Monitoring of FO Aqr needed for HST observations
Active Dates: Sept. 19, 2023 – Oct. 6, 2023
Abstract:
Dr. Peter Garnavich (Notre Dame University) requests AAVSO observers' assistance in monitoring the intermediate polar cataclysmic variable FO Aqr in support of spectroscopic observations with the Hubble Space Telescope scheduled for September 27 and 29, 2023.
Justification:
The COS spectrograph on HST has a sensitive photon-counting detector that can be damaged if the source is too bright. As FO Aqr is known to be variable, NASA is requiring that FO Aqr be monitored for a week before the HST visit and that a confirmation of its brightness be made less than 24 hours before data-taking begins. There are two planned visits within 48 hours, and both will require confirming brightness estimates. Scientifically, it is also important to know the optical state of FO Aqr during the UV observations. So optical data taken to assure the COS team that their detector is safe, will also help us know if the spectra are representative of the current FO Aqr properties.
Requested Data Types:
Photometry
Targets
| Name | Magnitude | Variability Type | Photometry Notes | Spectroscopy Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FO Aqr | 12.70 | DQ+E |
Cadence: Not Specified Precision: 100 |
Not Requested |
Spectroscopy Lines:
No spectroscopy lines provided
Photometry Filters:
B (Johnson), V (Johnson), r (Sloan)
Comparison Stars:
No comparison stars provided
Co-Authorship
Observers are not eligible for co-authorship.
Additional Observer Input:
Not provided
Additional Submission Location:
Not provided
Forum URL
N/A
Notes:
Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter Garnavich; Imported Campaign (Alert Notice #832)