THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
INTERNET: aavso@aavso.org
Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665
AAVSO ALERT NOTICE 287 (August 21, 2001)
2059+48 NOVA CYGNI 2001 NO. 2
We have been informed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (IAU
Circular 7686) that A. Nakamura, Kume, Ehime, Japan, reported that Akihiko
Tago, Tsuyama, Okayama, Japan, photographically discovered an apparent nova
in Cygnus at magnitude 8.8 on films taken on Aug. 18.599 and 18.603 UT, using
T-Max 400 film and an unfiltered 105-mm f/4 lens. Tago indicated that nothing
was visible at the location of the nova down to magnitude 12.0 on films taken
on Aug. 15.62, 16.64, and 17.64 UT.
S. Nakano, Sumoto, Japan, reported that the nova was discovered independently
by K. Hatayama, Niigata, Japan, at magnitude 7.0 on two 1-minute exposures
taken Aug. 18.625 UT using a 100-mm f/5.6 lens and Fuji Superia 400 film.
Nothing was seen by Hatayama on exposures taken 2000 Sep. 29, Oct. 22,
2001 Jul. 21, or Jul. 25 (IAU Circular 7687).
H. Abe, Yatsuka, Shimane, Japan, obtained unfiltered CCD frames on Aug.
19.6 UT, using a 0.26-m f/6 reflector, that showed the nova at magnitude 6.6
(IAU Circular 7686). He measured the position of the nova as:
R.A. = 21h 03m 02.00s Decl. = +48 degrees 45' 52.9" (2000)
A spectrum obtained by K. Ayani, Bisei Astronomical Observatory (BAO), with
the BAO 1.01-m telescope on Aug. 19.57 UT showed features that suggested the
object to be a nova (IAU Circular 7686).
Observations submitted to the AAVSO include:
Aug. 2.654 UT, <13.2 CCD, A. Takao, Kitakyushu, Japan (via T. Kato, IAU
Circular 7687); 11.520, <14.3 CCD, Y. Sano, Nayoro, Japan (via T. Kato, IAU
Circular 7687); 12.699, <14.1 CCD, Takao (via T. Kato, IAU Circular 7687);
17.628, <14.1 CCD, Takao (via T. Kato, IAU Circular 7687); 19.84, 6.66 CCDV,
G. Sostero and A. Lepardo, Remanzacco, Italy (IAU Circular 7687); 19.8489,
7.0, G. Comello, Groningen, Netherlands; 19.9131, 6.7, M. Reszelski,
Szamotuly, Poland; 19.9438, 6.9, E. Muyllaert, Oostende, Belgium; 19.9569,
6.9, Reszelski; 19.9854, 7.2, E. Broens, Mol, Belgium; 20.0120, 7.1, Comello;
20.0243, 6.7, X. Bros, Barcelona, Spain; 20.0332, 6.9, Reszelski; 20.1562,
6.7:, M. Simonsen, Macomb, MI; 20.3333, 7.6, J. Bedient, Honolulu, HI;
20.4144, 7.4, M. Linnolt, San Francisco, CA; 20.4292, 7.6, Linnolt; 20.7832,
8.0:, D. Matsnev, Moscow, Russia; 20.8769, 7.8, G. Poyner, Southampton, UK;
20.9034, 8.0, W. Vollmann, Vienna, Austria; 21.0514, 7.7, M. Komorous,
London, Ontario, Canada; 21.0849, 8.1, P. Schmeer, Bischmisheim, Germany;
21.0888, 8.1, J. Bortle, Stormville, NY; 21.2173, 8.2, P. Abbott, Leduc,
Alberta, Canada; 21.2743, 8.1, Bedient; 21.2924, 8.0, Simonsen.
The following CCD observations (CCD(V) unless otherwise noted) have also
been reported to the AAVSO by J. Doug West, Mulvane, KS:
Aug. 20.0879 UT, 4.48 CCDI; 20.0981, 6.84; 20.0986, 6.83; 20.1123, 6.86;
20.1145, 6.86; 20.1167, 6.85; 20.1189, 6.86; 20.1213, 6.87; 20.1246, 6.89;
20.1268, 6.89; 20.1291, 6.85; 20.1313, 6.94; 20.1335, 6.89; 20.1357, 6.98;
20.1381, 7.03; 21.0830, 6.37 CCDR; 21.0883, 5.52 CCDI; 21.0899, 7.62.
We have created a page on N Cyg 01-2 [www.aavso.org/novacygni.stm link obsolete; page no longer exists 11/2013] on our website which we will update
every weekday with the observations received. We have posted on it spectra
by AAVSO member/observer Doug West. If you have items such as images,
spectra, etc. you would like to contribute to the page, please email them
to us.
Accompanying are AAVSO 'ab' and 'b' scale preliminary charts of N Cyg 01-2
prepared by C. Scovil. Please use these charts to observe the nova, and
report your observations of 2059+48 N CYG 01-2 to AAVSO Headquarters, making
sure to indicate which comparison stars you used.
Congratulations to Akihiko Tago and K. Hatayama on their discoveries!
2003+17 WZ SAGITTAE SUPEROUTBURST CONTINUES - RECOVERING FROM DRAMATIC "DIP"
The superoutburst of the prototype of the WZ Sge subclass of dwarf nova
cataclysmic variables - WZ Sagittae - continues. WZ Sge went into outburst
on July 23 (see AAVSO Alert Notice 286) and has been monitored extensively
by the amateur and professional astronomical community. Observations have
been and are being made with large ground-based telescopes, the Hubble Space
Telescope, and Chandra X-Ray Satellite; in fact, HST will be observing
WZ Sge 22 August 06:12-12:01 UT and Chandra will be observing it 22 August
08:40-11:40 UT.
Since reaching maximum visual magnitude of approximately 8.0 on July 23-24,
WZ Sge declined to magnitude approximately 10.7 by August 15. The dramatic
"dip" of 2 magnitudes with fast recovery seen in the 1978 outburst and
predicted for this outburst (see AAVSO News Flash No. 831) was observed to
begin on August 16-17, reaching magnitude approximately 12.9 by August 18-19.
On August 19-20 it began to brighten again, and has most recently been reported
to the AAVSO to be fluctuating between visual magnitude 12.1 and 13.0.
A composite light curve of observations submitted to the AAVSO showing the
current superoutburst and the 1978 superoutburst may be viewed on the WZ Sge
page on our website (www.aavso.org/wz-sge-outburst-update). This light curve is
updated every weekday, as is the light curve of the current superoutburst
alone. Also on the WZ Sge page are numerous plots showing the results of
excellent CCD runs on the superhumps by A. Oksanen, D. Starkey, R. Zissell,
C. Pullen, L. Cook, and D. Kaiser, a spectrum by D. West, and links to
related sites. If you would like to contribute to this page, please let us
know.
Observers are requested to continue to monitor WZ Sge throughout the rest of
this very rare superoutburst and particularly after the star returns to
minimum (in the 1978 superoutburst, it took about 3 months after the dip for
WZ Sge to return to minimum). The development and evolution of superhumps in
this system has been exciting and fascinating, and both visual and
particularly CCD observers are urged to continue to monitor it for superhumps
by making observations every 3 to 5 minutes for several hours; be sure to
report the time to 4 decimal places of the Julian Date.
Extremely fast CCD photometry (less than 1 minute exposure to exposure,
preferably less than 30 seconds) in the last stages of the superoutburst
and after return to minimum has been urged by Dr. T. Marsh, University of
Southampton, UK, to facilitate mapping the shape of the disk in precise
detail. The full text of Dr. Marsh's communication has been posted on our
WZ Sge page.
Please use the 'b' and 'e' scale AAVSO Preliminary charts issued with Alert
Notice 286 to observe WZ Sge, and report your observations to AAVSO
Headquarters, making sure to indicate which comparison star(s) you used.
CHARTS AVAILABLE ON AAVSO WEB AND FTP SITES
Chart links obsolete, 11/2013: Create charts using VSP at http://www.aavso.org/vsp
Electronic copies of the charts for N Cyg 01-2 and WZ Sge mentioned in this
Alert Notice are available through our web site at the following address:
http://www.aavso.org
The charts may also be obtained directly from our FTP site (209.192.236.2):
ftp://ftp.aavso.org/alerts/alert287 (N Cyg 01-2)
/alert286 (WZ Sge)
The answering machine at AAVSO Headquarters is on nights and weekends for
your convenience. Please call our charge-free number (888-802-STAR =
888-802-7827) to report your observations. We also encourage observers to
send observations by fax to 617-354-0665 or by e-mail through the Internet
to observations@aavso.org.
Many thanks for your valuable astronomical contributions and your efforts.
Good observing!
Janet A. Mattei
Director
Elizabeth O. Waagen
Senior Technical Assistant
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