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New Long Term Polar Monitoring Programme |
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Further to the article by Dr Boris Gaensicke of Warwick University in Circular 129 for September 2006, it has been decided to include ALL of the stars listed in a new observing programme on "Long Term Polar Monitoring".
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Read more...
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OJ287 update - 23-Mar-2007 |
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Variable star OJ287 is currently at it's brightest level since the March/April flare of 2006. The most recent observation comes from Jennie McCormick in New Zealand, who imaged OJ on March 23.339 UT at 14.83C.
The rate of rise indicates that this could be another flare, but as we are expecting OJ287 to begin to rise to a late Summer outburst anytime now, close monitoring on every possible occasion would be appreciated. During this active phase, I will be making daily reports to Dr. Mark Kidger instead of the usual weekly ones. Please report any observations as soon as possible.
Gary Poyner
http://www.garypoyner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/oj_camp.html
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Section Meeting - 2007 May 5 - Edinburgh |
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I'm pleased to advise that the next Section Meeting will be on Saturday 5th May 2007 and will take place at the Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh - our first meeting in Scotland. The meeting will start at 10.00 am for 10.30 am and finish at 5.30 pm.
Speakers will include Dr Martin Hendry on "Gravitational microlensing - nature's telescope", Dr Michael Hawkins on "Dark matter" and Andrew Collier Cameron on "Sizing-up extrasolar planets with small telescopes".
There will be an optional tour of the ROE following the lunch break.
The cost will be £10 per head to include all refreshments and a buffet style lunch.
In addition the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh are holding their monthly meeting on Friday 4th May at 8 pm at the Calton Hill Observatory in the middle of Edinburgh. Members are welcome to attend this meeting who have arrived in Edinburgh on Friday evening.
Des Loughney is kindly organising the meeting for me and so any queries on travel and accommodation etc should be addressed to him. Some details can be obtained from the ROE's website <http://www.roe.ac.uk/>.
I would be grateful if those attending can register with Des so that we can make the necessary catering arrangements and organise the tour of the ROE (we may need to do it in two parties). Car parking is available just outside the ROE. Those people who have special needs should contact Des as car parking can be arranged inside. The lecture room is accessible.
Further details will appear on the web site as they become available or may be obtained from either Des or myself.
If you want to display a poster paper please let Des or myself know.
I'm sorry for the late announcement of this meeting but it only came about following the Director's visit to Edinburgh in December last year.'
Roger Pickard
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Des Loughney
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Roger Pickard, Director
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OJ287 update - 29-Dec-2006 |
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Well Esko Valtaoja's predicted outburst for early 2007 now looks like it won't happen. OJ287 has been fairly active since conjunction, with three well defined flares to magnitude 14.9/15.0 occurring in October, November & December. The October and November flares were followed by two very faint dips to below magnitude 16, and that all important general brightening trend to an early 2007 outburst has not materialised. If Mauri Valtonen's prediction of a Summer 2007 outburst is to be realised, we should expect a slow rise in magnitude over the next few months, towards that September outburst date.
Ninety nine post 2006 Conjunction observations have been received to date. Thanks to those observers who braved the early mornings during the Autumn time. We now need to keep our coverage going to cover any rise during the first part of 2007, and as near to Solar Conjunction as we can. We also continue to have the chance for the XMM satellite to make observations of OJ287 during the coming months.
The OJ287 light curve continues to be updated regularly...
http://www.garypoyner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/oj_camp.html
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all observers who have contributed to this programme this year, and to hope that you will continue to send in your data in the coming, all important months ahead!
Gary Poyner
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.garypoyner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/varstars.html |
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Reversed Charts |
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Reversed charts suitable for use with an SCT are now available for a number of variables. You will find these charts in the Reversed subfolder. The chart filename also has the suffix 'R'.
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OJ287 update - 28-Oct-2006 |
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OJ287 is increasing in brightness in a classical 'outburst' fashion - slow and steady, and in just five weeks has brightened by one magnitude. At this moment In time, it looks like the early 2007 outburst (predicted by Esko Valtaoja) is very much on the cards. We have an opportunity to trigger observations by XMM satellite, but we need to be absolutely sure that the rising trend is continuing. Would observers please now treat OJ as a priority object, and let me have your data as soon as possible once it has been reduced.
Gary Poyner
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.garypoyner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/varstars.html |
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VSS Home 
The Variable Star Section was formed in 1890, the year the BAA was founded, with the aim of collecting and analysing observations of variable stars. The Section is run by a small group of Officers who deal with various aspects separately but meet at intervals to discuss and decide future plans and policy. Feedback to members is through the VSS Circulars published four times a year and through the BAA Journal.