[vsnet-alert 439] International TOAD watch

[Steve Howell <howell@PSI.EDU>]

Dear friends of TOADs
,
As of 1 July 1996, I will be a faculty member at the University of Wyoming.
That institution has a 2.3-m IR/optical telescope and a 24" CCD equiped
telescope. I would like to ask for your further help in forming an international
TOAD observational group. TOADs are Tremendous Outburst Amplitude Dwarf novae,
that is cataclysmic variables which are generally very faint, but
during outburst can get as bright as 10th magnitude visually. the CV
homepage has further details.

The idea of this group would be to:

1) collect as much time-series data as possible during the TOAD outbursts
(using PMT's or CCDs)
Note: this is a project for
TOAD outburst time-series data sets. That is, spending many hours of a given
night, collecting frame after frame of data on one star. Due to the possible
large volume of data, I can only accept reduced data either as absolute
or differential photometric measures with their associated JD timings.

2) provide coordinate observations with satellite observations for
myself and others which are scheduled during TOAD outbursts.

3) use the data to better understand the astrophysics of TOAD outbursts
and accretion properties. 
Recent examples of such work can be found in the June 1996 Issue of
Astronomical Journal (AL Com), and in the MAy 10th Astrophysical Journal
Letters (TOADs and Soft X-rat Transients).

Using many datasets of time-series photometry, from many longitudes, 
will allow for uninterupted coverage of outbursts, and will greatly aid
in the understanding of these interesting systems. A list of TOADs and 
candidates is available from the CV homepage. 

Note this announcement DOES NOT include normal dwarf novae which so many
of you are already working on as well as a number of professional
astronomers. The purpose of this message is to collect information
from potential observers as to their telescope, instrumentation available,
observing time available, and their willingness to observe TOADS during 
outburst and share their
data with this group. 

I will collate the information, develop a Web site for information,
will post the information, will develop email alert messages specifically for
TOAD outbursts. Many of the outburst alerts come from you already.
In addition, I would be happy to include all relavent persons on published
scientific papers resulting from any outburst datasets and/or
simultaneous satellite observations.

This is a large scale effort and will require a number of months to setup 
properly. So please send replies to howell@psi.edu (before 1 July) 
and showell@uwyo.edu (after 1 July). 
I will acknowledge your email within a few weeks to a month, after
I have collected and established a TOAD email list. 

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers,
Steve Howell


NEW address (Effective 1 July 1996):

Dr. Steve B. Howell
Deptartment of Physics and Astronomy
University of Wyoming
P. O. Box 3905, University Station
Laramie, WY, 82071  USA

Phone: (307) 766-6150
Fax:   (307) 766-2652
email: showell@kaya.uwyo.edu

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