------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2690 2010 Nov 25 09.44UT 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------- AX PERSEI Maeda-san, Japan has reported on VSNET a possible brightening of the symbiotic variable star AX Per which has been confirmed by Robert Fidrich of Hungary: 2010 Oct 20.044 11.9v (Gary Poyner) Oct 26.682 11.8v (Yutaka Maeda) Nov 4.9 11.5v (Robert Fidrich, Hungary) Nov 10.085 11.9v (Poyner) Nov 15.062 11.8v (Poyner) Nov 20.637 10.9v (Yutaka Maeda) Nov 23.80 11.1v (Fidrich) U. Munari and A. Siviero, Padova Astronomical Observatory and others of Asiago Novae and Symbiotic Stars collaboration also report on CBET 2555 that AX Per is undergoing a brightening phase, the first after the short outburst it experienced in the (northern-hemisphere) spring of 2009. The 2009 event was the first bright phase after the major outburst AX Per experienced between 1988 and 1992. The monitoring recorded B = 12.33 (B-V = +0.89)on 2010 Nov. 15.93 UT. On Nov. 19.97, it had brightened to B = 11.73 (B-V = +0.80,), and by Nov. 22.69 it has reached B = 11.63 (B-V = +0.78). The interval since the 2009 event of 615 days is rather similar to the orbital period of 682 days. The spectrum from Nov. 22 is characterised by a strong and high-ionization emission-line spectrum, superimposed on the M-giant absorption spectrum, which is veiled shortward of 500 nm by the blue continuum from circumstellar nebular material. The onset of the current active phase has not changed the flux of Balmer and He I lines, but increased He II by a factor of two and [O III] by three, and reduced O I 844.6 by a factor of two and [Fe VII] by ten. It is worth noting that AX Per underwent a short-duration flare about one year before the onset of the major 1988-1992 outburst. It is tempting to speculate by similarity that the 2009 short outburst could be a similar precursor, and that the present rise in brightness by AX Per could be the onset of a major outburst event similar to that in 1988-1992. The British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section has a chart and sequence at: http://www.britastro.org/vss/xchartcat/AX%20Per%20073.02.jpg John Murrell has also drawn out attention to the following article: http://www.universetoday.com/79896/symbiotic-variable-star-on-the-verge-o f-an-eruption/ SUPERNOVA 2010hz NEAR UGC 1359 Discovery by LOSS of a possible supernova (CBET 2462): SN 2010 UT R.A. (2000.0) Decl. Mag. Offset 2010hz Sep 12.40 01 53 41.97 +29 56 04.6 19.1 3.7"W, 4.7"N The type-II supernova 2005cv was located about 8"E of the position for 2010hz SDSS_J160501.35+203056.9 Hitoshi Yamaoka, Japan relays on VSNET that Itagaki-san has detected a bright outburst (mag 12) of the suspected cataclysmic variable star SDSS J160501.35+203056.9. Many catalogues note that it is mag about 20 in its quiescent phase. Andrew Drake has kindly pointed out that this object is caught in outburst (mag about 18) by the CSS in 2005. Guy M Hurst