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: 0222-01B SN 2003GS No. 1209 0206+57A TZ PER 1812+67 IX DRA July 31, 2003 1702-25 V2051 OPH 1953+77 AB DRA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0222-01B SN 2003GS in NGC 936 We have been informed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (IAU Circular 8171) of a visual discovery of a supernova (mag 14.0) by Robert Evans, Hazelbrook, N.S.W., Australia, on July 29.75 UT with a 0.31-m reflector. He also reported the supernova to be at visual magnitude 13.8 on July 30.75 UT. Evans noted the new object to be about 20" southeast of the nucleus of NGC 936 (R.A. = 02h27m.6, Decl. = -01 09', equinox 2000.0). H. Yamaoka, Kyushu University reported the following precise position for the supernova from unfiltered CCD image taken on July 30.767 by T. Dobosz, Sydney, N.S.W.: R.A. = 02h27m38s.36, Decl. = -01 09' 35", equinox 2000.0 N. Suntzeff, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO) reported that a spectrum taken at CTIO indicated that the "spectrum is peculiar and is roughly consistent with a type-Ia supernova (IAUC 8171) An AAVSO chart for SN 2003GS is accessible via the following url: http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/shrinkwrap.pl?path=/charts/CET/SN2003GS/SN2003GS-F.JPG Please report your observations of 0222-01B SN 2003GS to the AAVSO, making sure to indicate the chart and comparison stars were used for each observation. Congratulations to R. Evans on this visual discovery! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE NOTE: NO NEWS FLASH ON AUGUST 1, 2003 Because of staff vacations scheduled during this week, many due to Stellafane this weekend, AAVSO Headquarters will be operating with a significantly reduced staff on Friday August 1, 2003. No News Flash will be issued (unless extraordinary circumstances arise such as a discovery a nova and/or a bright supernova, unusual behavior of a variable star, etc.). The Quick Look files on our website, containing the most recent nightly reported observations, will be updated as usual on this day. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0206+57A TZ PERSEI The dwarf nova type (Z CAM subclass) cataclysmic variable TZ PER appears to be in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JUL 24.3229 <14.5 SXN JUL 27.0292 13.8 OJR JUL 24.3465 13.5 TDB JUL 28.0810 13.5 PYG JUL 26.0361 13.8 OJR JUL 30.9667 12.8 OJR JUL 26.0530 14.3 PYG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1702-25 V2051 OPHIUCHI The dwarf nova type (SU UMA subclass) cataclysmic variable V2051 OPH appears to be in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JUL 25.4150 15.2 SRX JUL 28.4431 <13.8 MTH JUL 26.4681 <13.8 MTH JUL 31.3514 14.1 LMK JUL 27.4010 <15.0 SRX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1812+67 IX DRACONIS The dwarf nova type cataclysmic variable IX DRA may be brightening, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JUL 25.9063 <14.3 OJR JUL 27.9850 15.6 PYG JUL 25.9610 15.8 PYG JUL 29.9201 <14.3 OJR JUL 26.9125 <14.3 OJR JUL 30.9000 <14.3 OJR JUL 27.9326 <14.3 OJR JUL 31.4257 15.0 LMK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1953+77 AB DRACONIS The dwarf nova type (Z CAM subclass) cataclysmic variable AB DRA is in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials UT Mag. Initials JUL 29.2979 <14.1 SGE JUL 30.1000 <14.4 CGF JUL 29.8958 <13.1 OCR JUL 30.9021 12.6 OJR JUL 29.9188 <14.0 OJR JUL 31.0993 12.9 CGF ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- We thank the following contributors for the data that they have provided for this News Flash: PYG - G. POYNER, ENGLAND CGF - G. CHAPLE JR., USA SGE - G. SARTY, CANADA LMK - M. LINNOLT, USA SRX - R. STUBBINGS, AUSTRALIA MTH - H. MATSUYAMA, JAPAN SXN - M. SIMONSEN, USA OCR - C. OTTEN, BELGIUM TDB - D. TAYLOR, CANADA 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 Gamze Menali, 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! ____________________________________________________________________________