April 22, 2012: The blazar OJ 287 (Cancer) has brightened from its low optical state to its high state and is flaring. The Astronomer's Telegram #4057 (S. Zola et al., http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=4057) reports very high optical activity.
Observations of OJ 287 in the AAVSO International Database may be
viewed (http://www.aavso.org/ql),
plotted (http://www.aavso.org/lcg), or
downloaded (http://www.aavso.org/data-download).
A sample of the more than 150 recent observations of OJ 287 reported to the AAVSO includes:
2012 Mar. 3.9150 UT, 14.8, G. Poyner, Birmingham, England);
4.8620, 14.783 V +/-0.081 (J. Suomela, Helsinki, Finland);
4.8634, 14.277 R +/-0.080 (Suomela);
4.8649, 14.861 B +/-0.139 (Suomela);
4.8663, 13.802 I +/-0.163 (Suomela);
18.8632, 14.676, V +/-0.029 (R. Pickard, Leominster, England);
22.8514, 14.606, V +/-0.009 (C. Gualdoni, Como, Italy);
25.8299, 14.8 (K. Wenzel, Grossostheim, Germany);
25.9190, 14.3 (Poyner);
26.9170, 14.1 (Poyner);
27.9060, 14.0 (Poyner);
28.8368, 14.0 (Wenzel);
28.8686, 14.254 V +/-0.006 (Gualdoni);
29.1417, 14.2 (T. Steck, Auburn, IN);
Apr. 6.1307, 13.396 I +/-0.122 (D. Hohman, Orchard Park, NY);
7.2526, 14.431 V +/- 0.013 (T. Crawford, Arch Cape, OR);
8.0539, 13.607 I +/-0.134 (Hohman);
8.0657, 14.482 V +/-0.069 (Hohman);
10.1398, 14.237 V +/-0.031 (Crawford);
11.8750, 14.1 (Poyner);
12.3563, 14.3 (M. Linnolt, Ocean View, HI);
13.9505, 14.249 V +/-0.012 (D. Storey, Isle of Man, England);
14.9060, 14.2 (Poyner);
15.0988, 14.16 V +/-0.03 (S. Dvorak, Clermont, FL);
16.1253, 14.02 V +/-0.02 (Dvorak);
17.0626, 13.895 V +/-0.075 (Hohman);
18.0922, 13.821 V +/-0.075 (Hohman);
18.8576, 13.9 (Wenzel);
19.3333, 13.7 (Linnolt);
19.8403, 13.9 (Wenzel);
20.8810, 13.8 (Poyner);
21.8419, 14.199 V +/-0.025 (Suomela);
21.8433, 13.812 R +/-0.023 (Suomela);
21.8447, 14.687 B +/-0.056 (Suomela);
21.8462, 13.271 I +/-0.051 (Suomela);
22.1088, 14.230 V +/-0.069 (J. Roe, Bourbon, MO);
22.1096, 14.727 B +/-0.159 (Roe);
Coordinates: RA 08 54 48.87 Dec +20 06 30.6 (2000.0)
Charts for OJ 287 may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP, http://www.aavso.org/vsp).
Please monitor OJ 287 throughout its flaring and at least until it has returned to its low state. Please report observations to the AAVSO as OJ 287.
This AAVSO Special Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.
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