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1. MARK 421 CAMPAIGN WITH RXTE AND VERITAS

The AAVSO has been asked through the GTN partnership to participate in a multiwavelength observing campaign of the blazar Mark 421 in support of RXTE and VERITAS observations through New Years Day.

CCD Observers are asked to observe Mark 421 for as long and often as possible until January 1, 2005 with special emphasis during the next week. One observation per night would be useful. Time series observations for as long as possible would be better. Time series observations during the observing windows below would be superb!!

RXTE and VERITAS (a new ground based gamma ray observatory) will be observing it once a day for about half an hour. Below is their observing schedule:

   RXTE Observation Times:
     DEC 18 (UT) 10:19:00 to 10:36:00
     DEC 19 (UT) 09:57:00 to 10:11:00
     DEC 20 (UT) 10:02:00 to 10:32:00
     DEC 21 (UT) 10:43:00 to 11:42:00
     DEC 22 (UT) 11:58:00 to 12:16:00
   VERITAS Observation Times:
     DEC 18 (UT) 10:15:00 to 10:45:00
     DEC 19 (UT) 09:57:00 to 10:27:00
     DEC 20 (UT) 10:02:00 to 10:32:00
     DEC 21 (UT) 10:35:00 to 12:05:00
     DEC 22 (UT) 11:55:00 to 12:25:00

Observations in V are wanted first followed by observations in Ic or Rc if you do not have an Ic filter*.

AAVSO charts with CCD photometry are here:
http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/searchcharts3.pl?name=MARK%20421

This is a tough field! Mark 421 is next to a galaxy, can sometimes exhibit extended emission itself and is next to two very bright mag 6-7.5 (V) stars. In addition, it rises around 9pm making good photometry only possible late at night. Just try your best, intrepid observer, and keep those FITS files.

Latest observations from the AAVSO Quick Look file are by Robert James (JM):

  DEC 16.3307 2453355.8307    13.47  JM     CCDV   Err: N/A                                                    
  DEC 15.3445 2453354.8445    13.3   JM     CCDV   Err: N/A                                                
  DEC 14.3348 2453353.8348    13.3   JM     CCDV   Err: N/A                                                    
  DEC 09.5434 2453349.04344   13.36  JM     CCDV   Err: 0.03   
  DEC 09.5412 2453349.04124   13.88  JM     CCDB   Err: 0.03  
  DEC 09.5390 2453349.03904   13.02  JM     CCDR   Err: 0.03 

* Note: Those who do not have an Ic filter should consider applying for an Ic filter grant at this URL:
http://www.aavso.org/observing/programs/hen/filtergrant.shtml

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2. HOLIDAY EXOPLANET TRANSIT CAMPAIGN UPDATE

The time is almost here for the transit windows for HD 74156 and HD 37605. The campaign is being coordinated at this URL:

http://www.aavso.org/news/transits.shtml

The combined transit window begins on December 26, 2004 and lasts until January 3, 2005. There are very bright stars so lots of practice will be needed. We recently put online an airmass and scintillation calculator to help your planning:

http://www.aavso.org/observing/programs/ccd/airmass.shtml

A new chart for HD 37605 is almost complete and should be online by next Tuesday. We are still working on more photometry for a new HD 74156 chart.

In the next few days I'll begin to post updates to the AAVSO Photometry Discussion Group. This is a good weekend to begin practice, in between the Mark 421 runs of course. :)

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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.

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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 2004, American Association of Variable Star Observers

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                Tel. 617-354-0484       Fax 617-354-0665
                         http://www.aavso.org
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