[vsnet-alert 13777] Re: Last minute request for observations!

[Stella Kafka]

Thanks Mike for sending the Alert for me!

Hello All!! Just re0iterating how fabulous it would be to have
simultaneous photometry and spectra of those two CVs! QU Car is really
"hot" in that it could be one of the elusive supernovae Ia, and VY Scl
is really debated on its nature, and it is about time someone figures
it out! Although nothing in cataclysmic variables is really
conclusive, having simultaneous spectra and photometry usually leads
to spectacular science. I have been amazed by the data AAVSO has
provided and I am using it extensively in my work. I thank you in
advance for your contribution, and wishing you clear skies and best of
luck to your observations!!

Yours sincerely,
Stella.


**************************
Stella Kafka

Carnegie Institution of Washington
Department of Terrestrial Magnetism
5241 Broad Branch Road NW
Washington, DC 20015
work phone: 202.478.8864
fax: 202.478.8821
http://www.dtm.ciw.edu/users/skafka
*************************



On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 10:03 PM, Mike Simonsen <mikesimonsen at aavso.org> wrote:
> I have a last minute request from Dr. Stella Kafka who has obtained
> some discretionary spectroscopic time on the 6.5m Los Campanas
> telescope.
>
> The objects she is monitoring are QU Car (V~12) and VY Scl (V~16.5,
> low state ).
>
> QU Car is at 11 05 42.48677 -68 37 58.232, and it is a potential Type Ia SNe
> progenitor, she needs to know its optical state at the time of observations.
>
> VY Scl 23 29 00.48 -29 46 45.9 is THE VY Sculptoris prototype, and it
> is in a low state.
>
> Stella writes, "There are some spectra in the low state, but I can
> monitor it with medium resolution, and finally figure out what is
> going on there (magnetic WD? accretion disk still present? flares?
> little green aliens?) at least for one orbit. I know it is part of
> AAVSO's targets, but I want to make sure it is monitored tonight. I am
> spending 5 hours of 6.5m time, so it is a great investment!"
>
> If you can help it would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Please report all observations to the AAVSO.
>
> Mike Simonsen
>
> --
> ******************************************
> Mike Simonsen
> American Association of Variable Star Observers
> 49 Bay State Rd.
> Cambridge, MA, USA 02138
> http://www.aavso.org/
>
> One Hundred Years of Citizen Astronomy
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