April 19, 2019: Dr. Lee Anne Willson (Iowa State University) is urgently requesting observations of the symbiotic Mira R Aqr, particularly from our Southern observers, before it enters its seasonal gap.
Dr. Willson writes: "The current minimum is low [V~11.7], and possibly even [low] in R and I, so we may be seeing the start of the eclipse/interaction event that [occurs every 44 years and] should be centered around 2022 to 2024 and lasts about 6 years. Thus more observations near minimum would be particularly useful at this time!
April 3, 2019: Dr. Bradley E. Schaefer (Louisiana State University) provides the following information:
"Frequent monitoring is requested of the recurrent nova U Scorpii over the next year or so to discover the upcoming very-fast eruption. The predicted outburst is for the year 2020.0±0.7. The eruption is likely within the next year, but it could well go off tonight.
"Observers of many types are needed before the next outburst:
March 8, 2019: Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 652, Dr. Koji Mukai (NASA-Greenbelt Space Flight Center) informs us that 1SWASP J022916.91-395901.4, one of the novalike variables in his target list, will be observed with Chandra on 2019 March 11 22:35 UT - 2019 March 12 02:45 UT.
February 20, 2019: Drs. Sara Motta and Jari Kajava (University of Oxford) have requested AAVSO observers' assistance in monitoring the binary X-ray source V818 Sco (Sco X-1) in support of a large multiwavelength observing campaign being carried out from now through 2019 February 24.
The AAVSO Annual Report for 2017-2018 has been published and is online. Both a high-resolution and a low-resolution version are available at https://www.aavso.org/annual-report.
January 28, 2019: AAVSO Alert Notice 659 announced that the nova-like variable KQ Mon will be observed with Chandra on 2019 January 29-30 UT. The exact time interval given was incorrect.
KQ Mon will be observed with Chandra on
2019 January 29 20:18 UT - January 30 00:28 UT.
A snapshot every one to two nights is requested between now and February 9. V filter is optimal. Visual observations are welcome. The visual range of KQ Mon is 12.5-13.7.
January 25, 2019: Further to AAVSO Alert Notice 645, Michael Stroh (Ph.D. candidate, University of New Mexico) informs us that two of the VLA targets on his list of 19 long period variables for his SiO maser study that is underway have been removed and two other targets added.
The stars removed from the campaign are V1301 Cyg and V1659 Cyg. The stars taking their places are V657 Cas and V850 Cas. Below is a revised list of the targets for this campaign.
