VSNET Weekly Campaign Summary *** Last week news *** (new targets) SY Vol (RA = 08h53m28s.9, Dec = -71d12'29".9) R. Stubbings reported that the suspected dwarf nova SY Vol is probably undergoing a bright outburst (14.2mag on July 23). The quiescent counterpart seems to be USNO0150.05620695 whose magnitude is about 22. The object is also has a likely ROSAT detection (vsnet-campaign 390). The observations by R. Stubbings showed it was still bright on July 27 (vsnet-campaign 399). Considering the large-amplitude of the outburst, the star may be an SU UMa-type dwarf nova undergoing a rare superoutburst. Observations are strongly encouraged. XTE J1859+226 (RA = 18h58m41s.58, Dec = +22d39'29".4) This X-ray nova was detected on 1999 October. M. Garcia et al. reported in IAUC 7466 that further observations of the optical counterpart to this soft x-ray transient which recently underwent optical and x-ray re-flares. Observations with the CTIO 0.9m telescope on July 23.1, 24.1, and 25.1 (UT) find R = 20.8 +/- 0.3, 20.2 +/- 0.1, 19.8 +/- 0.1 (vsnet-campaign-xray 24). The activity in this phase is very interesting. V592 Her (RA = 16h30m51s.60, Dec = +21d17'35".5) The possible outburst was reported on July 25 (vsnet-campaign 396). S. O'Connor confirmed that the star was near quiescence on July 26 and no likely outburst (vsnet-campaign 397). BR Lup (RA = 15h35m51s.61, Dec = -40d34'25".4) The SU UMa-type dwarf nova BR Lup was reported to be undergoing a bright outburst, possibly superoutburst (13.7mag on July 27). The last superoutburst of this star was reported in 2000 March. Now it is in outburst. Time-series photometry is encouraged to make clear the nature of this outburst. V503 Cyg (RA = 20h27m15s.61, Dec = +43d41'45".5) C. Bryja noticed that this SU UMa star with an orbital period of less than 2 hours has been performing a Z Cam like standstill at V~15.7 ongoing since July 20th (vsnet-campaign 402). The nature of this object is still unknown, and dense observations to reveal the outburst or standstill behavior is encouraged. V1008 Her (RA = 18h05m46s.4, Dec = +31d40'18") The outburst of this dwarf nova was reported by C. P. Jones on July 29 at 13.0mag. Despite that this star is most likely an SS Cyg-star based on the last (1999 November) observations, the good seasonal visibility and bright maximum would place the present outburst as a potential detailed follow-up target (vsnet-campaign 403). Now it is in outburst. DH Aql (RA = 19h26m12s.05, Dec = -10d15'21".4) R. Stubbings reported that the SU UMa-type dwarf nova DH Aql was undergoing a bright outburst (12.6mag on July 31). The last superoutburst was observed in 1999 April (mv=12.4, Pearce). Now it is in outburst. The superhump period of this object has not been well established (vsnet-campaign 404). Time-series observations are strongly urged. (continuous targets) Delta Sco (RA = 16h00m19s.9, Dec = -22d37'17") E. Pollmann posted the spectra (R = 2188, S/N = 480; with Maksutov objective prism spectrograph) to [vsnet-campaign-image 2] (or vsnet-campaign-be 8). S. Otero reported that J. Fabregat (University of Valencia, Spain) informed he has been receiving several spectra taken in the past. From these, the emission lines have been present, although with variable strength, for at least five years. So we're not witnessing the birth of delta Sco as a Be star but its birth as a gamma Cas variable (vsnet-campaign-be 9). T. Kato forwarded the D. Dunham's report that the next occultation of delta Scorpii occur on 2003 Sep. 2, and the other days are listed in [vsnet-campaign-be 14]. S. Masuda (Kyoto University) provided a high-dispersion spectrum of delta Sco on July 26 (vsnet-campaign-be 15). The object still keeps the gradual brightening trend. V4641 Sgr (RA = 18h19m21s.6, Dec = -25d24'25") No remarkable brightening was reported during the last week. SN 2000cx (RA = 01h24m46s.15, Dec = +09o30'30".9) K. Krisciunas reported his observation and commented that it is curious that the B-V color has stayed so constant (vsnet-alert 5156, vsnet-campaign-sn 28). The object is brighter than expected magnitude of typical SNeIa, and seems to reach a peak around July 26 (vsnet-campaign-sn 30). Close monitorings are encouraged. V792 Cyg (RA = 19h31m00s.50, Dec = +33d47'11".8) This dwarf nova which was reported to be in a bright outburst faded like SS Cyg-type (vsnet-campaign-dn 62). Now it is at quiescence. 1H 1933+510 (RA = 19h34m36s.08, Dec = +51d07'42".2) The report from S. O'Connor that this brightening nova-like variable was at 15.8mag on July 24 was apparently confirmed the outburst (vsnet-campaign 392). C. Bryja reported that the object is North 4.3 arcsec and West 12.0 arcsec from a bright comparison star, GSC 3568-115 and the result of the absolute photometry of this comparison star (vsnet-campaign 393, 394). A rather hasty fade was reported on July 25 by S. O'Connor (16.5mag) (vsnet-campaign 395). C. Bryja provided the photometry of the GSC stars in the CCD field (vsnet-campaign 398). The current magnitude indicates the object is near its low-state. V2051 Oph (RA = 17h08m19s.1, Dec = -25d48'31".1) The fading trend from the outburst was reported on July 24. The normal outburst was ended (vsnet-campaign-dn 61). TT Ind (RA = 20h33m39s.79, Dec = -56d33'43".8) Further brightening of this dwarf nova in a rare outburst had been observed on 24 July (vsnet-campaign 391). It started fading on July 28 (13.2mag), suggesting a possible long outburst of an SS Cyg star (vsnet-campaign-dn 70). V844 Her (RA = 16h25m01s.69, Dec = +39d09'25".9) The fading from the superoutburst started, and then, the object was experiencing a stage of slight brightening before the termination of the superoutburst (July 26 - 29) (vsnet-campaign-dn 73). Observations at this stage is important since superhumps tend to show a regrowth (see Baba et al. 2000, V1028 Cyg). CI Aql (RA = 18h52m03s.6, Dec = -01d28m38.9s) This nova keeps the fading trend. A possible rapid decline was noticed (vsnet-campaign-nova 70). More time-series observations, particularly including eclipses, are strongly encouraged. V803 Cen (RA = 13h23m44s.5, Dec = -41d44'30".1) Striking oscillations have been observed, however, fainter trend can be seen in the recent data (vsnet-campaign-dn 59, 64, 68). BL Lac (RA = 22h02m42s.86, Dec = +42d16'37.6") During the last week, a gradual brightening was observed (vsnet-campaign-blazer 46). XTE J1118+480 (RA = 11h18m10s.9, Dec = +48d02'12".9) M. Uemura reported the preliminary results of the data obtained during JD 2451740 - 2451750 at Kyoto. This X-ray nova keeps the relatively rapid decline (0.044 mag/d). From around JD 2451730, the multiple peaks appeared in light curves, and we confirmed it is a real feature through the light curve during JD 2451740 - 2451750 (vsnet-campaign-xray 25). Recent visual observations by M. Verdenet on July 26 (13.7mag) also seem to confirm the trend (vsnet-campaign-xray 26). (outburst predictions) HT Cas (RA = 01h10m07s.74, Dec = +60d04'03".6) As predicted by T. Watanabe that the next outburst of HT Cas occurs either between 2000 Aug 3 and 17 or between November 8 and 22, it may erupt in immediate future. If it erupts, the object will be the highest priority target for the VSNET collaboration team (vsnet-campaign 401). *** Future schedule *** V382 Vel, V1494 Aql, Nova in LMC 2000 campaign (August 7) (August 21) S. Starrfield and his collaborators will be obtaining CHANDRA observations of V382 Vel and V1494 Aql the week beginning August 7, 2000 and they will be obtaining HST/STIS observations of Nova LMC 2000 the week of August 21, 2000. Ground based observations are encouraged. Observers those who are interested in this campaign, should contact with Dr. Starrfield (sumner.starrfield@asu.edu). [vsnet-campaign-nova 71] BL Lac campaign (July 17 - August 11) Massimo Villata, Gino Tosti, and Enrico Massaro organize an optical campaign on BL Lac contemporaneous with the high-energy campaign involving X-ray and TeV observatories such as BeppoSAX, RXTE, STACEE, CAT, HEGRA. Their goal is high-density and high-precision coverage, possibly in two optical bands (B and R). Observers interested in participating to this optical campaign are invited to contact with M. Villata (villata@to.astro.it). [vsnet-campaign 204] NY Ser spectroscopic observations at the Calar Alto Observatory (July 08/09 and 09/10) D. Nogami noticed their schedule of spectroscopic observations of NY Ser and wrote: "Because it is quite important for us to know the state of NY Ser at our observations as accurately as possible, we would ask observers to make a close monitor of this star for ~1 month from now (this article was posted on June 29)." For more information, please see [vsnet-campaign 265], or contact with D. Nogami (daisaku@uni-sw.gwdg.de). [vsnet-campaign 265] V446 Her campaign (throughout this summer) Boris T. Gaensicke organize a campaign on the post nova V446 Her (V~18). Their aim is to obtain a *good* contiguous light curve of V446 Her that covers 2-3 dwarf nova-like outbursts of the system, in order to compare its outburst characteristics to those of ``normal'' dwarf novae. They invite those of you equipped with a CCD camera to obtain a couple of images of V446 Her per night throughout the next three months, say, until the end of September. For more information, please see [vsnet-campaign 325] or contact with Boris T. Gaensicke (boris@uni-sw.gwdg.de). In [vsnet-campaign 368]..... "The V446 Her campaign from July 7 was started (through the end of September). But we have received very few observations since then. Negative observations, for instance, <17.0, are also useful. We strongly encourage observers to contribute to this project. Let's clarify the physics of post novae!" *** General information *** SN 2000cx preliminary SN 2000cx field star photometry (provided by K. Krisciunas). http://vsnet.astro.washington.edu/kevin/apo.html and [vsnet-campaign-sn 25] Delta Sco Spectra (From E. Pollmann), see [vsnet-campaign-image 2] High-dispersion spectra (From Izumiura and Masuda); [delta Sco] http://ftp.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/pub/vsnet/Be/Delta_Sco/deltasco.gif [tau Sco, for comparison (B0V star)] http://ftp.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/pub/vsnet/Be/Delta_Sco/tausco.gif 1H 1933+510 Photometry of field stars provided from C. Bryja, see [vsnet-campaign 398] XTE J1118+480 New light curves can be seen at: http://vsnet.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/vsnet/Xray/xtej1118-camp.html [vsnet-campaign-xray 25] HT Cas eclipse ephemeris, see [vsnet-campaign-dn 72] (This summary is reproduction free.) Regards, Makoto Uemura