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CCD Views #313
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THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665
http://www.aavso.org
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C C D V I E W S #313
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
2. HST Observations of 7 Cataclysmic Variables
3. Chandra To Observe U Gem in Outburst
4. Blazar Mark 421 X-ray Outburst
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1. Introduction
This is a quick holiday issue with lots of exciting projects. Two major
space telescopes will be observing cataclysmic variables in the coming
weeks and another satellite plus a network of worldwide observatories
will be following an interesting blazar, Mark 421. These are all prime
observing projects for CCD observers with V filters. Where else can your
observations help determine the pointing of multi-billion dollar space
telescopes?
Please take time to observe these objects carefully. High quality
observations are essential. It is the past quality of AAVSO data that
makes professionals come to us for more help.
Also, please submit your observations as soon as possible. Many of these
scientists monitor submitted observations every few hours so the sooner
we get your data the sooner they can use it.
Thanks very much for your observations and good observing!
Aaron Price
Janet Mattei
Elizabeth Waagen
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2. HST OBSERVATIONS OF SEVEN CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES
We have been informed by one of our colleagues that the Space Telescope
Imaging Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope will be doing
ultraviolet spectroscopy of seven cataclysmic variables week.
The exact times of the six upcoming scheduled observations (one observation
was scheduled for Nov 26) are given below:
DESIG NAME START TIME (UT) END TIME (UT)
0740+43 SDSS0747 Nov 27 2002 17:22:05 Nov 27 2002 17:58:24
2324+05 RXS2329+06 Nov 28 2002 17:04:02 Nov 28 2002 17:39:03
0501-04 AQ Eri Nov 30 2002 17:26:38 Nov 30 2002 18:02:57
0815+51 BH Lyn Dec 01 2002 12:51:03 Dec 01 2002 13:25:52
2048+43 V751 Cyg Dec 01 2002 16:55:10 Dec 01 2002 17:29:37
1729+62 SDSS1730 Dec 06 2002 18:24:59 Dec 06 2002 19:00:08
Please observe these objects in V as often as possible during the
observing window and at least once per night a week before and after
the window.
Please note: If you use non-AAVSO charts to observe these objects,
it is essential that your chart information is included in your
observing report and that you use the K comment code.
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3. CHANDRA TO OBSERVE U GEM IN OUTBURST
Our colleagues from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Space
Telescope Science Institute have informed us that U Gem will be observed
during its next outburst with both Chandra's High Energy Transmission
Grating Spectrometer (HETGS) and Chandra's Low Energy Transmission Grating
Spectrometer (LETGS) to measure the soft and hard x-rays at maximum
and a few days after maximum.
Our colleagues are depending entirely on us to notify them as soon as
U Gem goes into outburst, so it is essential to monitor the star closely
and report its behavior. Please observe U Gem with a V filter many times
per night. Perhaps observe it at the beginning of your observing session,
in the middle, and then again at the end. Submit your observations to the
AAVSO as soon as possible and especially quickly if you notice U Gem
brighten to magnitude 13 or brighter, which likely signals the start of an
outburst.
Once U Gem is in outburst, continue to observe it at least once per night
until the outburst has bee over (U Gem is back at ~ magnitude 14.1) for at
least a week.
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4. BLAZAR MARK 421 X-RAY OUTBURST
The blazar Mark 421 appears to be in outburst in X-ray wavelengths.
Currently X-ray flux is at a factor of at least 20 above normal levels.
Observations of Mark 421 will be made with an orbiting X-ray satellite
December 2-5. Ground-based observations will be made by participants in the
Global Telescope Network (GTN), and will be attempted using instrumentation
at Whipple Observatory. The GTN has requested observations from the AAVSO.
Please observe Mark 421 at least once per night for the next two weeks and
multiple times per night between December 2 and 5 (UT).
If your observing program has room, add Mark 421 and BL Lac to your list
of regular objects to follow. We may have future campaigns for these
objects.
E-scale charts for Mark 421 are available at:
/observing/charts/
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CCD Views is published when circumstances warrant via e-mail.
An archive is available at http://www.aavso.org/ccdviews/ .
Please send comments and suggestions to aaronp@aavso.org.
To receive CCD Views via e-mail send a message to
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e-mail. To unsubscribe, place "unsubscribe ccdviews" in the e-mail.
The AAVSO has many free online publications including "Eyepiece
Views", a similar newsletter intended for visual observers. To learn
more and subscribe visit: http://www.aavso.org/mailinglists.stm
Good observing!
Aaron Price, AAVSO Technical Assistant (PAH)
Gary Walker, Chairman of the AAVSO CCD Committee (WGR)
Copyright 2002, American Association of Variable Star Observers
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THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665
http://www.aavso.org
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