AAVSO Alert Notice 378
Request to monitor RE J1255+266 for HST Observations
May 5, 2008
Dr. Paula Szkody (University of Washington) and collaborators have
requested our help in monitoring the cataclysmic variable RE J1255+266
for upcoming Hubble Space Telescope observations. Dr. Szkody requests
nightly monitoring of this source beginning immediately, and continuing
through 2008 May 15 UT.
RE J1255+266 is located at RA 12:55:10.80, Dec +26:42:27.0 (J2000)
This star is a cataclysmic variable not previously seen in outburst, and
is being observed as part of a larger study of pulsating white dwarf
primaries in cataclysmic variables. In particular, Szkody and
collaborators are investigating the effects that higher temperatures and
larger rotation velocities caused by accretion have on the pulsation
behavior.
This object is extremely faint at quiescence, with V<19.0. AAVSO
observations are requested to ensure that the object remains in
quiescence when observed with HST, as it could damage the instrument if
it were to go into outburst. AAVSO observations will be used to make a
"go"/"no go" decision prior to the opening of the HST observing window,
and will also be used in the analysis of the resulting data.
Observations are requested to continue through at least the end of the
science observing window on 2008 May 14 09:30 UT.
Observers are asked to monitor RE J1255+266 beginning immediately (2008
May 05 UT). Visual observers please observe as normal, and report any
"fainter than" estimates using the faintest comparison star magnitude
you can reach. CCD observers are asked to use filters during
observations if available; V filter is preferred, but B, Rc, and Ic may
also be used. Detection of the variable itself is not required; please
use sufficient exposure time to detect at least the V=16.998 comparison
star (RA 12:54:57.12, Dec +26:41:33.6, J2000) with a S/N of 10, and
report the observation as a "fainter-than" measure. Please go as faint
as possible in reasonable time, preferably to the faintest comparison
star as you can.
Please submit all data to the AAVSO via WebObs as promptly as possible.
In the event of an outburst, please contact the AAVSO immediately.
Please submit data to the AAVSO using the name "RE J1255+266"
or the AUID "000-BCY-206".
Charts for RE J1255+266 are available at this URL:
http://www.aavso.org/observing/charts/vsp/index.html?pickname=RE%20J1255%2B266
For more information on this campaign, visit the following URL:
http://www.aavso.org/news/rej1255+266.shtml
This campaign is being organized at AAVSO HQ by Dr. Matthew Templeton.
SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO
Information on submitting observations to the AAVSO may be found at:
http://www.aavso.org/observing/submit/
US $52.80
AFTER 35 years at Columbia University, where he was chairman of the astronomy department and co-director of the Astrophysics Laboratory, David J. Helfand is on leave to serve as president of Quest University Canada, a tiny liberal arts college in British Columbia that graduated its first class last spring. It is Canada's only private, secular...
