[vsnet-alert 19858] 2MASS J16211735+4412541 outburst! (CRTS)

[Patrick Schmeer]

2MASS J16211735+4412541 = CSS160603:162117+441254

"CRTS discovery of an outburst from a short period
binary system" (ATel #9112):
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=9112

Excerpts:
"Here we report the discovery of an outburst from
known short period binary system
2MASS_J16211735+4412541.
On 2016-06-03.45 UT, 2MASS_J162117 was
detected by CRTS as a transient event
(CSS160603:162117+441254) with V_CSS=13.3.
This system has an average magnitude of
V_CSS=15.0 and an amplitude of 0.5 mags based
on 359 prior observations taken between
2005-05-17 to 2016-05-14. No prior outbursts have
been observed."
...
"If this system is a MS+MS contact binary, the
outburst could be the beginning of a very rare
binary merger event similar to V1309 Scorpii
(Tylenda et al. 2011, A&A, 528, 114). However,
based on the GALEX data and lightcurve shape,
we suspect that the event is more likely an
outburst from an unusual cataclysmic variable
system.
We request photometric and spectroscopic
follow-up to determine the nature of the system
and the outburst."
...
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1SWASP J162117.36+441254.2 in VSX:
Coordinates: 16 21 17.36 +44 12 54.2  (J2000.0)
Magnitude range: 15.13 - 15.36 V
Orbital period: 0.2078520 d (4.98845 h)
http://www.aavso.org/vsx/index.php?view=detail.top&oid=286532
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Clear skies,
Patrick