[Aavso-photometry] asking about observation

[arne]

Evan Irawan Akbar wrote:
> 
> Dear Sir,
> I'm sorry, I don't know where I should send this email. So, I just send 
> it to your mail address.
> I want to observe some of dwarf novae type of SU UMa, but I don't know 
> when their next superoutburst would appear. Here's the list of objects:
> 1. OY Car (10 06 22.43,  -70 14 04.9)
> 2. T Leo  (11 38 26.96,   +3 22 08.1)
> 3. YZ Cnc (08 10 56.62.  +28 08 33.6)
> I'll observe them at Bosscha Observatory, Indonesia (107.5 east, -6.9 
> south)
> I'm planning to observe them on April-June 2006.
> May I know, when do they make outbursts again (the nearest event)?
> Thank you.
> 
Hi, Evan!
As you know, cataclysmic variables are nearly chaotic in their
outburst frequency.  You cannot yet predict when the next outburst
will occur.  OY Car has had two outbursts in the last year;
T Leo has had one; YZ Cnc has had none.  You can look at the
long-term light curves on the AAVSO web site:
http://www.aavso.org
(use the "pick a star" option in the upper left.)

If I had a 3-month observing run, I would choose a dozen of these
long-interval DN, and ask observers to monitor them for an outburst.
The chances would be good that one or two would go into outburst during
your run.  While waiting for the outburst, I'd do quiescent photometry
to see if there are any precursor events that could be used for predicting
future outbursts.
Arne