AAVSO Special Notice #142: The new eclipsing cataclysmic variable CSS 081231:071126+440405

The newly discovered variable CSS 081231:071126+440405 appears to be a
deeply-eclipsing cataclysmic variable, possibly of the AM Her subtype.
The transient was released on the Catalina Sky Survey website on 2008
December 31, and H. Maehara noted (vsnet-alert 10867) that the object
had a very blue progenitor, and has apparently been active since
October 2008 indicating it is not a normal dwarf nova outburst.
Subsequent time-series photometry by D. Denisenko and S. Korotkiy
(cvnet-discussion 1208) noted the presence of very deep eclipses with a
period around 0.081 days. Intensive time series observations submitted
to the AAVSO by A. Oksanen, D. Boyd, and R. Pickard have confirmed the
very deep eclipses of about four magnitudes, along with a very well
defined light curve typical of edge-on accreting systems.

The period derived from two days of time-series submitted to the AAVSO
indicates a period of 0.0813 days, in agreement with the period derived
by Denisenko and Korotkiy. Additional time-series photometry, along
with multicolor photometry and long-term visual monitoring are urgently
requested for this interesting new star.

CSS 081231:071126+440405 is located at the following coordinates (J2000):

RA: 07 11 26.0 , Dec: +44 04 05

A comparison star sequence is not yet available for this object, but
finder charts may be plotted with VSP:

http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/index.html?pickname=CSS%20081231:071126%2B440405

Please note what comparison stars are used to perform photometry. We hope
to have a sequence available shortly.

Please submit data to the AAVSO with the name "CSS 081231:071126+440405".

This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by M. Templeton.

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