Dear CBAers,We're done with V1315 Aquilae for the year (probably for several years) - and also done with CP Lac, whose light curve was really disappointing.
Here are my recommendations for northern targets this month:1. WZ Sge. Strangely, we've never done a campaign on this ultra-famous star in quiescence. Serious oversight. There's an intruder star 7 arcsec away, so you have to figure out what to do about that (probably exclude it... depending on how good your drive is). It's about 15.5, though it has a few excursions to 14.5, which would be awfully fascinating to catch in the act.
2. LS Peg. Good target for the smaller scopes - or for the bigger scopes when ambition is flagging. 1-2 minute integrations are fine (as are faster, if you prefer).
3. V1974 Cyg. I think about 17.5 now. We need another season's coverage to establish a good ephemeris extending back to the 1992 eruption ("nova of the century"... and since they waited until 1992 to say so, they can't be accused of jumping the gun).
4. LQ Peg. We've logged just one brief campaign. Rude & Ringwald have presented some nice results, and it's time to put some intense effort into this star. I'd rate it as about to equal to LS Peg in priority... but the first few nights will probably clarify this.
5. V1500 Cyg. This is a 19th mag star, but if you like faint stars, this is your guy, with a 1-mag amplitude. We're trying to pin down the exact period over the long haul (back to 1975), so just one or two good nights will be fine.
6. V Per = Nova Per 1889. You can't blame a guy for trying. I think about 18.5 and eclipsing. We want to know *everything* about this short-period eclipsing old nova, which importantly impact almost everything we do (the CBA, not the world). Sorry about the magnitude, and I know it's wishful thinking, but I thought I'd give it a try.
As usual, the best observing practice is to adopt a star and stick to it - *density of observation* is very critical. Until you don't like it any more - then adopt a different star.
In the south, there are three old novae I'd recommend. They're all difficult targets (faintness and crowding) but would be great to study thoroughly: V728 Sco, V4743 Sgr, and V630 Sgr. We have some data on all them, mainly from Gordon... just enough to whet my appetite.
Plus CD Ind, an asynchronous polar we're studying long-term (slow synchroniztion of rotational and orbital periods). Good target, not faint.
The big T Pyx paper is almost complete. Attached is a draft of the paper, though really you should just pay close attention to the author list and the separate observing log. (BTW the stuff at the back is pure gobbledygook.) I just would like them to be as accurate as possible - check 'em. Also, most journals want both postal and email addresses for authors, so send 'em, if you haven't done so recently (and cc to Jonathan: jk@xxxxxxxxxxx)
joe
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