back to reality!

From: Joe Patterson <*jop_at_astro.columbia.edu*> Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1999 11:05:41 -0400 (EDT) · jop_at_astro.columbia.edu

                                                          4/25/99
Hi CBAers,

With the moon getting brighter and me arguably getting a little saner,
it's time to back off from those really faint targets.  UW CrB is down
there at 19.7; we're doing OK with the 1.3 m, but it's just a really
tough star.  (And also, because I've become convinced that the dips are
real geometrical eclipses - despite the enormously variable waveform - 
owing to their very high phase stability.)

NY Ser, aka the Big Apple Snake, is now about 19 at quiescence.  This is
in the usual CBA noise (not for a *detection*, but for data useful beyond
coarse applications).  So I suggest that we merely keep vigil on it to
wait for the next supermax.  I reckon that will be within 60 d.  Sorry that's
so rough - the superoutburst period isn't known yet.  Then we fire into 
action.  By the way, is there anyone out there outside the Americas who can 
observe this star even a single night in quiescence?  The period structure
is giving trouble and it would be mighty nice to have some longitude
leverage.

A very good target right now - the best, for most people - is UX UMa.  
Jerry Gunn's initial data suggests that there may be some periodic waves 
close to (but discrepant from) Porb.  This is the season - transiting near 
midnight, observable all night long.  Guaranteed to give beautiful light 
curves, suitable for framing.

The stars for timing studies continue to be BG CMi (fading in the evening
twilight), AM CVn, and HP Lib.  Each a star in need of one more observing
season to be ready for harvest.

             Joe