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: 1522+45 GRB990123 No. 389 0854-24 VZ PYX January 28, 1999 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1522+45 GRB990123 A very bright optical counterpart to gamma-ray burster GRB990123 has been detected. This short lived flash is predicted to recur, and observers are strongly urged to monitor the location. For more information and an AAVSO 'd' scale preliminary chart, please see AAVSO Alert Notice 253, which is posted on the AAVSO web page: http://www.aavso.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0854-24 VZ PYXIDIS The dwarf nova type (SU UMA subclass) cataclysmic variable VZ PYX appears to be in outburst, as indicated by the following observations: AAVSO Observer UT Mag. Initials JAN 24.4965 14.9 SRX JAN 26.848 12.9 MLF JAN 25.48 <14.4 WPX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- We thank the following contributors for the data that they have provided for this News Flash: MLF - L. MONARD, SOUTH AFRICA WPX - P. WILLIAMS, NEW ZEALAND SRX - R. STUBBINGS, AUSTRALIA 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! ____________________________________________________________________________