(cba:news) December stars, and FS Aur

[Joe Patterson]

Thanks, Shawn. We have a couple of such states in past coverage - no 
definite period, but enough to suggest (to me... but not nearly enough 
to prove)a quasi-period of ~80 days.  Outbursts quite small (1.5 mag?) 
and quite brief (2 d?).  Does that sound about right?

I have no idea if this star is *important*, but it sure is *unique*.  An 
orbital period of 1.4 hr, and a decent-amplitude, strictly periodic 
photometric wave of 3.4 hours.  Nuthin' like it in the sky, and way 
different from the stars which dominate this orbital-period regime (the 
dwarf novae and polars, probably 99% of the total).  It just wiggles 
away.  What is it?

Could be a very rewarding target, if you don't mind a somewhat faint 
star that doesn't do a helluva lot.  Seriously!  You'll definitely ask 
yourself "is this really worthwhile?"  The eclipsers and superhumpers 
offer more immediate rewards.

joe


On 12/2/2014 7:46 PM, Shawn Dvorak wrote:
> FS Aur is (was?) in a bright state.  I caught what was probably the
> start of the outburst on the night of 11/29-30 when it started
> brightening around 11/30 05:30 UT and went from ~15.7 to 15.2CV in three
> hours. On the night of 11/30-12/01 it was steady at ~14.0CV. Nice 0.3
> mag variations that night, not obviously regular to casual inspection.
> Unfortunately it was cloudy here last night, and conditions are poor
> tonight.
>
> Shawn
>
>
> On 12/01/2014 01:50 PM, Joe Patterson wrote:
>> attached. Let me know if you can't read the pdf!
>>
>> joe
>>
>>
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