We have just received an urgent request for observations of 0214-03 omi Cet
(Mira). Our colleague Margarita Karovska, at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics, had Chandra observations of Mira scheduled for next summer, but
they were abruptly re-scheduled to last a few days ago. She has urgently
requested our assistance in obtaining optical observations to help interpret
her Chandra observations.

High-speed photometry of Mira (on the order of 1 minute) particularly in the
bluer end of the spectrum - U, B, and also V bands - would be the most
helpful to Dr. Karovska in correlating her Chandra data. However, observations
in other photometric bands, as well as visual observations, are also very
welcome. As the recent observations from the AAVSO International Database
below show, Mira is presently about magnitude 7.9. Thus, CCD, photoelectric
photometry, and visual observers could all contribute to observations of this
star. Please observe Mira closely over the next few weeks and report your
observations to AAVSO so we may assist Dr. Karovska.

Charts:  http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/searchcharts3.pl?name=OMI%20CET

Many thanks for your astronomical contributions!

Clear skies,

Elizabeth Waagen
Interim Director

Latest observations of Mira from the AAVSO website (www.aavso.org)
quick-look file:

0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 25.9000   7.9          CMG
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 25.9097   7.9          HHU
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 27.2014   7.6          KMA
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 27.2340   7.7          WAH
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 27.9368   8.1          SSW
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 28.0590  -1.38   PEPJ  WJD
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 28.0590  -2.06   PEPH  WJD
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 29.8420   7.9          SJZ
0214-03  OMI CET    NOV 30.0747   7.60   CCDV  WJD
0214-03  OMI CET    DEC 09.8764   8.5          BVE
0214-03  OMI CET    DEC 11.0521  -1.35   PEPJ  WJD
0214-03  OMI CET    DEC 11.0521  -1.97   PEPH  WJD
0214-03  OMI CET    DEC 12.0581   7.93   CCDV  WJD

BVE - E. Van Ballegoij, Netherlands
CMG - G. Comello, Netherlands
HHU - H. Hautcler, Belgium
KMA - M. Komorous, Canada
WAH - A. Whiting, USA
SSW - S. Swierczynski, Poland
SJZ - J. Speil, Poland
WJD - D. West, USA
==========================