Note: Var Her 04 was later assigned the GCVS name V1108 Her. A paper on this object, with Aaron Price as the primary author and including 18 other AAVSO observers/members as co-authors, was published in PASP December 2004.
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 306 (June 22, 2004)
SUBJECT:
- Possible New Variable in Hercules: 1835+25 VAR HER 04 [V1108 Her]
- Update on Request for Monitroing of 0409-71 VW HYDRI
1. POSSIBLE NEW VARIABLE IN HERCULES
Object: 1835+25 VAR HER 04 [V1108 Her]
Event: Variable (possibly new) in Hercules
Discovered By: Yuji Nakamura, Kameyama, Mie-ken, Japan (reported to Daniel Green, Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, by Syuichi Nakano, Sumoto, Japan)
Discovery Magnitude: 11.5 on two five-minute exposure Tri-X films taken using 200-mm f/4.0 lens
Discovery Date: June 13.632 UT (reported to D. Green, CBAT, June 16)
R.A. (2000): 18h 39m 26.16s (from James Bedient, Honolulu, HI)
Decl. (2000): +26o 04' 10" (from James Bedient, Honolulu, HI)
AAVSO Chart(s): 'e' and 'f' scale charts (thanks to B. Gary for photometry): http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/searchcharts3.pl?name=var%20her%2004 [obsolete link; create charts using VSP at http://www.aavso.org/vsp ]
Report Object to the AAVSO as: 1835+25 VAR HER 04
Observations Reported to the AAVSO: June 15.2462 UT, 12.033 V, ASAS-3, reported by J. Bedient, Honolulu, HI; 18.1375, 12.1 CCDV, R. James, Las Cruces, NM; 18.3090, 11.8 CCDV, R. Royer, Springville, CA; 19.20, 12.69 CCDV, B. Gary, Hereford, AZ; 19.2279, 12.3 CCDV, James; 19.25, 12.74 V, ASAS-3, reported by Bedient; 20.3146, 12.5, M. Simonsen, Imlay City, MI; 21.1889, 12.6, Simonsen; 21.2286, 12.6 CCDV, James; 21.960, 13.0, G. Poyner, Birmingham, England; 22.005, 13.0, Poyner; 22.050, 13.1, Poyner; 22.21, 13.69, ASAS-3, reported by Gary; 22.48, 13.2, K. Itagake, Yamagata, Japan (reported by S. Nakano via D. Green); 22.4000, 12.8 CCDV, James.
Notes:
a. Nakamura writes that nothing was visible around the discovery position on his about fifty patrol films taken during 1999 - 2004 with limiting magnitude = 12.
b. The nature of this object is not yet known. It does not appear to be a classical nova, and is quite blue. Spectroscopic observations are scheduled for tonight that we hope will reveal the star's nature.
c. Observing Strategy:
- Visual observers, please observe it at least once per night. If your regular observing session is lengthy then please make an additional observation towards the end.
- CCD observers who can get to 0.03 magnitude precision at 13-14th magnitude should take time series data of as high quality as possible, for as long as possible. Observe unfiltered to increase your SNR. We are looking for orbital cycles, eclipses, superhumps or anything else that could be found in a cataclysmic variable or a nova.
- If your system cannot perform accurate high speed photometry at that level of brightness then please take one or two measurements per night using a V filter to help with long term monitoring of the fading trend. If possible, take additional observations in B as well.
d. Several images have been taken of this object. An AAVSO web page is now online with some of the images placed there. Bruce Gary has created a webpage on this object at (http://brucegary.net/nova2004/).
2. UPDATE ON REQUEST FOR MONITORING OG 0409-71 VW HYI
Event: Request for optical monitoring - visual and CCD(V)
Alert Notice 305 (please see for details) announced the request for optical monitoring of the SU UMa-type cataclysmic variable VW Hyi this summer in support of Target-of-Opportunity (TOO) observations with FUSE by Dr. Knox Long and colleagues. There were three observing windows for the satellite, and triggering of the TOO observations was substantially dependent on the proximity of a superoutburst to the trigger time. (If a superoutburst occurred while the satellite was observing VW Hyi in quiescence, the satellite might be damaged.) Since a superoutburst was due, it was hoped the TOO observations could be triggered during the June window. Unfortunately, a superoutburst did not occur, and has not to date. It is expected that one will have happened before the next window (August) and it is hoped the TOO observations can be triggered during that window.
As mentioned in Alert Notice 305, your observations and your immediate notification of AAVSO Headquarters of an outburst are absolutely essential to the success of this observing program. Your observations to date have been of enormous value, and Dr. Long joins me in thanking you very much. Please continue to monitor VW Hyi closely and report your observations to AAVSO Headquarters. AAVSO 'b' and 'd' scale charts may be found at: http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/searchcharts3.pl?name=vw%20hyi [obsolete link; create charts using VSP at http://www.aavso.org/vsp ] or on request to AAVSO Headquarters.
SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO
We encourage observers to submit observations via our web site (online data submission tool WebObs), or by email in AAVSO format to observations@aavso.org. If you do not have AAVSO Observer Initials, please contact Headquarters so we may assign them to you. The answering machine at AAVSO Headquarters is on nights and weekends; use our charge-free number (888-802-STAR = 888-802-7827) to report your observations, or report them via fax (617-354-0665).
Many thanks for your valuable astronomical contributions and your efforts.
Good observing!
Elizabeth O. Waagen
Interim Director
---------------------------------------------------
SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO
Information on submitting observations to the AAVSO may be found at:
http://www.aavso.org/webobs
ALERT NOTICE ARCHIVE AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
An Alert Notice archive is available at the following URL:
http://www.aavso.org/alert-notice-archive
Subscribing and Unsubscribing may be done at the following URL:
http://www.aavso.org/observation-notification#alertnotices
Please support the AAVSO and its mission -- join or donate today:
http://www.aavso.org/apps/donate