PAGE i R S O P H I U C H I L I G H T C U R V E S 1 8 9 0 - 1 9 9 5 AAVSO MONOGRAPH 7 This monograph is dedicated to George S. Mumford in recognition of his contributions to and support of the Association and its goals. Prepared by Janet A. Mattei Elizabeth O. Waagen Benjamin D. Oppenheimer E. Grant Foster Funds for preparation and publication provided by George S. Mumford Clinton B. Ford Additional funds provided by AAVSO Members International Astronomical Union (IAU) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE ii ISBN 1-878174-13-4 COPYRIGHT 1996 by the American Association of Variable Star Observers 25 Birch Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA All rights reserved. All commercial use of any part of this book requires the written permission of the AAVSO. All non-commercial use by individuals and educators is granted without restriction. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction v Observers of RS Ophiuchi vii Information on RS Ophiuchi x Key to Symbols x Historical Light Curve of RS Ophiuchi, 1890 - 1995 1 Light Curves of RS Ophiuchi, 1963 - 1995 3 Expanded Light Curves of Outbursts of RS Ophiuchi, 1967 and 1985 27 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE iv is blank ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE v RS OPHIUCHI LIGHT CURVES, 1890 - 1995 Introduction AAVSO long-term light curves contain crucial information that has a significant bearing on many outstanding questions in astrophysics. These light curves define the behavior pattern of variable stars and provide basic sets of observations that may be used to correlate spectroscopic, photometric, and polarimetric multiwavelength data, and to check theories and match models. The AAVSO Monograph format enables us to present long-term variable star behavior, with each Monograph containing 20 or more years of computer-generated light curves on one star. Each Supplement to a Monograph continues the light curves of the same star, bringing them more up-to-date. RS Ophiuchi Light Curves, 1890 - 1995 AAVSO Monograph 7 contains light curves of the recurrent nova-type cataclysmic variable star RS Ophiuchi from 1890 through 1995. The AAVSO historical light curve from 1890 through 1995 (JD 2411509 - 2450083) is presented on pages 1 - 2. This light curve has been included to give a more complete picture of RS Ophiuchi's behavior. The data for 1890 - 1917 (through JD 2421369) are photographic and were compiled by Leon Campbell, first Recorder of the AAVSO, and were published by him in Harvard Annals, Volume 84, No. 5. The rest of the observations that comprise this light curve are visual and come from the AAVSO International Database and Archives. Of these data, those that have been published appear in Popular Astronomy, Volumes 19 - 43 (1917 - 1935); Harvard Annals, Volumes 104 - 107 and 110 - 116 (1935 - 1946); AAVSO Quarterly Reports 1 - 27 (1946 - 1961); and AAVSO Report 29 (1961 - 1963). Pages 3 through 26 contain computer-generated light curves from 1963 through 1995, with each dot representing one observation. Observations are plotted Julian date versus magnitude, and the start of each year (January 1) is indicated along the upper axis. A scaled grid is provided to assist in determining the exact date and magnitude of any data point. Factual information on RS Ophiuchi and a Key to Symbols are given on page x. Expanded light curves on pages 27 and 28 show the 1967 and 1985 outbursts of RS Ophiuchi, respectively, in greater detail. The observations in this monograph are the contributions of AAVSO members or observers in the United States and abroad. 489 observers have contributed 22,270 observations to the light curves from 1963 through 1995. The names and observer codes of these observers are given on pages vii through ix. Organizations whose members have contributed observations to the AAVSO either individually or through their organization are listed on page ix. Benjamin (Ben) D. Oppenheimer, high school summer intern at AAVSO in 1993, 1994, and 1995, worked with the observations of RS Ophiuchi from the AAVSO International Database and evaluated them for accuracy in order to analyze its longterm behavior. This work was published in the Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, Volume 22, 105 (1993), and in Compact Stars in Binaries, J. van Paradijs et al. (eds.), 457 (1996), the proceedings of IAU Symposium 165. In preparing the data for publication in this monograph, the data files evaluated by Ben were used. Each of the observations was further evaluated by my senior technical assistant Elizabeth O. Waagen and by me. Software used in evaluating and plotting the observations was developed by my technical assistant E. Grant Foster. The observations from 1963 through 1995 included in this monograph have been preserved on compact disc, cartridge, and printout. v ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE vi Electronic, diskette, or printout copies of observations for further analysis may be obtained by writing or sending email to the AAVSO Director at aavso@aavso.org. The data may also be retrieved for personal use (not for publication or distribution) from the AAVSO's ftp site: ftp.aavso.org (198.116.78.2) in /pub/monographs, or its home page: http://www.aavso.org. Acknowledgements We dedicate AAVSO Monograph 7 to George S. Mumford, who has provided generous support for the preparation of AAVSO monographs and supplements. We extend our sincere thanks to him. We remember with special thanks Clinton B. Ford for his very generous contribution for the preparation of this and subsequent monographs and monograph supplements. Our sincere thanks go to AAVSO members and friends for their contributions to prepare these monographs and monograph supplements. We thank the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for their support of our monograph series and for the grant provided to the AAVSO to publish this and other monographs. We acknowledge with thanks the computer support of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for the processing of part of the data and data preservation. The evaluation of the data and the preparation of this monograph were accomplished using the computer facilities at AAVSO Headquarters. This computer hardware was purchased through grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (grant awards NAGW 1493 and NAG 5-1459), the Kenilworth Fund, and the Theodore H. Dunham Fund for Astrophysical Research. We gratefully acknowledge these grants. Many AAVSO assistants helped in the preparation of the data for publication. My special thanks go to Michael Saladyga for extracting the historical observations from the AAVSO International Database, Benjamin D. Oppenheimer for initially evaluating the observations, to Elizabeth O. Waagen for her careful evaluation of the observations and plotting the light curves, and to E. Grant Foster for developing the computer programs for the IBM-PC compatible MS-DOS computers at AAVSO Headquarters to evaluate, plot, and prepare the data for publication. Robert S. Hill, Charles M. Jones, and Richard J. Strazdas assisted in the initial development of the computer programs to manage the large volumes of data. Barbara Silva, Donna Eldridge, Douglas Van Orsow, Young Lim, Michael Bickford, and several other student-assistants have helped in making the data computer-readable. The dedication, the many, many hours of observing, and the untiring efforts of our observers in pursuit of contributing to variable star astronomy have made this publication possible. Our very sincere thanks and gratitude go to them for their valuable astronomical contributions. Janet Akyuz Mattei Director Cambridge, Massachusetts April 1996 vi ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE vii CONTRIBUTORS TO AAVSO DATA ON RS OPHIUCHI 1963 - 1995 AAP ABBOTT, A. PATRICK 10 | CIT CAVAGNA, MARCO 7 | AMT ADAMS, MARK T. 65 | CNT CHANTILES, DEAN 4 | AD ADAMS, ROBERT M. 81 | CF CHAPMAN, FRANK 1 | AYT AKIYOSHI, TARO C. 6 | CHR CHOATE, ROBERT 25 | AB ALBRECHT, WILLIAM 662 | TCE CIFUENTES-TORRES, EDUARDO 5 | AMO AMORETTI, MAURO 1 | CLL CLANCY, SEAN 12 | AJ ANDERER, JOSEPH A. 4 | CWP CLARKE, WILLIAM P. 21 | AOD ANDERSEN, ODD'IVAR 2 | COL COLLINS, PETER L. 55 | AK ANDERSON, CARL A. 7 | CMG COMELLO, GEORG 6 | AC ANDERSON, CURTIS E. 217 | CGG CONLIN, GREGORY 2 | ASR ANDERSON, STERLING 4 | COO COOK, LEWIS M. 70 | AJR ANDRESS, J. ROBERT 61 | COK COOK, RYAN D. 13 | ANN ANNAL, ROBERT J. 27 | CK COOK, STEPHEN P. 45 | ARI ARIAIL, ROBERT B. 1 | COM COOPER, TIMOTHY 5 | AKT ATKIN, TIMOTHY W. 8 | CRN CORTNER, DAVID 8 | AX AXELSON, KEITH A. 4 | CSD COSTANZO, DANIEL 16 | BOZ BAGO, BALAZS 2 | CLX COX, LOUIS B. 3 | BTR BAKER, TIM R. 52 | CR CRAGG, THOMAS A. 90 | BVE BALLEGOY, E. V. 6 | CRR CRUMRINE, ROBERT E. 10 | BJ BANKS, JAMES 90 | CSM CSUKAS, MATYAS 5 | BSF BARNHART, STEPHEN 3 | DAN DANKO, JANOS 4 | BMA BARONE, MIGUEL 4 | DAK DANSKIN, KEITH H. 3 | BSR BARONI, SANDRO 7 | DTA DARVANN, TRON A. 2 | BAJ BARROSO JR., JAIR 1 | DV DAVIDSON, GREG 14 | BAU BAUER, JOHANN 95 | DAJ DAVIS, JACK F. 1 | BBA BEAMAN, BARRY B. 2 | DK DE KOCK, REGINALD 227 | BEK BECK, INEZ 1 | DEY DE YOUNG, JAMES A. 15 | BKK BECKMANN, KENNETH 166 | DBF DEBOOSERE, FRANK 1 | BJS BEDIENT, JAMES R. 2 | DEA DEMARTINO, ROBERT 2 | BNY BENGE JR., RAYMOND 1 | DHD DIEDRICH, DELORNE 1 | BTY BENNER, TERRY 2 | DHG DIEDRICH, GEORGE 2 | BBE BERENTE, BELA 1 | DPA DIEPVENS, ALFONS 20 | BEB BERG, RAYMOND 12 | DMN DIERICK, DOMINIQUE 5 | BML BERNSTROM, MARVIN 31 | DRG DIETHELM, ROGER 62 | BEZ BEZECOURT, JOCELYN 2 | DLA DILL, ALBERT G. 2 | BIC BICHON, LAURENT 35 | DIL DILLON, WILLIAM G. 26 | BIL BILODEAU, GERALD A. 1 | DRX DIXON, ROBERT 19 | BKG BIRKHIMER, GLENN 4 | DMR DOMEN, RONALD 10 | BKN BIRKNER, ALAN J. 2 | GDB DOMENY, GABOR 3 | HUO BLOOM, DONNA J. 1 | DR DOUCET, ROBERT 1 | BLU BLUNDELL, BRUCE 1 | DUS DUBOIS, ROBERT 1 | BAX BOATTINI, ANDREA 2 | DRY DUCOTY, RICHARD B. 41 | BOD BOHN, DENNIS 42 | DRR DUDLEY JR., RAYMOND 2 | BOI BOIS, BERNARD 40 | DDR DUNAI, ODON R. 1 | BYR BONDONO, JEFFERY R. 6 | DDW DUNHAM, DAVID W. 1 | BRJ BORTLE, JOHN E. 1198 | DUR DURUY, MAURICE V. 16 | BZC BORZELLI, CARMINE 20 | DGP DYCK, GERALD P. 254 | BMU BOUMA, R. J. 65 | ECJ ECKENDORF, JAMES H. 23 | BRG BOURGEOIS, BENJAMIN 3 | EMS EDELSTEIN, MARK S. 2 | BAP BRADLEY, PHILIP A. 9 | EDG EDGERTON, BRIAN J. 1 | BDT BRANCHETT, DAVID W. 29 | ELD ELIAS, DEMETRIUS P. 2 | BTB BRETL, THOMAS C. 5 | EL ELLERBE, JAMES E. 35 | BSM BRINCAT, STEPHEN M. 49 | EJT EMMERT, JOHN T. 6 | BAA BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASS'N 2 | FCA FAUSEL, CHARLES A. 1 | BLP BRLAS, PAL 2 | FKJ FEKETE, JANOS 1 | BRB BROWN, BARRY 2 | FE FERNALD, CYRUS F. 385 | BRH BROWN, DOUGLAS 1 | FER FERNANDEZ, YAMANDU 1 | BMB BROWN, MALCOLM B. 1 | FET FETTERMAN, THOMAS 32 | BNK BROWN, NICHOLAS 1 | FRF FIDRICH, ROBERT 10 | BOA BRUNO, ALAIN 4 | FSJ FIS, JEAN-LOUIS 1 | BUO BUENO, ANTONIO T. 17 | FG FITZERALD, D. J. 3 | BUW BUHROW, ROSS 32 | FEM FLYNN, EDWARD M. 1 | BTH BURROWS, THOMAS A. 4 | FD FORD, CLINTON B. 21 | BX BURT, STEPHEN E. 2 | FRH FRICH, ARNAND 12 | BJU BUSS, JOHN C. 19 | FN FRIEDMAN, DAVID M. 2 | CBA CABRERA RODRIGUEZ, ANGEL 20 | FR FRITON, EDWIN E. 68 | CWA CAMPNEY, WALTER 47 | GBZ GABZO, OFER 253 | CPA CAMPONOVO, AMBROSIO 20 | GAE GAERTNER, ELKE 3 | CFN CAMPOS, FRANCISCO 7 | GJW GARASICH, JAMES W. 2 | CTB CARTER, BRIAN A. 1 | GBE GARDNER, BRUCE E. 1 | GAP GARNAVICH, PETER 44 GAY GAYDOS, MARK 4 GSR GESCHWIND, RALPH 33 GER GESZLER, RUDOLF 1 GLN GILLAIN, JEAN-MARIE 3 GGT GLENN, GARY 1 GFB GOFF, WILLAM 2 GOP GOODWIN, PAUL N. 53 GRL GRANSLO, BJOERN H. 167 GRW GREEN, DANIEL W. E. 1 GRI GRIESE III, JOHN W. 34 GRZ GRZELCZYK, HEINZ 97 GCO GUALDONI, CARLO 3 GUB GUBBELS, GUIDO 1 HCS HADHAZI, CSABA 2 HTY HAGER, TIMOTHY 50 HK HALBACH, EDWARD A. 93 HMR HAM, RONALD 4 HSG HANSON, GENE 127 H HARTMANN, FERDINAND 7 HAV HARVAN, RICHARD P. 106 HWL HAWLEY, WALTER 1 HAY HAYDEN, EDWARD R. 7 HAB HAYS JR., ROBERT H. 61 HZL HAZEL, LAWRENCE 4 HY HEASLEY, ALAN S. 50 HEF HEIFNER, MARK A. 311 HE HIETT, F. LANCASTER 41 HRI HILL, RICHARD E. 3 HIL HILL, RICKY L. 1 HIR HIRASAWA, YASUO 15 HDE HODGE, JOHN A. 2 HLT HOLTER, GREGORY M. 3 HOH HONDA, HIDEO 4 HOO HOOGEVEEN, GEERT 5 HOP HOPP, ULRICH 105 HTI HORTON, IDA 6 HSF HOSSFIELD, CASPER 47 HSR HOSTE, SERGE 3 HOU HOUGH, DAVID 2 HU HOUSTON, WALTER S. 2 HOW HOWARTH, IAN D. 3 HOA HOWELL, ANDY 1 HYJ HOYNOS, JOHN F. 3 HUB HUBBARD, RUSSELL 19 HJA HUDSON, JEROME A. 32 HR HURLESS, CAROLYN J. 1182 HUR HURST, GUY M. 5 IML IDEM, MICHAEL 40 ISH ISHIHARA, TOSHIHIRO 304 ILS ISLES, JOHN E. 2 JAG JAEGER, GREGG 2 JM JAMES, ROBERT A. 57 JJT JEFFREY, J. THOMAS 18 JLT JENSEN, LASSE TEIST 2 JOG JOHNSON, GUS E. 7 JR JOHNSSON, ROBERT G. 1 JT JOHNSTON, ROBERT B. 7 JUR JURACSKO, ANDRAS 1 KEI KATO, EIJI 3 KTS KATSADRAMIS, X. 1 KLY KELLEY JR., GEORGE 168 KSZ KESZTHELYI, SANDOR 1 KIM KIEHL, MATTHIAS 39 KRB KING, ROBERT P. 82 KIR KIRBY, PHILLIP E. 59 KBS KIRBY-SMITH, HENRY 9 KBR KIRSHNER, BRIAN 6 KGT KNIGHT, GEORGE 33 KSP KNIGHT, STEPHEN P. 74 vii ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE viii CONTRIBUTORS TO AAVSO DATA ON RS OPHIUCHI (continued) 1963 - 1995 KOJ KNOX, OSWALD J. 2 | MEH MEINHARDT, C. C. 1 | KOC KOCSIS, ANTAL 9 | MHI MENALI, HALDUN I. 1 | KDF KOCYLA, DENNIS F. 1 | MEY MEYER, DOUGLAS E. 2 | KKF KOEHLER, KARL F. 4 | MMY MEYER, MAIK 6 | KHL KOHL, MICHAEL 27 | MEZ MEZOSI, CSABA 10 | KRS KOLMAN, ROGER S. 31 | MHL MICHAELS JR., EDWARD J. 8 | KRT KORTH, STEFAN 20 | MLM MILLER, MARTIN P. 15 | KCY KORYCANSKY, DONALD 3 | MIS MINOIS, JOEL 22 | KOS KOSA-KISS, ATTILA 19 | MTD MINTER, TODD 4 | KVI KOVACS, ISTVAN 8 | MJR MISHLER, JERALD R. 15 | KRR KRINGEL, ROBERTO 1 | MZS MIZSER, ATTILA 39 | KRK KRISCIUNAS, KEVIN 11 | MCE MOCHIZUKI, ETSUIKU 53 | KRU KRUTA, JAROSLAV 135 | MRV MODIC, ROBERT J. 325 | KUH KUHNS, JAMES L. 18 | MGJ MOGELINSKI, JERRY 26 | KPG KUIPERS, GAUKE 2 | MAR MONELLA, RINALDO 2 | LGT LACASSIN, GILBERT 1 | MDE MONGER, DON R. 26 | LC LACY, CLAUD 2 | MOR MONSKE, ROBERT L. 39 | LCH LACY, H. J. 1 | MJ MONTAGUE, ALLEN C. 238 | LAR LAMBERT, RANDY 1 | MF MONTAGUE, FREDERICK 3 | LTW LANGHANS, THOMAS W. 16 | MO MOORE, WALTER L. 1 | LKG LARSON, KEVIN GARY 35 | MOJ MORGAN, JAMES E. 3 | LZT LAZUKA, THOMAS 128 | MOI MORILLON, ERIC 4 | LCA LECVONA, ADOLFO 17 | MRR MORRIS, CHARLES S. 3 | LNS LENSS, IVARS 8 | MB MORRISBY, ARTHUR G. 34 | LVF LEVING, FREDERICK 1 | MOW MORRISON, WARREN C. 374 | LVY LEVY, DAVID H. 63 | MSP MOURILHE S., PAULO 6 | LEW LEWIS, DAVID 5 | MUC MULAC, RICHARD 10 | LNB LINDBLOOM, GEORGE 50 | MHN MUNSTERMAN, H. 2 | LJK LINGAAS, JACOB 1 | MUR MURN, PAUL 13 | LK LOCHER, KURT 255 | MUM MURPHY, MIKE 7 | LGJ LONG, JAMES 2 | MUY MUYLLAERT, EDDY 1 | LGV LOPATYNSSKI, GARY 6 | NL NADEAU, LAWRENCE B. 1 | LRD LORING, DANIEL P. 12 | NJO NEUMANN, JORG 4 | LOL LORSIGNOL, JEAN 4 | NM NEWBERRY, MARK 3 | LOS LORSIGNOL, SERGE 4 | NEW NEWBERRY, MICHAEL 3 | LVT LOVETT, JAMES 98 | NBY NORDBY, JOHN M. 23 | LX LOWDER, WAYNE M. 321 | NN NORDEN, RODNEY A. 7 | LW LOWRY, WILLIAM I. 23 | NVK NOVAK, MICHAEL 24 | LTB LUBBERS, THOMAS F. 4 | ONY NYIRO, OTTO 3 | LS LUCAS, DIANE 40 | OCN O'CONNOR, STEPHEN 23 | LKS LUKAS, RAINER 14 | OME O'MEARA, STEPHAN J. 18 | LRE LUNSFORD, ROBERT 6 | ONJ O'NEILL, JOHN G. 1 | MAA MAAG, RUSSELL C. 12 | OF OBERSTATTER, ALPHONSE 26 | MDD MADDEN, PATRICK J. 14 | OER OFEK, ERAN 28 | MGR MAGOR, DONALD M. 4 | OJR OSORIO, JOSE RIPERO 74 | MAN MAHNKEY, C. PATRICK 2 | OB OVERBEEK, MICHIEL 2009 | MLT MALLAMA, ANTHONY 1 | PAS PADILLA, STEPHEN 1 | MGL MANN, GARY L. 4 | PPS PAPP, SANDOR 138 | MKE MANSKE, ROBERT P. 12 | PRN PATRICK, RAYMOND M. 57 | MCO MARCARIO, MIKE 4 | PLZ PAZZI, LUIGI 34 | MHG MARRACO, HUGO G. 2 | PTI PEATTIE, NOEL 3 | MAE MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER 1 | PEG PEGUET, CLAUDE 18 | MJG MARTIN, JEAN-GIL 1 | P PELTIER, LESLIE C. 932 | MTV MATCHETT, VICTOR 9 | PAE PEREIRA, ALFREDO J. 7 | MTH MATSUYAMA, HIROSHI 11 | PZA PEREZ-REVILLA, ALAIN 236 | MTM MATTEI, MICHAEL 5 | PTA PETERSON, H. ALLEN 1 | MGE MAVROFRIDIS, GEORGE 1 | PED PETTENGILL, DWYNAL 25 | MA MAYALL, MARGARET W. 2 | PHI PHILLIP, G. 1 | MYW MAYER JR., ERNST W. 43 | PIA PIEMONTE, ANTONELLA 2 | MYR MAYER, ERNST H. 196 | PTZ PIETZ, JOCHEN 10 | MJW MAYER, JAY W. 22 | PLE POLSON, ED 1 | MCB MCCALLUM, ROBERT G. 4 | PWR POWASKI, RONALD 1 | MCV MCCROHAN, PHILLIP 2 | PO POWELL, EUGENE A. 14 | MCF MCFARLAND, TOM 4 | POX POXON, MICHAEL 22 | MGG MCGINNIS, GARY L. 4 | PYG POYNER, GARY 112 | MKK MCKEOWN, KEVIN M. 1 | PRI PRICE, LELAND 16 | MBC MCMILLAN, BETTY P. 5 | PUJ PUJOL, FRANCISCO 1 | MED MEDWAY, KENNETH J. 644 | QTL QUESNELL, TOM 6 | MDG MEGGINSON, DAVID L. 7 | QPF QUINN, PETER F. 1 | MEI MEIER, ROLF 5 | RMM RAMSEY, MICHAEL L. 1 | R RAPHAEL, HENRY 1 RRB RAPHAEL, ROBERT B. 3 REP REINHARD, PETER 2 RNT REINHART, CHARLES 1 RCJ RENNER, CARL J. 6 RNN RENNER, THOMAS 8 RIR RIETH, RALPH 27 RJI RIGGS, JOHN I. 27 RG RIPPEN, GEORGE 1 RPR ROBBINS, PHILLIP 31 RHY ROCHE, HYMAN 1 ROR RODGER, DAVID A. 2 RGP ROGGEMANS, PAUL 16 ROJ RONEY, J. MICHAEL 1 RB ROSEBRUGH, DAVID W. 63 RND ROSENFIELD, DONALD 2 ROG ROSS, GARY M. 14 ROH ROSS, HUGH 14 RLU ROSSI, LUIGI 34 RGL ROTEM, GILAD 17 RR ROYER, RONALD E. 15 SJD SABIA, JOHN 7 SAB SABINE, KENNETH M. 7 SGT SAGODI, IBOLYA 2 SKM SAKARIAS, MICHAEL 7 SZR SALADZIUS, ROGER 1 SNL SANDEL, JEFF G. 14 SPQ SAPI, CSABA 7 SRH SARRAFIAN, HARRISON 6 SRW SCHAUPP, RICHARD W. 2 SPK SCHMEER, PATRICK 73 SPL SCHMITZ, PAUL F. 1 SV SCHMITZ, VICKI 7 SCZ SCHWEITZER, EMILE 133 SCE SCOVIL, CHARLES E. 132 SEZ SEGONZAT, JACQUES 1 SEE SEIFERT, EDWARD H. 5 SHS SHARPE, STEVEN B. 182 SHQ SHEMMER, OHAD 41 SHB SHERROD, CLAY 24 SNW SHIPMAN, JOHN W. 1 SLH SHOTTER, LAWRENCE 3 SKL SIMMONS, KARL 27 SNE SIMMONS, NEIL A. 56 SKP SKALAK, PETR 16 SDN SLAUSON, DOUGLAS M. 2 SDU SMITH, DOUGLAS 1 SHA SMITH, HORACE A. 45 SLD SMITH, LARRY D. 9 STL SMITH, MICHAEL B. 64 SN SOLOMON, LEONARD 2 SOU SOUTHWICK, ROBERT 2 SH SPECHT, HENRY E. M. 3 SPW SPRATLEY, WILLIAM 1 SC SPRATT, CHRISTOPHER 46 SSP STAMUS, PETER A. 15 SVD STEBLINA, VLADIMIR 3 STF STEFANOPOULOS, GEORGE 72 STI STEFFEY, PHILIP C. 182 SHY STEINBACH, HANS M. 2 SET STEPHAN, CHRISTOPHER 10 SBY STEPHENSON, ELIZABETH 1 SWT STEWART, ROBERT J. 25 SR STEWART, ROBERT N. 3 STQ STOIKIDIS, NIK 1 SUL SULLIVAN, CHARLES 45 ST SULLIVAN, THOMAS 7 SUR SURAWSKI, URSULA E. 141 SVL SVENNUNGSEN, LOWELL 1 SVN SVENTEK, PAUL L. 87 viii ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE ix CONTRIBUTORS TO AAVSO DATA ON RS OPHIUCHI (continued) 1963 - 1995 SWR SWEETSIR, RICHARD 1 | UND UNDERHAY, G. ERNEST 91 | SDX SWORIN, DAVID J. 22 | VCP VAN CAUTEREN, PAUL 3 | SBT SZABO, ROBERT 30 | VER VAN DER ENDE, BARRY 3 | SKV SZARKA, LEVENTE 7 | VDE VAN DIJK, E. 2 | SZG SZEGEDI, BELA 3 | VNL VAN LOO, F. R. 2 | SNO SZENTASKO, LASZLO 2 | VDL VANDERLOVY, JOHAN 1 | SOO SZOLLOSI, ATTILA 3 | VDJ VANDIJK, J. F. H. 2 | TB TABOADA R., DOMINGO 1 | VMT VANMUNSTER, TONNY 66 | TDB TAYLOR, DANIEL 6 | VED VEDRENNE, PAUL 140 | TYR TAYLOR, MARYJANE 38 | VET VERDENET, MICHEL 841 | TAY TAYLOR, PETER O. 41 | VJC VLASIC, JOHN C. 1 | TMS TERMIS-SOTO, FERNANDO 1 | VDR VODRA, RICHARD 3 | TM THOMAS, HOWARD D. 12 | VJS VOJTECH, SIMON 1 | TJ THOMAS, JAMES 58 | VLJ VOLHARD, JAMES 14 | TMR THOMAS, RONALD P. 3 | VOL VOLLMANN, WOLFGANG 23 | THR THOMPSON, RAYMOND R. 26 | WKP WALKER, PAUL 14 | THU THOUET, BERNARD 8 | WAB WARNER, BRIAN D. 1 | TIN TIANEN, NEIL 1 | WAT WATANABE, AKIRA 3 | TRL TOGNI, ROBERT L. 3 | WTF WATERS, FLOYD H. 5 | TOO TOONE, JOHN 25 | WER WEBER, RICHARD J. 189 | TOM TOONEN, M. 1 | WEI WEIER, DAVID D. 200 | TDM TROIANI, DANIEL M. 2 | WJU WEIER, JOSHUA D. 3 | TRR TROMMER, DIRK 18 | WEL WELCH, DOUGLAS L. 4 | WC WEND, RICHARD E. 63 WEM WESOLOWSKI, MIKE 26 WTJ WEST, JOHN 3 WJ WHITEHEAD, JAMES M. 1 WW WIKSWO JR., JOHN P. 2 WI WILLIAMS, DAVID 26 WMR WILLIAMS, ROBERT 1 WLM WILLIAMS, THOMAS R. 3 WJY WILMS, JOHNNY 1 WLP WILS, PATRICK 27 WDN WILSON, DANNY RAY 11 WSN WILSON, THOMAS W. 46 WNB WINGATE, BRUCE I. 39 WTN WITTEN, BLAKE C. 3 WHR WOHLEVER, RICHARD 1 WCL WOMACK, CAROLYN L. 1 YRK YORK, DAVID O. 420 YON YOUNG, ROBERT 5 ZLT ZALEZSAK, TAMAS 9 ZAM ZANOTTA, MAURO 9 ZPA ZELLER, PAUL A. 1 ZMM ZIMMERMAN, DENNIS 2 ZT ZIT, RAYMOND E. 3 CONTRIBUTING ASTRONOMICAL ORGANIZATIONS Agrupacia Astronomica Albireo of Seville (Spain) Asociacion Argentina Amigos de la Astronomia Association Francaise des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables (France) Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, Variable Star Section Astronomischer Jugendclub (Austria) Astronomisk Selskab (Scandinavia) British Astronomical Association, Variable Star Section (England) British Astronomical Association of New South Wales (Australia) Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Veranderliche Sterne e.V.(BAV) (Germany) Grupo Astronomico Silos (Zaragoza, Spain) Grupo Canario de Estrellas Variables (Canary Islands, Spain) Israeli Astronomical Association, Variable Star Section Madrid Astronomical Association M1 (Spain) Liga Ibero-Americana de Astronomia (South America) Magyar Csillagaszati Egyesulet, Valtozocsillag Szakcsoport (Hungary) Nederlandse Vereniging Voor Weer-en Sterrenkunde, Werkgroep Veranderlijke Sterren (Netherlands) Norsk Astronomisk Selskap, Variable Stjernegruppen (Norway) Planetario e Observatorio Astronomico do Colegio Estadual do Parana (Brazil) Red de Observatores de Estrellas Variables - MIRA (Spain) Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, Variable Star Section Sociedad Astronomica 'Syrma' (Valladolid, Spain) Svensk Amator Astronomisk Forening, variabelsektionen (Sweden) Uniao Brasileira deAstronomia, Variable Star Commission (Brazil) Unione Astrofili Italiani (UAI) Variable Star Observers League in Japan Vereniging Voor Sterrenkunde, Werkgroep Veranderlijke Sterren (Belgium) ix ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE x INFORMATION ON RS OPHIUCHI Right Ascension Declination Position: (1900) 17h 44m 51s -06 degrees 40.7' (1950) 17 47 32 -06 41.7 (2000) 17 50 14 -06 42.5 Type: Cataclysmic variable of recurrent nova type; also classified as a symbiotic star because of its composite spectrum Average Period: orbital period = 460 days inter-outburst period = 892 - 2283 days Range: visual magnitude 9.6 - 12.8 in quiescence visual magnitude 5.5 - 12.8 in outburst Spectrum: O8+M2EP In the spectrum: O8 indicates the spectral type of the blue dwarf M3 indicates the spectral type of the red giant according to the presence of TiO bands E indicates Emission P indicates Peculiar Outbursts: 1898, 1933, 1945(?), 1958, 1967, 1985 KEY TO SYMBOLS Symbols used in this monograph are: . = 1 visual observation v = variable is fainter than the magnitude indicated by the vertex of the "v" on the light curve (variable not visible) Please note that there may appear to be horizontal lines in some parts of the light curves. These "lines" are in fact very dense concentrations of individual observations. x ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE xi RS OPHIUCHI LIGHT CURVES 1890 - 1995 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGES 1 - 2 Caption for long-term light curve 1744-06 RS Ophiuchi (JD 2411509 - 2450083). Data for JD 2411509 - 2421369 are photographic. Data for JD 2422352 - 2450083 are visual and are from the AAVSO International Database and Archives. See Introduction for publication information. ------------END OF FILE-------------------------------------------------------