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(cba:news) stars for the solstice, II (Joe Patterson) [2006-12-18T22:24:39Z]



Dear CBAers,

This new dwarf nova in Cam looks to be one of our faves. In our group, only David Boyd has observed it yet... but his observations, as well as those of the Japanese, show plain superhumps at 0.053 d. One of the shortest periods seen in dwarf-nova land... and in fact short enough to challenge (somewhat) the theories. This is the highest priority northern object.

It's December now, and time to promote AH Pic (0557-59). This is a 14th magnitude novalike which we observed extensively 3 years ago and failed to find a period. But I think we were just unlucky; Darragh O'Donoghue sent me some data which strongly suggested a period, and I resolved to find out for sure some future December. Now's the time to beat on this star.

SDSS0407-06 continues to be of great interest to us; my only misgiving is its faintness - if you can handle that, I strongly recommend it for continued coverage. It has high and low states, but it doesn't quite any resemble any dwarf nova I know, and it has more or less permanent superhumps.

I had great hopes for V1193 Ori, which was more or less rookie of the year last year (in a somewhat abbreviated season). However, this year's coverage is GREAT, and the strong superhumps of last year have completely vanished. I dunno what the best strategy is... but I'm inclined to steer clear of it till that signal reawakens.

Delete BW Scl and HS2331+3905. Just a little too late in the observing season - but they had superb runs this year. I'll be writing both up this winter.

Other targets unchanged. Since OT0557+68 (position in last email) is a completely new object to us, has an exotic period, and might, for all we know, never erupt again, it plainly deserves top billing. I apologize to australites for all the northern glamor objects this season.

But at least they're heading for the hemisphere with the long nights...

joe