Post date: 27-Mar-2009 16:37:29
by Mike Simonsen, C. E. Scovil Observatory, Imlay City, MI, USA
and Rod Stubbings, Tetoora Observatory, Tetoora Rd, Vic, Australia
While it is true that most cataclysmic variables are quite faint in quiescence, there are some that can be observed throughout their cycle, and a great number of them that are bright enough in outburst to detect visually with a 6-8" telescope.
In hopes of encouraging new observers, and those who thought these stars were beyond the reach of their aperture, we have put together a list of CVs suitable for small telescopes. They are all brighter than 13th magnitude in outburst and are active enough that you won't have to wait long to make your first outburst detection.
Name RA(2000) Dec Type Range
WW Cet 00:11:24.77 -11:28:42.7 UGZ: 9.3 V - 15.7 V
RX And 01:04:35.55 +41:17:58.0 UGZ 10.9 v - 14.6 v
TY Psc 01:25:39.35 +32:23:09.7 UGSU 11.7 V - 16.3 V
KT Per 01:37:08.72 +50:57:20.0 UGZ 10.6 V - 16.1 V
AR And 01:45:03.27 +37:56:33.3 UG 11.0 V - 17.6 V
WX Hyi 02:09:50.65 -63:18:39.9 UGSU 11.4 V - 14.8 V
TZ Per 02:13:50.99 +58:22:52.7 UGZ 12.3 v - 15.6 v
FO Per 04:08:35.03 +51:14:48.8 UG 11.8 v - 16.2 p
VW Hyi 04:09:11.34 -71:17:41.1 UGSU 8.5 V - 13.8 V
V1159 Ori 05:28:59.52 -03:33:52.8 UGSU 11.2 V - 15.1 V
CN Ori 05:52:07.77 -05:25:00.7 UGZ 11.9 v - 16.3 v
SS Aur 06:13:22.44 +47:44:25.7 UG 10.5 v - 14.5 v
CZ Ori 06:16:43.23 +15:24:11.7 UG 11.2 V - 17.0 V
HL CMa 06:45:17.22 -16:51:34.5 UG/UGZ: 11.7 V - 14.5 V
IR Gem 06:47:34.58 +28:06:22.7 UGSU 11.2 V - 17.0 V
U Gem 07:55:05.29 +22:00:05.7 UG 9.1 V - 15.2 V
YZ Cnc 08:10:56.62 +28:08:33.6 UGSU 10.5 V - 15.5 V
SU UMa 08:12:28.20 +62:36:22.6 UGSU 11.2 V - 15.0 V
Z Cam 08:25:13.20 +73:06:39.4 UGZ 10.5 v - 14.8 v
AT Cnc 08:28:36.92 +25:20:02.6 UGZ 12.7 B - 16.2 B
VZ Pyx 08:59:19.89 -24:28:55.1 UGSU 11 V - 17 V
SY Cnc 09:01:03.35 +17:53:56.1 UGZ 11.1 V - 14.5 V
X Leo 09:51:01.51 +11:52:31.1 UG 12.4 V - 16.5 V
V383 Vel 10:21:41.71 -49:49:24.3 UGSS 12.5 p - 17. p
V442 Cen 11:24:51.92 -35:54:37.7 UGSS 11.9 V - <16.5 v
TW Vir 11:45:21.13 -04:26:05.9 UG 12.1 v - 16.3 v
MU Cen 12:12:53.86 -44:28:16.3 UGSS 11.8 V - 14.9 V
V803 Cen 13:23:44.51 -41:44:30.4 IBWD 13.2 V - 16.8 V
TT Boo 14:57:44.74 +40:43:42.2 UGSU 12.7 v - 19.2 V
T CrB 15:59:30.19 +25:55:12.1 NR 2.0 p - 11.3 p
HP Nor 16:20:49.59 -54:53:22.0 UGZ 12.8 v - 16.4 V
AH Her 16:44:09.99 +25:15:02.1 UGZ 11.3 v - 14.7 v
AT Ara 17:30:33.77 -46:05:58.5 ugSS 11.5 v - 14.9 v
RS Oph 17:50:13.12 -06:42:28.2 NR 4.3 v - 12.5 v
V426 Oph 18:07:51.71 +05:51:48.5 UGZ/DQ: 11.5 V - 19.4 V
UZ Ser 18:11:24.90 -14:55:33.9 UGSS 11.9 v - 16.0 v
AM Her 18:16:13.33 +49:52:04.2 AM 12.0 V - 15.5 V
AY Lyr 18:44:26.73 +37:59:51.8 UGSU 12.3 V - 18.0 V
AB Dra 19:49:06.50 +77:44:23.5 UGZ 12.3 V - 15.8 V
UU Aql 19:57:18.68 -09:19:20.8 UG 11.0 V - 17.0 V
RZ Sge 20:03:18.49 +17:02:52.6 UGSU 12.2 B - 17.4 B
SS Cyg 21:42:42.66 +43:35:09.5 UGSS 8.2 v - 12.1 v
RU Peg 22:14:02.58 +12:42:11.4 UGSS 9.0 V - 13.1 V
IP Peg 23:23:08.60 +18:24:59.4 UGSS+E 10.5 V - 17.8 V
References:
Downes, R., et al, The Catalog and Atlas of Cataclysmic Variables, (2001, PASP 113, 764)