The (possible) high-latitude UXOR RZ Piscium is undergoing a deep fade, based on observations made last night:
RZ PSC 2459107.4868 12.9 Vis. POX
RZ PSC 2459107.32500 13.9 Vis. MMH
Whether the magnitude is nearer to 12.9 than 13.9 remains a debate, but certainly the star is the faintest I have ever seen it. Bearing in mind the anomalous nature of this object, and the recent hypothesis that RZ Psc could be in the process of destroying a planetary system rather than creating one, observations at this stage (especially in a variety of filters) are very important.
Observers should also note that star 138 on chart X25651BSS is in fact a galaxy; also that the object immediately E of it is markedly fainter than shown.
Hi Mike,
The 138 is not a galaxy, it is a G6-type star with normal behaviour. The galaxy is not plotted in that chart and is closer to RZ Psc.
The star to the E of the 138 has V= 11.16.
I think it is a scale problem. You are probably confusing the 11.16 Vmag star as the 138 and the 138 as the galaxy.
The integrated magnitude of the galaxy in APASS is V= 16.7 but since this is an extended object, it will be more difficult to see so there is no way you can confuse it with the 138 based on its magnitude.
Cheers,
Sebastian
Hi Michael - I'm setup to image on T21 in BVRI starting tonight. New Mexico skies looks to be clear tonight so should have results starting tomorrow morning. Thanks - Brian
I had a look at RZ Piscium again last night (Sept. 15.84 UT) with my 203-mm SCT: it was back at maximum brightness (I did not observe it the night before due to clouds in the NE evening sky). Such fading episodes usually last only some hours; I never saw this variable star faint in two consecutive nights.
Patrick