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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2334      2007 May 07 15.32UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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OJ287
Mark Kidger reports:
Continued monitoring of the light curve of the blazar OJ287 by the 
BAA-VSS and the TA Group shows that the base level of the light curve 
has been rising at approximately 0.016 magnitudes per day since 
mid-February. This is consistent with the expected behaviour if this 
object is in the rise to a major outburst.

A prediction from Mauri Valtonen based on a binary black hole model has 
advanced the predicted date of maximum to 2007 September 5 with a 
possible 3 day error, suggesting that OJ287 should reach a magnitude 
around 13.5 at maximum.

Given the uncertainty as to whether or not the peak of the outburst can 
be observed in dawn twilight it is particularly important to follow 
OJ287 as far into evening twilight as possible and to recover it as 
early in September as is feasible, even at the cost of increased 
photometric errors.

The editor adds:
Observations of this object should be reported to Gary Poyner, as soon 
as possible after they have been made, and sent to:
garypoyner@blueyonder.co.uk

The note below is due to appear in the May issue of 'The Astronomer' and 
summarises recent observations:

OJ287:  Slow brightening trend continues - Range 14.7C-15.23C, visual 
14.7-15.3 (48) HF(CCD), JZ(CCD+V), JMS(CCD), TO, XG(Visual & CCD). HF=G 
Hurst; JMS=Jeremy Shears; XG=Gary Poyner; JZ=Robert Januszewski

A chart for this object can be found at:
http://www.garypoyner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/BAAVSS.gif

SUPERNOVA 2007at IN ESO 580-G44
Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (IAUC 8828):
SN      2006 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2007at  Mar. 18.53  14 51 12.28  -21 23 31.2  17.7    7.7"E,  7.8"S
Type-Ia, found about 9 days after maximum light.

SUPERNOVA 2007au IN UGC 3725
Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (IAUC 8828):
SN      2006 UT      R.A.  (2000.0)  Decl.    Mag.     Offset
2007au  Mar. 18.19  07 11 46.11  +49 51 13.4  17.0   41" E,  31"  S
Type-Ia, discovered a couple of days before maximum.

Guy M Hurst