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From: Joe Patterson <jop@astro.columbia.edu>
RZ LEO MINORIS
Since the work of Robertson et al. 1995 (PASP 107, 443) and Nogami et
al. 1995 (PASJ 47, 897), this star has been known to be the most frantic
dwarf nova in the sky, with superoutbursts popping off every 20
days. Five years ago we conducted a long CBA campaign, and found two
tantalizing results: that the superhumps did not die in quiescence (as
required by law), and that they did not lose track of phase from one
superoutburst to the next (as required by another law). The data were
not, however, sufficient to prove either of these beyond doubt.
Such criminal acts among stars are often the prelude to a deeper
understanding. So we have launched another long campaign to do
time-series photometry of RZ LMi through mid-April of 2001. We seek
much help from other observers. About 3 months of coverage are needed,
and this requires a lot of teamwork since it exceeds any one person's
energy level (OK, with the possible exception of people named Kato or
Skiff...). Our basic need is long unfiltered time series (say >3 hrs
per night) of differential photometry. An account of possible observing
procedures is given at our website (http://cba.phys.columbia.edu and
click on "data" and "charts"), but we can handle different formats and
observing strategies by using overlaps to normalize the data.
The star varies between about 17.2 at quiescence (where it hardly
ever sits) and 14.8 in superoutburst. It's still in superoutburst at
this moment (Jan 27). In addition to the ~20 day superoutbursts, it
also has short outbursts on a ~4 day timescale... jumps around a lot.
Can you help us learn about this nervous star? Write and tell us if
you can help.
Joe Patterson jop@astro.columbia.edu
FOR THE CBA CABAL:
so far, Elena Pavlenko - Crimean Observatory
Jonathan Kemp - CBA-Hilo
Tonny Vanmunster - CBA-Belgium
Dave Skillman - CBA-Maryland
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