THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
INTERNET: aavso@aavso.org
Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665
AAVSO ALERT NOTICE 290 (September 20, 2001)
0341-44B SUPERNOVA 2001el IN NGC 1448 (HOROLOGIUM)
We have been informed by the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (IAU
Circular 7720) and by Liebert A. G. (Berto) Monard, Pretoria, South Africa,
that Monard visually discovered an apparent supernova in NGC 1448 on Sep.
17.064 UT at visual magnitude 14.5, using a 32-cm Newtonian telescope.
Additional observations by Monard include Aug. 25.96 UT, <14.6; Sep. 17.108,
14.5; 17.930, 14.3; 20.09, 13.8; 20.11, 13.7 (brightness increase from
previous estimate may be due to improved dark-adaptation); Monard's comparison
sequence was based on UCAC1 and USNO-A2.0 B and R data.
The supernova was confirmed by Greg Bock, Edens Landing, Queensland, Australia,
who obtained the accompanying unfiltered CCD image (included in this Alert
Notice courtesy of Greg Bock) on Sep. 18.1 UT that showed the supernova at CCD
magnitude approximately 13.2.
A. Wassilieff, Palmerston North, New Zealand, measured an unfiltered CCD image
taken through clouds with an 0.38-m reflector on Sep. 18.636 UT that showed
the supernova at magnitude 13.9 and reported the position of the supernova,
which is 14" west and 20" north of the nucleus of the galaxy, as:
R.A. = 03h 44m 30.60s Decl. = -44 degrees 38' 23.4" (2000)
A CCD(R) magnitude of 14.5 +/- 0.5 was reported by J. Biggs, who obtained
three unfiltered CCD images on Sept. 19.62 UT using the Perth Observatory
Mike Candy 0.25-m Telescope.
0341-44A SN 1983S also occurred in NGC 1448, and was visually discovered by
Robert O. Evans of Hazelbrook, NSW, Australia.
Accompanying is an AAVSO 'e' scale preliminary chart of NGC 1448 showing the
location of SN 2001el prepared by C. Scovil and K. Malatesta, AAVSO
Headquarters. Please use this chart to observe the supernova, and report your
observations of 0341-44B SN 2001EL to AAVSO Headquarters, making sure to
indicate which comparison stars you used.
Congratulations to Berto on his first supernova discovery!
REQUEST TO MONITOR CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES FOR XMM-NEWTON OBSERVATIONS
Astronomers at University of California, Santa Barbara, will be observing
several cataclysmic variables in the coming weeks in X-ray and near-ultraviolet
wavelengths with the X-Ray Multi-Mirror Telescope (XMM-Newton) orbiting
observatory. They have requested our assistance in monitoring these objects
before, during, and after the satellite observations in order to provide
optical data for correlation.
Observers, particularly CCD observers, are urged to monitor closely as many
as possible of the targets listed below over the next several weeks so that
there will be good knowledge of the activity state (outburst, quiescence, high
or low state, etc.) of each target at the time of the satellite observations.
The observing targets below are given in order of observing date. Please
note that the first satellite observations are of AM Her type polars (HY Eri
and UW Pic) and will take place tomorrow, September 21, and Monday, September
24, respectively, so it is important to begin monitoring these stars in particular
as soon as possible. What is particularly important with them is to determine
whether they are in their up (bright) or down (faint) state.
Target Type Range Date of Observation
0456-04 HY Eri AM (Polar) 17.5- V September 21
0528-46 UW Pic AM (Polar) 16.4-17.2V September 24
1831-74 V347 Pav AM (Polar) 15.2-17.6V October 2
0803+62 SU UMa UGSU 11.2-15.0V October 5
0409-71 VW Hyi UGSU 8.5-13.8V October 7
0812-48 IX Vel UX (Novalike) 9.1-10.0v October 11
0745+15 PQ Gem DQ (Intermed. Polar) 14.1-14.5V October 12/13
0749+22 U Gem UGSS 9.1-15.2V October 13
0831+48 EI UMa UG 13.4-14.9P October 13
AAVSO charts for HY Eri, UW Pic, and V347 Pav have been prepared by K.
Malatesta, AAVSO Headquarters, and have been posted on the AAVSO website.
They and AAVSO charts for all of the other stars to be observed except PQ Gem
may be downloaded at this time (see below for details). An AAVSO chart for
PQ Gem is in preparation and will be posted to the website. If you would
prefer, you may request a set of these charts to be sent by postal mail from
AAVSO Headquarters.
Please use these charts to observe the target stars and report your
observations to AAVSO Headquarters, making sure to indicate which comparison
stars you used. Good coverage from our observers is extremely important to
the success of this observing program, so we urge you to follow as many of
these targets as you can.
CHARTS AVAILABLE ON AAVSO WEB AND FTP SITES
Chart links obsolete; 11/2013 create charts using VSP at http://www.aavso.org/vsp
Electronic copies of the chart for SN 2001el, Greg Bock's CCD image, and the
charts of the cataclysmic variables mentioned in this Alert Notice are
available through our web site at the following address:
http://www.aavso.org
They may also be obtained directly from our FTP site (209.192.236.2):
ftp://ftp.aavso.org/alerts/alert290
We encourage observers to submit observations via our website (online data
submission tool WebObs), or by email in AAVSO format to observations@aavso.org.
If you do not have AAVSO Observer Initials, please contact Headquarters so we
may assign them to you. The answering machine at AAVSO Headquarters is on
nights and weekends; use our charge-free number (888-802-STAR = 888-802-7827)
to report your observations, or report them via fax (617-354-0665).
Many thanks for your valuable astronomical contributions and your efforts.
Good observing!
Janet A. Mattei
Director
Elizabeth O. Waagen
Senior Technical Assistant
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