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 * * * AAVSO NEWS FLASH * * * Subject: 0748+63 HT CAM 0213+40 LX AND No. 1097 0058+40 RX AND 0409-71 VW HYI January 20, 2003 0109+37 FO AND 0725+06 SV CMI 0124+57 KU CAS 0803+62 SU UMA 0139+37 AR AND 0939+52 ER UMA 0207-63 WX HYI ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- THANKS TO OUR OBSERVERS! Much of the United States has been experiencing particularly frigid temperatures for the last week or two. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our observers both in the US and abroad for "enduring the elements" throughout the year in order to obtain their very valuable data. This amazing level of commitment is very much appreciated by all of us here at AAVSO HQ! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MOUNT STROMLO FIRE We have been informed of the sad news that Mount Stromlo Observatory, Australia, has been destroyed by the Canberra bushfires. The observatory was safely evacuated with only 20 minutes notice, however all of the telescopes and the original 1924 observatory building seem to have been completely destroyed. This is certainly a heartbreaking loss, both scientifically and historically. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0748+63 HT CAMELOPARDALIS The dwarf nova type cataclysmic variable HT CAM is having a rare outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 11.2736 <15.4 SXN JAN 19.8450 12.7 PYG JAN 11.8790 <14.8 PYG JAN 19.9888 12.54 CCD OAR JAN 17.2813 <13.7 SXN JAN 20.1195 12.51 CCD OAR JAN 18.0160 <13.5 MGH The most recent outburst of HT Cam to be recorded in the AAVSO International Database took place in late December of 2001. Observers are encouraged to keep a close eye on this object throughout this outburst. Both visual and particularly CCD observers are urged to continue to monitor HT Cam for superhumps by making observations every 3 to 5 minutes for as long as possible during the night; be sure to report the time to 4 decimal places of the Julian Date. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0058+40 RX ANDROMEDAE The dwarf nova type (Z CAM subclass) cataclysmic variable RX AND is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 15.8250 14.6 PYG JAN 18.0750 11.3 VPJ JAN 16.1236 13.9 SXN JAN 18.1118 11.1 SXN JAN 16.7958 <13.3 OJR JAN 18.7760 11.44 CCD DRG JAN 17.1118 <13.3 AAP JAN 19.2243 10.8 LMK JAN 17.8440 11.8 PYG JAN 19.8690 11.4 PYG JAN 18.0625 11.0 TDB JAN 20.0576 10.9 DLA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0109+37 FO ANDROMEDAE The dwarf nova type (SU UMA subclass) cataclysmic variable FO AND may be in outburst, as indicated by the following observation: AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials JAN 19.8680 15.1 PYG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0124+57 KU CASSIOPEIAE The dwarf nova type (SS CYG subclass) cataclysmic variable KU CAS is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 15.8170 <15.3 PYG JAN 18.0667 13.3 SXN JAN 17.8240 14.4: PYG JAN 19.8580 13.8 PYG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0139+37 AR ANDROMEDAE The dwarf nova type cataclysmic variable AR AND is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 15.8310 <14.8 PYG JAN 18.0792 12.3 TDB JAN 16.1222 <14.0 SXN JAN 18.0972 12.0 VPJ JAN 16.8076 <13.5 OJR JAN 18.1104 13.3 SXN JAN 17.1188 <13.3 AAP JAN 18.8024 12.84 CCD DRG JAN 17.7870 13.3 MGH JAN 19.8730 13.1 PYG JAN 17.8500 13.4 PYG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0207-63 WX HYDRI The dwarf nova type (SU UMA subclass) cataclysmic variable WX HYI appears to be in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 15.4830 <14.0 SRX JAN 19.4630 13.4 SRX JAN 18.4980 13.0 SRX JAN 19.5420 <14.0 PEX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0213+40 LX ANDROMEDAE The dwarf nova type cataclysmic variable LX AND is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 18.1153 <14.9 SXN JAN 20.1035 13.0 SRB JAN 19.8720 12.8 PYG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0409-71 VW HYDRI The dwarf nova type (SU UMA subclass) cataclysmic variable VW HYI is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 12.4900 13.9 SRX JAN 18.4990 9.4 SRX JAN 12.7580 13.9 PEX JAN 19.4850 10.7 SRX JAN 15.4830 <13.5 SRX JAN 19.5460 10.6 PEX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0725+06 SV CANIS MINORIS The dwarf nova type (Z CAM subclass) cataclysmic variable SV CMI is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 17.3389 <14.3 LMK JAN 19.4604 13.0 LMK JAN 18.4306 <13.9 LMK JAN 19.4670 13.4 SRX JAN 18.8648 14.47 CCD DRG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0803+62 SU URSAE MAJORIS The dwarf nova type (SU UMA subclass prototype) cataclysmic variable SU UMA is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 17.2854 <14.1 SXN JAN 19.8460 12.0 PYG JAN 19.7854 12.0: GMY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0939+52 ER URSAE MAJORIS The dwarf nova type (SU UMA subclass) cataclysmic variable ER UMA is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JAN 16.4917 <13.6 LMK JAN 19.9170 12.7 PYG JAN 17.3111 13.2 SXN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- We thank the following contributors for the data that they have provided for this News Flash: AAP - A. ABBOTT, CANADA PEX - A. PEARCE, AUSTRALIA DLA - A. DILL, USA PYG - G. POYNER, ENGLAND DRG - R. DIETHELM, SWITZERLAND SRB - R. STINE, USA GMY - M. GLENNON, IRELAND SRX - R. STUBBINGS, AUSTRALIA LMK - M. LINNOLT, USA SXN - M. SIMONSEN, USA MGH - H. MCGEE, ENGLAND TDB - D. TAYLOR, CANADA OAR - A. OKSANEN, FINLAND VPJ - J. VAN POUCKER, USA OJR - J. OSORIO, SPAIN Please monitor these and other variable stars closely and phone-in, fax, or e-mail your observations to the AAVSO. Good observing! Janet A. Mattei, Director Rebecca Pellock, Technical Assistant ____________________________________________________________________________ Symbols may include: < = fainter than magnitude given (variable not seen) : = uncertain CCDV = Charge-coupled device with (V) filter If you would like to contribute to AAVSO NEWS FLASH, please send observations of unusual variable star activity to: observations@aavso.org Those who wish to subscribe (free of charge) or unsubscribe to NEWS FLASH may do so by visiting the following web page: http://www.aavso.org If you would like data from the AAVSO International Database for research purposes, please send your request to: Janet Mattei, AAVSO Director, at aavso@aavso.org An archive of past issues of the News Flash is available at the following web page: http://www.aavso.org/newsflash/ We look forward to including your observations in future editions of AAVSO NEWS FLASH! ____________________________________________________________________________