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: 1713-27 N OPH 03 1910-26 V729 SGR No. 1200 1153-41 V359 CEN 1937+21 FY VUL July 18, 2003 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1713-27 NOVA OPHIUCHI 2003 We have been informed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram 29, preliminary announcement from forthcoming IAU Circular) that Akira Takao, Kitakyushu, Japan, discovered a nova in Ophiuchus on unfiltered CCD images taken July 10.598 and July 16.523 UT at magnitudes 11.4 and 11.2, respectively, using a 120-mm f/4 telephoto lens. This nova is past maximum and has appeared in images taken by various observers since at least March 21, 2003 (see below). A precise position for the nova was given by Libert A. G. Monard, Pretoria, South Africa, who measured it at unfiltered CCD magnitude 10.4 on July 17.821 UT (CBET 29): R.A. = 17h 19m 14.10s Dec. = -27o 22' 35.4" (2000.0, uncertainty +/- 0.2") A low-resolution spectrum taken by Doug West, Mulvane, KS, on July 18.125 UT with a 0.2-m SCT and SBIG ST-9E CCD camera and Rainbow Optics Grating (magnitude 11.42 CCDV) showed H-alpha emission as the only discernible feature, confirming the object to be a nova. William Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, also confirmed the object as a nova, obtaining a CCD objective grating spectrum on July 18.15 UT that showed H-alpha in strong emission, some 12 times the intensity of the surrounding continuum (magnitude 11.29 CCDV on July 18.114 and 12.13 CCDB on July 18.116). An independent discovery of N Oph 03 was made by Vello Tabur, Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory, on unfiltered CCD images taken between March 21.600 (magnitude 12.9) and July 5.574 UT (magnitude 9.8); he did not consider the object to be urgent because of its continuing presence on his CCD images (CBET 29; see CBET 29 for all of Tabur's observations). According to Taichi Kato, Kyoto University, Japan, ASAS-3 images show that the nova reached peak magnitude 10.6V on June 26 (CBET 29). Other observations reported to the AAVSO include: Jun 07.1170 UT, <11.1 PR (red photographic, per observer), LIW (W. Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile); 23.1320, 10.4 PR, LIW; Jul 14.9850, 11.1 PR, LIW; 17.4430, 10.8, LMK (M. Linnolt, San Francisco, CA); 17.8630, 10.6, BXA (A. Baransky, Kiev, Ukraine); 17.9132, 10.6, OJR (J. Ripero Osorio, Algete/Madrid, Spain); 18.0937, 11.1:, MHI (H.I. Menali, Dorchester, MA); 18.2778, 11.0, LMK; 18.5010, 11.0, PEX (A. Pearce, Nedlands, W. Australia). Two provisional charts, prepared by Elizabeth Waagen, AAVSO Headquarters, are available at URL http://www.aavso.org/charts/OPH/N_OPH_03/NOPH03_1.JPG http://www.aavso.org/charts/OPH/N_OPH_03/NOPH03_2.JPG They were made using the CCDV image supplied by Doug West and Guide 7.0, and the sequence supplied by Mati Morel, Thornton, NSW, Australia, who used Tycho V magnitudes down to magnitude 10.5,and adopted v magnitudes below 10.5 using ASAS-3, UCAC1, and USNO-A2.0. Our sincere thanks to Mati for the sequence and to Doug for his image. An AAVSO chart is being prepared by Michael Simonsen and will be posted when it is ready. Please use these charts to observe the nova, and report your observations of 1713-27 N Oph 03 to AAVSO Headquarters. Be sure to indicate which chart(s) and comparison stars you used to make your estimates. An AAVSO webpage on N Oph 03 is being created and should be available for viewing on Monday, July 21. Congratulations to Akira Takao and Vello Tabur on their discoveries! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1153-41 V359 CENTAURI The dwarf nova type cataclysmic variable V359 CEN appears to be brightening, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JUL 03.3840 <14.8 SRX JUL 16.3650 14.4 SRX JUL 06.4310 <14.4 SRX JUL 17.4210 14.5 SRX JUL 08.4010 <14.0 SRX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1910-26 V729 SAGITTARII The dwarf nova type cataclysmic variable V729 SGR appears to be in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JUL 03.4230 <14.6 SRX JUL 17.4240 13.2 SRX JUL 06.4220 <13.8 SRX JUL 18.3250 13.6 LMK JUL 08.4100 <13.8 SRX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1937+21 FY VULPECULAE The dwarf nova type (Z CAM subclass) cataclysmic variable FY VUL appears to be in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JUL 16.0230 14.2 PYG JUL 17.2340 14.3 SXN JUL 16.3243 14.1 LMK JUL 17.3139 13.9 LMK JUL 17.1674 13.9 TDB JUL 18.2924 13.7 LMK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- We thank the following contributors for the data that they have provided for this News Flash: BXA - A. BARANSKY, UKRAINE PEX - A. PEARCE, AUSTRALIA LIW - W. LILLER, CHILE PYG - G. POYNER, ENGLAND LMK - M. LINNOLT, USA SRX - R. STUBBINGS, AUSTRALIA MHI - H. MENALI, USA SXN - M. SIMONSEN, USA OJR - J. OSORIO, SPAIN TDB - D. TAYLOR, CANADA 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 Gamze Menali, Technical Assistant Elizabeth O. Waagen, Senior 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! ____________________________________________________________________________