #256: Request for fast optical time series of SN 2011fe |
September 16, 2011: Dr. Bradley Schaefer (LSU) requests fast time series of SN 2011fe over the next several weeks to attempt the detection of fast optical variations in supernova light. The following request was prepared by Dr. Schaefer which we forward at his request: |
| 14 September | Special Notice 255: Cataclysmic Variable in Draco = PNV J18422792+4837425 |
September 14, 2011: IAU CBAT Central Bureau Electronic Telegram 2818 (Daniel W. E. Green, ed.) announces the discovery by Hideo Nishimura, Miyawaki, Kakegawa, Shizuoka-ken, Japan, of a cataclysmic variable in Draco on 2011 Sept. 5.529 UT at magnitude 11.8 (reported by S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan). The variable was designated PNV J18422792+4837425 when posted on the Central Bureau's TOCP webpage. |
| 14 September | Three new eJAAVSO preprints |
ej148: "Deep Infrared ZAMS FIts to Benchmark Open Clusters Hosting delta Scuti Stars" by D. J. Majaess, D. G. TUrner, D. J. Lane, T. Krajci ej149: "Delta Scuti Behavior Detected in HD 349422" by G. Turner, R. Kaitchuck ej150: "A Search for Eclipsing Binary Light Curve Variations Among MACHO Project Light Curves of 3,256 Fundamental-Mode RR Lyrae Variables in the Galactic Bulge" by M. W. Richmond
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| 14 September | Supernova Photometry Chat with Dr. Michael Richmond |
On 13 September, 2011, we had the good fortune to have Dr. Michael Richmond, Physics Professor and Observatory Director for the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York chat with us about SN 2011fe and supernova photometry in general. Here is the transcript from that chat session. |
| 12 September | Alert Notice 448: Request for observations of V455 AND in support of HST observations |
September 12, 2011: |
| 11 September | Alert Notice 447: Nova Sco 2011 No. 2 = PNV J16364440-4132340 = PNV J16364300-4132460 |
September 10, 2011 |
| 10 September | Special Notice #254: T Pyx Campaign continues |
September 10, 2011: The outbursting recurrent nova T Pyx is past solar conjunction and is widely observable again. Arto Oksanen in Finland has been following it through July and August and reports it currently at 10th magnitude. Please add T Pyx back to your observing schedule if possible to follow the decline of its outburst. |
| 10 September | Special Notice #253: Request for Observations of MAXI J1836-194 |
September 10, 2011: Dr. Gregory Sivakoff (U. of Alberta) requests observations of the X-ray binary star MAXI J1836-194 as part of the JACPOT collaboration studying stellar radio jets from compact binaries. There is no predetermined duration for this campaign, but observations are requested now to coincide with ongoing X-ray and radio observations. |
| 09 September | Supernova Chat 13 Sept at 4:00PM ET |
Supernova 2011fe has been gaining a lot of interest, and not just among astronomers, either! News of SN 2011fe made "The News Hour" for instance. |
| 08 September | Special Notice #252: Upcoming Eclipse of Zeta Aurigae |
September 8, 2011: |
| 06 September | Supernova 2011fe: La supernova más brillante de los últimos 20 años |
