SETI public: Fw: AstroAlert: News from VSNET

From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Mon Oct 20 2003 - 17:09:23 PDT

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    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Makoto Uemura
    Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 8:07 PM
    To: AstroAlert
    Cc: vsnet-adm_at_ooruri.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp
    Subject: AstroAlert: News from VSNET

    ==================================================================
    This Is SKY & TELESCOPE's AstroAlert for Variable Stars
    ==================================================================

                           *** News from VSNET ***

    An outburst of a new eclipsing dwarf nova (a SDSS object, SS Cyg type??)
    was reported.

      For more detail information about these objects,
    see below, "VSNET Weekly Campaign Summary" of the last week.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

      VSNET (Variable Star Network) is an international variable star observing
    network, covering various areas of novae, supernovae, cataclysmic variables
    (CVs), X-ray transients, and other classical eruptive, pulsating, and
    eclipsing variables. VSNET is one of invited contributing organizations
    to the SkyPub AstroAlert system.

      The "News from VSNET", mainly focusing on recent remarkable activities of
    CVs and related systems, is issued on a weekly basis, except on occasions
    of extremely urgent or transient events.

      Please refer to the VSNET Home Page for more details of events and
    objects listed.

           VSNET Home Page: http://www.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/vsnet/

      VSNET provides a number of mailing lists, on which various news and topics
    are discussed. Subscriptions to the VSNET mailing lists are free of charge;
    please refer to the instruction on the above page if a reader needs more
    information of the list structure.

      CCD observations of such targets are a relatively easy task for a 20-40cm
    telescope; simply take as many CCD frames (with exposure times 10-30 sec)
    as possible, spanning several hours per night. The only requirements are
    the weather and your patience! If you need more help on the observing
    technique, please feel free to ask on the vsnet-campaign list.

       We would sincerely appreciate volunteers who would join the VSNET
    Collaboration team to study the wonders of these exotic variable stars.
    To join the VSNET campaign collaborative list, send an e-mail to

             vsnet-adm_at_kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp (VSNET administrator)

    with a line "SUBSCRIBE vsnet-campaign."
    (VSNET campaign members are strongly recommended to subscribe to vsnet-alert
    at the same time).

    Regards,
    Taichi Kato
    On behalf of the VSNET administrator team

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following was issued on October 20, 2003, as VSNET campaign
    circulation 1418
    [Note a large part of detailed information is posted to vsnet-campaign
    sub-lists].

    VSNET Weekly Campaign Summary

    *** Last week news ***

    (new targets)
      SN 2003ir (RA = 07h11m08s.18, Dec = +25d54'55".0)

        SN 2003ir is hosted by UGC 3726, a spiral galaxy at a low Galactic
      latitude (b = 15o). The expected maximum for typical SN Ia is mag
      about 16.9 (vsnet-campaign-sn 706).

      SN 2003is (RA = 19h21m08s.00, Dec = +43d19'35".4)

        SN 2003is is hosted by MCG +07-40-3 = UGC 11430, a face-on spiral
      galaxy. The expected maximum for typical SN Ia is mag about 16.3
      (vsnet-campaign-sn 707). The CfA team revealed that it was a type Ic
      SN, probably somewhat (a few days) before maximum light on
      Oct. 16.18 UT (vsnet-campaign-sn 709).

      SN 2003it (RA = 00h05m48s.47, Dec = +27d27'09".6)

        SN 2003it is hosted by UGC 40, a barred-spiral galaxy.
      The expected maximum for typical SN Ia is mag about 16.9
      (vsnet-campaign-sn 708). The CfA team revealed that it was a type
      Ia SN, a few days before maximum on Oct. 19 (vsnet-campaign-sn 711).

      AD Men (RA = 06h04m30s.83, Dec = -71d25'22".25)

        An outburst (14.0mag) was reported by R. Stubbings on October 16
      (vsnet-campaign-dn 4010).

      SDSS J040714.8-064425 (RA = 04h07m14s.8, Dec = -06d44'25")

        B. Monard reported a possible superoutburst of this SDSS object
      detecting 0.2-mag modulations (vsnet-campaign-dn 4011). A. Henden
      commented that this star was highlighted in the SDSS Paper II
      (Szkody et al., 2003 AJ 126, 1499) with a period of 3.96hr and
      quiescent eclipse depth of 1.6mag (vsnet-campaign-dn 4013).
      T. Kato commented that the star looks like an active eclipsing SS
      Cyg-type dwarf nova, resembling EX Dra (vsnet-campaign-dn 4015).

      MX0656-072 (RA = 06h58m26s.9, Dec = -07d15'47")

        R. Remillard reported that the soft X-ray transient, "MX0656-072",
      has begun a new X-ray outburst. Observations with the RXTE
      All-Sky Monitor reveal a slowly increasing flux during the last 7
      days, reaching a value of 75 (5) mCrab at 2-12 keV on 2003 October
      18. The current X-ray flux is similar to the peak value (80 mCrab)
      seen in sparse measurements of the first outburst
      (vsnet-campaign-xray 272).

      SN 2003iu (RA = 01h55m24s.55, Dec = +21d17'06".4)

        SN 2003iu is hosted by UGC 1393, a lenticular galaxy. With regard
      to the recession velocity of the host galaxy (12320 km/s by the
      NED), the discovery magnitude (16.4mag) is quite bright even as a SN
      Ia. Further photometry and the spectral classification is urged
      (vsnet-campaign-sn 710).

      SN 2003iv (RA = 02h50m07s.25, Dec = +12d50'46".5)

        SN 2003iv is hosted by PGC 10738, a compact galaxy. The discovery
      magnitude (17.2-17.1mag) is consistent with (but somewhat brighter
      than) the expected maximum for normal SNe Ia (vsnet-campaign-sn
      710). The CfA team revealed that it was a type Ia SN, near maximum
      on Oct. 19.38 UT (vsnet-campaign-sn 711).

      SN 2003iw (RA = 21h39m43s.03, Dec = +06d17'03".0)

        SN 2003iw is hosted by NGC 7102, a barred-spiral galaxy. The
      expected maximum for typical SN Ia is mag about 15.9
      (vsnet-campaign-sn 710).

    (continuous targets)
      DE Cir (RA = 15h17m52s.48, Dec = -61d57'16".4)

        The nova is now rapidly fading (vsnet-campaign-nova 1529, 1534, 1541).

      SN 2003io (RA = 02h17m26s.87, Dec = +14d34'36".3)

        The CfA team revealed that it is a type II SN (vsnet-campaign-sn 709).

      SN 2003iq (RA = 01h59m19s.92, Dec = +17d59'41".8)

        It is also a type II SN, with a very blue continuum (a young SN)
      and relatively strong He line (vsnet-campaign-sn 709).

      RU Hor (RA = 02h46m05s.38, Dec = -63d35'04".0)

        R. Stubbings detected an outburst to 14.6mag on October 17.
      T. Kato commented that the interval since the termination of the
      last superoutburst seems to be rather too long for an usual
      rebrightening (vsnet-campaign-dn 4014). G. Bolt reported that the
      outburst rapidly faded (vsnet-campaign-dn 4016).

      SV Sge (RA = 19h08m11s.75, Dec = +17d37'41".3)

        The object further faded (vsnet-campaign-rcb 168).

      V5113 Sgr (RA = 18h10m10s.42, Dec = -27d45'35".2)

        The nova is now brightening (vsnet-campaign-nova 1536).

      V4745 Sgr (RA = 18h40m02s.54, Dec = -33d26'55".1)

        A new rebrightening to 9.6mag was detected on October 14 by
      S. Otero (vsnet-campaign-nova 1531, 1535).

      V475 Sct (RA = 18h49m37s.60, Dec = -09d33'50".85)

        Some reported observations imply an apparent brightening of this
      nova (vsnet-campaign-nova 1533). R. Wolfgang, however, reported
      that within the limits of visual observation (+-0.1 to +.0.2 mag)
      V475 Sct does not brighten (vsnet-campaign-nova 1537). D. West
      detected a fading in the V-band, and reported that it may be
      entering the nebular phase (vsnet-campaign-nova 1538, 1539, 1540).

    *** Future schedule ***

      Call for Proposals
           for Cycle 1 of the Swift Guest Investigator Program
        Notices of Intent due: October 6, 2003
        Proposal due date: December 1, 2003
           [vsnet-campaign-grb 39]
      Stellar-Mass, Intermediate-Mass, and Supermassive Black Holes
        Kyoto International Community House, Kyoto, Japan
        October 28 - 31, 2003
        http://www.astro.isas.ac.jp/conference/bh2003/
    [vsnet-campaign-agn 6]
    [vsnet-campaign-xray 260]
      ASTRONOMICAL POLARIMETRY
      CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
        15-19 March 2004, Waikoloa Beach Marriott, Waikoloa, Hawaii
        http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/JACpublic/JAC/pol2004
    [vsnet-campaign-polar 35]
      IAU Symposium No. 222 - BHSIGN Conference
        The Interplay among Black Holes, Stars and ISM in Galactic Nuclei
        March 1-5, 2004, Gramado, Brasil
        http://bhsign.if.ufrgs.br/
    [vsnet-campaign-agn 5]
      WEBT campaign on AO 0235+16
        Campaign with VLBA conducted by Claudia M. Raiteri
        from September 2003
        see [vsnet-campaign-blazar 305]

      X-RAY AND RADIO CONNECTIONS
        Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
        3 - 6 February 2004
        http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/events/xraydio/
    [vsnet-campaign-xray 258]
      X-Ray Timing 2003: Rossi and Beyond
        November 3-5, 2003
        Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
        http://hea-www.harvard.edu/xrt2003/
    [vsnet-campaign-xray 242]
      AR UMa and AM Her campaign with the HST
        TOO program conducted by S. Saar and F. Ringwald
        see [vsnet-campaign-polar 24]

      QS Tel: Call for observations
        TOO program with the Chandra conducted by C. Mauche
        until the end of 2004
        see [vsnet-campaign-polar 28]

      WEBT Campaign for AO 0235+16 with XMM-Newton
        January-February 2004
        please contact to Claudia M. Raiteri,
         see [vsnet-campaign-blazar 301]

      Multiwavelength AGN Surveys
        a "Guillermo Haro" Astrophysics Conference
        organized by INAOE
        December 8-12, 2003
        Cozumel, Mexico
        http://www.inaoep.mx/~agn2003/
    [vsnet-campaign-agn 4]

      Conference: THE INTERPLAY AMONG BLACK HOLES, STARS AND ISM IN
      GALACTIC NUCLEI
        in Gramado, south of Brasil, March 1-5, 2004
        for more information, please contact to BHSIGN_at_if.ufrgs.br
    [vsnet-campaign-agn 3]
      eta Car: The next "shell event"/X-ray eclipse
        M. Corcoran reported the event will occur this summer.
        Coordinated ground-based observations of eta car along with the
        X-ray observations would be really important.
        For more information:
          Latest X-ray light curve:
          http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/users/corcoran/eta_car/etacar_rxte_lightcurve/
    [vsnet-campaign-sdor 23, 24,
    25, 26, 28, 29, 46]
    [vsnet-campaign-xray 172]
          Light curve provided by S. Otero:
          http://ar.geocities.com/varsao/Curva_Eta_Carinae.htm
    [vsnet-campaign-sdor 22, 32, 33]

    *** General information ***

      DE Cir
        D. West's page:
          http://hometown.aol.com/dwest61506/page87.html
                                            [vsnet-campaign-nova 1528]
      V445 Pup
        Preprint by M. Kato and I. Hachisu, see astro-ph/0310351
                                            [vsnet-campaign-nova 1532]
      SDSS J040714.8-064425
        Sequence presented by A. Henden
          ftp://ftp.nofs.navy.mil/pub/outgoing/aah/sequence/sdss0407.dat
                                            [vsnet-campaign-dn 4013]
      XTE J1720-318
        Preprint by Nagata et al.:
          ftp://vsnet.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/pub/vsnet/preprints/XTEJ1720/xte1720.ps
          ftp://vsnet.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/pub/vsnet/preprints/XTEJ1720/xte1720.pdf
                                            [vsnet-campaign-xray 271]
      V475 Sct
        Spectrum taken by D. Starkey, see [vsnet-campaign-nova 1540]

      NMO Observer Totals, see [vsnet-campaign-mira 79, 80]

    (This summary can be cited.)

    Regards,
    Makoto Uemura
    ==================================================================
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