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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 3026      2014 Sep 23 18.33UT
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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EPSILON AURIGAE: MONITORING DURING PREDICTED PULSATION PHASE
Dr. Robert Stencel (University of Denver Astronomy Program) has requested on
AAVSO ALERT NOTICE 504 that observers monitor epsilon Aurigae from now
through the end of the observing season. 

Dr. Stencel writes, "Studies of the long-term, out-of-eclipse photometry of
the enigmatic binary, epsilon Aurigae, suggest that intervals of coherent
pulsation occur at roughly 1/3 of the 27.1-year orbital period.
Kloppenborg, et al. noted that 'stable variation patterns develop at
3,200-day intervals' implying that 'the next span of dates when such events
might happen are circa JD ~2457000 (2014 December)'. 

"These out-of-eclipse light variations often have amplitudes of
~0.1 magnitude in U, and ~0.05 in V, with characteristic timescales of
60Ð100 days. The AAVSO light curve data to the present may indicate that
this coherent phenomenon has begun, but we encourage renewed efforts by
observers during this coming autumn and winter timeframe. Additional data
can help deduce whether these events are internal to the F star, or
externally-driven by tidal interaction with the companion star."

Please monitor eps Aur beginning now. Because of the very small amplitude of
the expected variations, CCD, DSLR, or PEP photometry will be more
successful than visual observations in detecting the pulsations. Nightly
observations or one observation every few days is sufficient; time series
are not necessary. Use of a V filter is strongly recommended; U observations
would also be very valuable, as would coverage in B and R.

Coordinates: RA 05 01 58.134  Dec. +43 49 23.91   (2000.0)

Charts for epsilon Aurigae may be created using the AAVSO Variable Star
Plotter (VSP, http://www.aavso.org/VSP).

A chart specifically for photoelectric and wide-field DSLR observers is
available at:

http://www.aavso.org/sites/default/files/publications_files/alerts/eps-aur-p
ep.png

Epsilon Aur was the subject of major international campaigns and the AAVSO's
Citizen Sky project as it went through its 27.1-year eclipse in 2009-2011.
Over 700 observers worldwide submitted over
20,000 multicolor observations to the AAVSO International Database for this
project. Information on eps Aur from the AAVSO includes material on the
Citizen Sky website (http://www.aavso.org/epsilon-aurigae and
http://www.citizensky.org/content/star-our-project), the Variable Star of
the Season on eps Aur (http://www.aavso.org/vsots_epsaur),

SUPERNOVA 2014cf (KISS)
2014cf  Aug  7.69   23 01 52.97  +14 24 50.5  18.8            0.6”N
N. Morrell: spectrum Aug 13 with the 6.5-m Magellan I (Baade) telescope (+
IMACS) at Las Campanas shows it is a type-II supernova several days after
maximum brightness.

Guy M Hurst