the figgers are in

From: Joe Patterson <*jop_at_astro.columbia.edu*> Date: Wed, 2 Dec 1998 15:42:28 -0500 (EST) · jop_at_astro.columbia.edu

         CBA HIT LIST FOR DECEMBER 1998 - FEBRUARY 1999

                SOUTHERN AND EQUATORIAL TARGETS

Star          Coords   V range     Comments

V4140 Sgr     1959-39  14-18       if it erupts
KK Tel        2028-52  13.5-21     if it erupts
AO Oct        2105-75  13.5-21     if it erupts
VZ Scl        2350-26  15.6-18.4   now v faint - big scope only
RXJ2353-3851  2353-39   ?-16.5     desperately want an outburst
BE Oct        0000-77  15.4->18    if it erupts
WX Cet        0117-18  9.5-17.5    just faded; big scope only now
WX Ari*       0247+10  15          nice december target for all
CP Eri        0310-10  16.5-19.7   superb target if it erupts
TV Col*       0529-32  13-15       australite target of choice
CN Ori*       0552-05  12-16       nice dec-jan-feb target for all
AH Men=Men 1* 0611-81  13.6        good S target for all seasons
RR Pic*       0636-62  11.9        ideal smallscope S target
BG CMi        0729+10  15          pulse timings (15 min period)
CP Pup        0811-35  15.5        follow that wave
RX Vol        0839-66  16->18      if it erupts
CU Vel        0858-42  11-18       if it erupts
RZ Leo        1137+02  10-18       if it erupts

*"campaign" stars

              NORTHERN AND EQUATORIAL TARGETS

Cas 2         0028+59  14.4        pulse timings
HV And        0041+43  15-17       what is this star, anyway?
TT Ari*       0206+15  11        follow that wave wherever it may lead
KV And        0217+41  15-22       if it erupts
PQ And        0229+40  10-19       if it erupts
KW And        0235+41  15-22       if it erupts
WX Ari*       0247+10  15          good december target for all
CP Eri        0310-10  16.5-19.5   superb target if it erupts
V701 Tau      0344+22  15->21      if it erupts
HV Aur        0453+38  15->20      if it erupts
FS Aur        0548+28  14-16       another mystery star
CN Ori*       0552-05  12-16       nice dec-jan-feb target for all
(RXJ)         0558+54  15          pulse timings
BG CMi        0729+10  15          pulse timings (15 min period)
U Gem*        0751+22  9-14        the Mark McGwire of CVs
DI UMa*       0912+50  14.5-18.5   if it erupts (fervent desire)
BK Lyn        0917+34  14.6        follow that wave, keep the faith
DV UMa        0946+45  15-20       if it erupts
RZ Leo        1137+02  11-19       if it erupts
BC UMa        1152+49  11-19       if it erupts
YY Dra        1150+72  10-16       if it erupts

As usual with CBA coverage, it's best to find a favorite star and stick
with it.  By persistence and loyalty you'll make the data set much more
valuable for the extraction of periodic signals.

                    *         *         *         *

Finally, let's talk about U Gem.  There are rumors that the CBA may
face prosecution in Stellar Court for failure to conduct a campaign on
U Gem, the most obvious of all possible CBA targets.  And you know,
Linda Tripps can pop up from almost anywhere.  So maybe we should do
the right thing.

U Gem is a fascinating star because of its orbital hump, grazing
eclipse, and eruption history so incredibly rich in detail.  And at 9th
magnitude in outburst, everyone can play (and many of us are blinded)!
My guess is that an eruption will occur sometime in January.  That's
pretty convenient for us borealites.  So let's do it.  We may or may
not find superhumps (theory, for whatever it's worth, says no).  But
we're sure to get some very fine data on the comings and goings of the
orbital hump and the eclipse.  This can be a powerful diagnostic of the
wandering mass-transfer rate.

For U Gem campaigners, standardization of comparison stars is worth the
trouble.  The best overall comp is the one 3 arcmin SE from U Gem, for
which Misselt reports V=13.15, B=13.88, R=12.75.  But during eruption,
there's plenty of worry about saturating U Gem, so then it wouldn't
be such a great choice (not abominable, but not great either).  I'll
study the possibilities for a better comp during eruption, and report
back.

                   *         *         *         *

By the way, with quite heavy artillery (big scopes and dark skies)
there are some other targets you might pursue.  Let me know if you're
in that category.