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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2938      2013 Aug 10 10.08UT
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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AG PEGASI
U. Munari, INAF Padnova, et. al., report on 'The Astronomer's Telegram 5258
that the symbiotic nova AG Peg has recently shown unusual activity.

It was shining at ~9 mag when in 1850 it started the outburst that in 1871
reached a peak brightness of ~6 mag.  The very slow rise to maximum was
followed by an even slower decline that took longer than a century to
complete.  The star was at m(vis)= 7.6 in 1943, at m(vis)=8.1 in 1963,
m(vis)=8.5 in 1983, and declined to m(vis)=8.75 by 2003.    

The Munari's group has closely monitored AG Peg over the last decade,
observing how photometric and spectroscopic behaviour was dominated by the
~827 day orbital periodicity. During the last weeks AG Peg has unexpectedly
risen in brightness, about 0.3 mag above the brightness typical for that
orbital phase. From B=9.79 on 2013 May 18, it continued to steadily rise to
B=9.70 on June 18, and B=9.60 on July 18, peaking to B=9.570 on Aug 1, where
it has remained ever since. Their last measurement reads U=8.95, B=9.577,
V=8.430, Rc=7.314 and Ic=6.390 on 2013 Aug 07.986 UT.  The unexpected rise
in brightness is obvious at all bands.    

We obtained a fluxed low resolution spectrum on Aug 1 with the Asiago 1.22m
telescope and B&C spectrograph. Compared with equivalent spectra obtained at
the same orbital phase during the previous orbital cycle, the most obvious
change is the greater veiling at bluer wavelengths by a now much brighter
nebular continuum, effectively overwhelming the M giant absorption spectrum
shortward of 5500 Ang.

Guy M Hurst