(cba:news) sdss1642+1347, and some others (Joe Patterson) [2012-10-11T13:21:25Z]

Thanks Enrique and Joe U, SDSS1642 was at quiescence yesterday, the HST 
safety people are placated, and the observation will start in about 1 
day.  Continued monitoring from now until the end of the observation 
(Oct 12 6:22 UT) is *extremely* desirable - for science, as well as for 
safety.

The next 5 targets are:

AX For
RX0232-37
SDSS0011-0647
HS2214+2845
CC Scl

Monitoring of these is now timely as well.  Mainly snapshot 
magnitudes... but in case anyone can get time-series on RX0232-37, that 
would be great!  I consider it one of the most fascinating CVs in the 
sky, but with quiescence quite faint (18.5-19), it usually doesn't make 
our lists.

And apart from HST issues...

Many of you contributed heroically to our campaigns on BK Lyn and ER UMa 
in 2012.  I think the papers being readied now on these stars will have 
a great impact on CV science, especially CV evolution... and will 
certainly have a great impact on our observing programs.  In particular, 
the ER UMa class.  It's a small class and we should study all of 'em 
over the next year (BK Lyn, ER UMa, RZ LMi, V1159 Ori, MN Dra, DI UMa, 
IX Dra, V503 Cyg).  Most are somewhat out of season, but:
(1) V1159 Ori is pretty well placed (plus it's so close to M42 that you 
get to glance at that every night); and
(2) *short* coverage, or even snapshot coverage, is quite desirable for 
these stars; their rapid up-and-down hijinks are very definitely of 
interest - and so far, what make these stars so mysterious.

From the 2012 coverage of BK Lyn, I think we've learned now that the 
timescale for a short-Porb classical nova to decline to quiescence is 
not 30-50 years, as usually assumed, but at least 10000 years.  (No typo 
here.)  This greatly affects our ideas of CV evolution, as well as of 
novae.  I expect to finish this paper around November 1, with all the 
CBA BK Lyn observers (since 1999!) as co-authors of course.  So:
1. If you've observed BK Lyn for us anytime since 1999, send me your 
current postal address and email; and
2. I apologize for taking 13 years to write the damn paper!

Some of you occasionally give talks at your local astronomy clubs.  This 
could be a very interesting subject, if you're inclined to take it on. 
Helena and I will be talking about the star, and these ideas, at the 
Cape Town nova conference in February.  We'll have some good slides to 
contribute, and of course the fireworks of novae are a natural subject 
for public talks anyway.

joe