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PU CMa: first Pdot estimate Dear Colleagues, We have received new another excellent data set from Peter Nelson. The data still clearly show superhumps. We have, for the first time, been able to determine the superhump period derivative (period change). A fit to all the observation has yielded dot(P)/P of -3x10^(-5). Excluding the slight anomaly of O-C on May 25 has yielded -1x10^(-5). In either cases, the absolute value of dot(P)/P is small. Furthermore, the period derivative seems to be slightly negative (period is decreasing), which is a rather anomalous feature for a system with this short superhump period. The only system having a possibly negative Pdot measurement below Psh = 0.06 is WZ Sge (but the result has not been so conclusive, as we know from the 2001 superoutburst). If the current Pdot is confirmed, PU CMa is an exceptional object. Please contine observing this object as long as you can, to fully extend the current very excellent coverage! Regards, Taichi Kato VSNET Collaboration team
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vsnet-adm@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp
