R Aqr observing campaign

[PTS]

AAVSO Alert Notice 535
January 19, 2016

R Aqr observing campaign

Dr. George Wallerstein (University of Washington) has requested
AAVSO coverage of the long period/symbiotic variable R Aquarii
beginning immediately in support of high resolution spectroscopic
observations planned for 2016 January 19 and 21.

Several other astronomers, including Drs. Lee Anne Willson (Iowa
State University), Ulisse Munari (INAF, Astronomical Observatory
of Padua, Italy), and Fred Walter (Stony Brook University) are
studying R Aqr closely and additional spectroscopic and other
observations are planned for the near future.

R Aqr is an extremely interesting system. Its type is both Mira
(M) and symbiotic (ZAND) - it is a close binary system consisting
of a hot star and a late-type star (the Mira), both enveloped in
nebulosity. As a result, the very interesting light curve shows not
only the Mira pulsation but also complex eclipse behavior as the
two stars interact. The period of Mira variation is 387.0 days; the
eclipse period is 43.6-44 years.

The cause of the eclipse is unknown; several theories have been
proposed, including a focused accretion stream, a disk or cloud
around the secondary, and a triggered mass loss that produces an
opaque cloud. Careful investigation of this upcoming event should
help to resolve this question.

The last eclipse of R Aqr was in 1978. The next eclipse is predicted
for 2022, but may be early. The current behavior of R Aqr suggests
that the eclipse, which lasts for several years, may either be
beginning or its beginning may be imminent.

R Aqr was at minimum in early December 2015 at magnitude V=11.4,
and is currently at visual magnitude 11.0. During this phase of the
approximately 44-year eclipse cycle, at maximum it may be as bright
as V~6.0-6.5 but is not expected to become brighter.

Beginning immediately, nightly BVRI CCD and DSLR photometry and
visual observations are requested. As R Aqr brightens towards
maximum and is in range, PEP observations are also requested.
Ongoing spectroscopy over the next several years will be
interesting to see as the system evolves throughout the eclipse.

For more information on this unusual close binary, please see the
AAVSO Variable Star of the Season article on R Aqr written in 2003
by AAVSO Technical Assistant Kerri Malatesta
(https://www.aavso.org/vsots_raqr). Please note that this VSOTS
article includes a long-term AAVSO light curve for R Aqr. An updated
recent light curve that overlaps this long-term light curve appears
on the webpage for Alert Notice 535
(https://www.aavso.org/aavso-alert-notice-535).

Coordinates (J2000): R.A. 23 43 49.46 Dec. -15 17 04.2

Charts with a comparison star sequence for R Aqr may be created
using the AAVSO Variable Star Plotter (VSP; https://www.aavso.org/vsp).

Please report all observations to the AAVSO International
Database using the name "R AQR".


This AAVSO Alert Notice was prepared by Elizabeth O. Waagen.

----------------------------------
SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO

Information on submitting observations to the AAVSO may be found at:
https://www.aavso.org/webobs

ALERT NOTICE ARCHIVE AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

An Alert Notice archive is available at the following URL:
https://www.aavso.org/alert-notice-archive

Subscribing and Unsubscribing may be done at the following URL:
https://www.aavso.org/observation-notif ... ertnotices