[vsnet-alert 8471] AS 325 = NSV 24607 = deep minimum

[Sebastian Otero]

Dear all,

The enigmatic eclipsing (possibly symbiotic) system AS 325 (NSV 24607, in 
Sagittarius) is fading dramatically right now, heading for its minima around 
July 18th (see IBVS 5608,
http://www.konkoly.hu/cgi-bin/IBVS?5608)

This cycle, a fading event started by the end of April, more than a month 
before the predicted eclipse ingress. The star slowly faded and now the 
fading has become more pronounced..
See the ASAS-3 lightcurve:
http://www.astrouw.edu.pl/cgi-asas/asas_lc/185004-2624.3

Several phenomena may be acting together to produce this complex lightcurve.
The current magnitude is V= 11.4, fainter than ever (previous faintest 
minimum was V= 11.3)!! and more than 20 days before mideclipse!!!
Something is going on there and it's worth watching.

Dr. Steve B. Howell from WIYN Observatory is taking spectra of AS 325. 
Multicolor photometry would be very interesting to follow these changes, 
specially now that the fading is going further than expected from the 
"normal" eclipse only.

Best wishes,
Sebastian.