[vsnet-alert 9554] Fw: AAVSO Special Notice #64: FN SGR and VZ SGR

[Daisaku NOGAMI]

Begin forwarded message:

Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 19:17:57 -0400
From: aavso at aavso.org
Subject: AAVSO Special Notice #64: FN SGR and VZ SGR



AAVSO Special Notice #64

FN SGR and VZ SGR
September 7, 2007

SYMBIOTIC VARIABLE 1848-19 FN SGR ACTIVE

Longtime AAVSO member observer John Bortle, Stormville, NY, reported to
the AAVSO in mid-August that the symbiotic variable FN Sgr
(RA 18:53:54.80  Dec -18:59:41.0 (2000.0)) was undergoing an outburst.
Peter Williams, Heathcote, NSW, Australia, independently reported the
outburst on the AVSON list and some VSNET lists on August 28 following
the dark provided by the lunar eclipse. A thoughtful assessment of the
behavior of the system was subsequently posted by Bortle on September 4 on
[cvnet-discussion] and other lists. Other discussion on this system has also
appeared on various lists.

The AAVSO light curve on FN Sgr goes back to JD 2440058 (July 1968) with
an observation of visual magnitude <11.5 by Wayne Lowder (to see the
remarkable light curve of FN Sgr, go to http://www.aavso.org/data/lcg
and ask for data since 2440058). Through the mid-1970s FN Sgr declined
erratically from ~11.4 to 12.9-13.00 by the beginning of 1980. During the
1980s it varied between 12.6 and 13.6. Then in February 1990 it showed a
slight dip, and subsequently displayed a series of brightenings with
increasing amplitude: to 12.4 in May 1991, then to 12.0 in May 1994, then
to 11.2 in October 1995. Since then the star has shown eclipses to as deep
as 14.7 approximately every 564 days (P=563.8d, per Brandi et al., 2005,
A&A, 440, 239), with maxima first becoming increasingly bright (the
brightest was 10.8 in June 1998), then less bright. Most recently, in July
2006 FN Sgr brightened from mid-13 to 11.6, declining to 12.9 by the end
of October 2006, when it entered the seasonal gap. After emergence it was
at 13.4 on May 30, declined to 13.7 by June 30, then began brightening in
mid-July and is currently at magnitude 11.6.

Whether the current brightening is a new outburst or is simply the egress
from eclipse (an eclipse was predicted for ~July) cannot be said. The
current brightness matches the brightness of the star in August 2006,
however, the behavior of FN Sgr has been erratic enough over the past
several years to make a reliable prediction impossible.

Charts for FN Sgr may be produced by entering the star name or the
coordinates above into VSP at:
http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/index.html

Coverage of this extremely interesting system is urgently needed. FN Sgr
is located within reach of most northern and southern observers, and
although the observing season is ending, it would be extremely valuable
to follow it as long as possible, and then pick it up as early in the
next observing season as you can.

R CORONAE BOREALIS STAR 1808-29 VZ SGR FADING

According to initial reports from John Bortle, Stormville, NY, and Peter
Williams, Heathcote, NSW, Australia, the R CrB variable VZ Sgr
(RA 18:15:08.60  Dec -29:42:30.0 (2000.0)) is fading from its maximum visual
magnitude of 10.0-10.5. Observations reported to the AAVSO show it has
faded to visual magnitude 12.1 as of September 7.

Fadings of R CrB stars are unpredictable in timing, amplitude, and duration.
According to observations in the AAVSO International Database, the most
recent fading of VZ Sgr occurred in June 2001, when the star faded to visual
magnitude 14.7, then returned to maximum by December 2001-January 2002.
However, minima have been reported as faint as visual magnitude 16.3
(July-August 1988).

Charts for VZ Sgr may be produced by entering the star name or the coordinates
above into VSP at: http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/index.html

Please monitor VZ Sgr through the rest of this observing season, and pick
it up again as soon as possible next season so we may have the most complete
coverage as possible of this unpredictable event.

Many thanks for your astronomical efforts and valuable contributions!

This AAVSO Special Notice was prepared by: Elizabeth O. Waagen




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