>From aavso@cfa0.harvard.edu Sat Mar 4 09:19:29 1995 To: aavso-alert@cfa0.harvard.edu THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS 25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA BITNET: aavso@cfa SPAN: cfa::aavso INTERNET: aavso@cfa.harvard.edu Tel. 617-354-0484 FAX 617-354-0665 AAVSO ALERT NOTICE 203 (March 3, 1995) 0527-70 NOVA IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD 1995 (N LMC 95) We have been informed by William Liller, Vina del Mar, Chile, of his photographic discovery of a nova in the Large Magellanic Cloud on March 2.11 UT. This nova was discovered during a PROBLICOM survey at approximate visual magnitude 10.7, using Kodak TP film. The nova was also seen at magnitude 12.6 on a photograph taken by Liller on Feb 25.146. It was not visible down to magnitude 14 on a photograph taken on Feb 17. Also, no image is visible at this position on the True Visual Magnitude Photographic Atlas by C. Papadopoulos. P. Kilmartin, Mt. John University Observatory, New Zealand, reports the following position measured by A. C. Gilmore (via Nova Net): R.A. = 05h 26m 50.33s Dec. = -70 degrees 01' 23.8" (2000). Spectroscopic confirmation of N LMC 95 was obtained by M. Della Valle and N. Masetti, Universita di Padova, and S. Benetti, European Southern Observatory, who report that "a fully-reduced CCD spectrogram obtained on Mar 3.03 UT with the ESO NTT telescope (+ EMMI) confirm...a nova at maximum light or soon after,[showing]...strong emission lines and narrow P-Cygni absorption lines" (via Nova Net). Additional observations of N LMC 95 include Mar 3.0174, 10.79 CCDV, Liller (average of 5 frames); and Mar 3.7826, 11.3, D. Overbeek, Edenvale, S. Africa. Please use the accompanying charts from the AAVSO Variable Star Atlas and provided by W. Liller to observe N LMC 95, and report your observations to Headquarters, so we may inform the astronomical community. Congratulations to Bill on his latest discovery! ASTRO-2 CATACLSMIC VARIABLES We continue to report on the status of the 17 cataclysmic variables to the Astro-2 team daily, thanks to reports from observers around the world. Below is a report on the status of the observing targets, using the observations we received from last night (March 2-3) and today (March 3): RX And - at minimum (13.8 magnitude) AR And - at minimum (16.7 CCDV) WX Hyi - at minimum (fainter than 13.8) RW Tri - in its maximum state (13.1) EF Eri - no observations VW Hyi - at minimum 13.4 U Gem - at minimum (14.3) Z Cnc - fading from a short outburst Z Cam - undergoing an outburst, at maximum (10.6) EX Hya - no observations received. As of Feb 27/28 at minimum (12.7) AM Her - in its high state (13.0) EM Cyg - no observations received. As of Mar 2 at minimum (13.9) SS Cyg - at minimum (11.9) SW UMa - at minimum (fainter than 15.5) O Car - no observations received. As of Dec 30 at minimum (fainter than 13.2) BV Cen - no observations received. As of Dec 30 at minimum (fainter than 12.7) HL CMa - Undergoing an outburst - at about 11.3 Contributing observers to date: W. Albrecht (USA);J. Bortle (USA);S. Brincat (Malta);G. Comello (Netherlands); A. Dill (USA);W. Dillon (USA);G. Emerson (USA);T. Hager (USA);R. Hays,Jr.(USA); E. Halbach (USA);J. Hers (S. Africa);L. Jensen (Denmark);M. Kohl (Switzerland); G. Lubcke (USA);J. McKenna (USA);J. Pietz (Germany);G. Poyner (England); J. Ripero (Spain);P. Robbins (USA);R. Royer (USA);G. Samolyk (USA); P. Schmeer (Germany);N. Simmons (USA);C. Stephan (USA);R. Stewart (USA); L. Szentasko (Hungary);B. Tekatch (Canada);S. Toothman (USA);S. Tracy (USA); M. Westlund (Sweden);D. ork (USA);R. Zissell (USA). Please continue your close monitoring of the observing targets and report your observations as you observe them nightly (EVEN IF THE STARS ARE AT MINIMUM). Observers are welcome to use our charge-free number (800-642-3883) to report observations. The answering machine is on nights and weekends for your convenience. We also encourage observers to send observations by fax at 617-354-0665 or by e-mail through the Internet at aavso@cfa.harvard.edu. Many thanks for your efforts and valuable astronomical contributions. Good observing! Janet A. Mattei Director