[vsnet 722] Tale of the Whale

[jop@astro.columbia.edu (Joe Patterson)]

Summary of WX CET observations, July 1996 superoutburst.

(July)
UT date    <V>   Observ.

18.38     11.87   CTIO
19.35     11.95   CTIO
20.38     12.12   CTIO
21.33     12.32   CTIO
22.37     12.48   CTIO
23.37     12.65   CTIO
27.73     12.98   Ouda
29.72     13.25   Ouda
30.78     13.88   Ouda
31.78     14.85   Ouda
33.77     15.45   Ouda
36.77     16.50   Ouda
37.35     16.70   CTIO
38.81     15.45   Ouda
39.29     13.85   CTIO
39.79     14.15   Ouda
40.27     15.19   CTIO
40.42     15.57   CTIO


A common superhump of 85.5 min was seen during the bright phase
of the eruption.

A dwarf nova oscillation was seen at 17.38 seconds on July 23.

A "second peak" was seen to occur at about July 39.2 = August 8.2
(previously noted by Nogami & Baba, vsnet-alert 502).  The light then
declined rapidly at 1.5 mag/d, a rate characteristic of the "normal
maxima" of short-Porb dwarf novae.

On all three nights of the CTIO August coverage, a quasi-periodic
oscillation with P=9-10 min was observed.

This is a critical moment in the life of WX Cet.  Is this the final
decline, or will it leap back up again?  WZ Sge and AL Com showed a
little echo like this, followed by something like a "second
superoutburst" (considerably fainter though).  This second outburst was
studied only quite poorly, and not at all for other SU UMas (assuming
they have such events, which seems plausible though just a guess).  So
there could be an excellent chance here to help remove the mystery
surrounding this particular phase of dwarf-nova eruptions.  Take a
break from meteors and Martians, and put your faith in the Whale.


Joe Patterson and Jonathan Kemp
Columbia Univ. and CBA

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