RXJ0944.5+0357 (VZ Sex) outburst

Observed: 1 Jan 2008

Michel Bonnardeau
2 Jan 2008

Abstract

Time series for this intermediate polar in outburst are presented.

Introduction

RXJ0944.5+0357 is a cataclysmic system, classified as an intermediate polar. On Jan 1, 2008 it is reported as being in outburst and is a CBA target.

I observed it in 2005: on 1 March 2005, it was at mag 14.5 (unfiltered), on 8 May 2005 at mag 16.2.

Observations

The observations were carried out with a 203mm SC telescope, a Clear filter and a SBIG ST7E camera (KAF401E CCD). 288 useful images were obtained, each with a 30s exposure.

For the differential photometry, the comparison star is GSC239-01534 with an assumed unfiltered magnitude of 11.13. The check star is GSC239-01278 with a measured average magnitude of 12.033, an average statistical uncertainty of 0.012 and a standard deviation of 0.016.

The resulting light curves:




Red: VZ Sex, Blue: the comparison star shifted by 0.65mag. The gap in the data is due to poor sky condition.

Averaging the measurements 3 by 3:

Technical notes

Telescope and camera configuration.

Computer and software configuration.

Data processing.
(with the extra losses filter, the threshold is 0.2mag).