WX Ceti erupts

From: Joe Patterson <*jop_at_astro.columbia.edu*> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 09:36:28 -0500 (EST) · jop_at_astro.columbia.edu

Dear CBAers,                                              12 Nov 1998

As some of you know, WX Cet has gone into superoutburst.  And the seasonal
timing (sky placement) is very good for Cetus these days for everyone but
northern Europeans.  In 1996 we covered the last superoutburst with high-
speed photometry, but with only poor coverage of superhumps.  Let's nail
the superhumps this month!  Australites take note!

WX Ari remains interesting but I think should make room for WX Cet, a star
of exceptional promise that we seldom see.

V592 Cas is really going well, thanks to Dave Harvey.  We need to keep
at it for another month.  The superhump variation is slightly weaker
this year, with the period slightly changed as these things are wont
to do.  Very fine target for borealites.

In the far south, AH Men (=Men 1 = H0551-819 = H0616-818) is now back
as a fine target, and so is RR Pic.  Both quite bright.  Let 'em know
we know they're out there.  And we're about to start the season on TV
Col - a very good target for southern coverage, but watch out for its
nearby companion, which has to be cleanly excluded or included in the
data reduction.

Last time I gave a list of stars which should be watched carefully for
outburst, and rocketed to the top of the list if they do erupt.  Namely:

KK Tel             RZ Leo              AO Oct
BR Lup             FS Aur              CP Eri (special attention!)
J2353-3851         BC UMa              VX For
V4140 Sgr          GD 552 = Cep 1      BZ UMa

No one actually said anything, but I hope some of you are looking.

                              joe