April 21, 2016: The Mira variable QX Pup (12.4-12.8 I - 14.5-14.7 I) is approaching maximum and was magnitude 13.038 I +/-0.026 on April 16.9723 UT (HMB, J. Hambsch, Mol Belgium). This star is the target of an observing exercise initiated by Arne Henden in 2008 to determine fundamental information on it (http://www.aavso.org/qx-pup).
There are NO positive V observations of this star around maximum on record (!), so the coming weeks would be an excellent time for someone to obtain some V data and give us a V maximum value. Puppis is not very well placed right now, but any observations now and after solar conjunction could provide new and valuable information. The next maximum of QX Pup is close to 2 years off (period in I is 551.0 days).
QX Pup has spectral type M9III, so it is quite red. The V magnitude could be considerably fainter than the R, but if you have a good-size telescope with a CCD and a V filter, you could likely obtain some positive observations!
Coordinates: 07 42 16.87 -14 42 52.1 (2000.0)
Finder charts with a sequence for QX Pup may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP).
Please submit observations to the AAVSO International Database using the name "QX PUP". Be sure to indicate which comparison stars
you used.
This AAVSO Special Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.
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