AAVSO Special Notice #122: Possible new WZ Sge-type dwarf nova in Andromeda

Multiple observers have confirmed the detection of an optical transient
in Andromeda whose photometric behavior is thus far consistent with its
classification as a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova system.  The object was
submitted to the CBAT unconfirmed objects list (D. Green, editor) by an
unidentified observer on 2008 September 01.6.

A comprehensive list of the numerous follow-up observations made in
Russia was published on http://www.astroalert.su/2008/09/01/nova-and/ ,
and an announcement of apparent very short period superhumps (P ~ 0.055
days) was made in vsnet-alert 10478.  A comparison of the field with
archival POSSII plates by D. Denisenko et al suggests the progenitor is
very faint, with a blue magnitude of 21 or fainter.  The reported
outburst magnitudes of approximately V=12.5 then suggest an amplitude of
at least 8 magnitudes.

M. Andreev (Terskol, Russia) obtained the following coordinates for
the object using a 28-cm telescope:

RA: 02h 00m 25.42s , Dec: +44d 10m 18.4s (J2000)

Several other sets of coordinates have been published by Russian
observers on the page noted above, and most are within a few tenths of
an arcsecond.

Observations of this new object, including time-series photometry, are
encouraged.  The object has not been formally named, and the WZ Sge
classification has not been definitively confirmed.  Observers are asked
to follow the object during the next several weeks.  The object may fade
and rebrighten, so please submit all observations including
"fainter-than" estimates.  Instrumental time-series observations are
also encouraged to confirm the presence of superhumps and (if possible)
define the period.

Please submit all data to the AAVSO using the name and/or AUID pair
VSX J020025.4+441018 , AUID 000-BFT-799.

This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by M. Templeton.

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