BELGIAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY V.V.S. -  Working Group Variable Stars
Cataclysmic Variables Circular No.129             1997, February 20
Ed.: T. Vanmunster, Walhostraat 1A, 3401 Landen, BELGIUM
     Internet: tvanmuns@innet.be                  TEL. 32-11-831504
     CBA Belgium Web Page : http://www.astro.columbia.edu/~cba/be
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T Leo [UGSU, 10B - 15.7B]
=========================

Robert Modic, USA has detected an outburst of T Leo, as announced
on vsnet. Following observations, confirming the outburst, have
been received so far :

1997 Feb 18.697 UT, <13.6  (Watanabe, VSOLJ, seq: GSC);
     Feb 19.17  UT, <13.6  (P. Schmeer, Germany);
     Feb 19.276 UT,  12.2  (R. Modic, USA);
     Feb 19.347 UT,  11.9  (R. Modic);
     Feb 19.489 UT,  10.9  (G. Hanson, USA);
     Feb 19.500 UT,  10.9  (G. Hanson);
     Feb 19.525 UT,  10.8  (G. Hanson);
     Feb 19.533 UT,  10.4  (Watanabe);
     Feb 19.549 UT,  10.7  (G. Hanson);
     Feb 20.111 UT,  10.4  (Schmeer);

The previous outburst of T Leo was observed on 1995, November 13
by P. Schmeer [CVC 70], when the object reached mag. 10.4. It was
a poorly observed outburst [CVC 73].

T Leo is a remarkable object, in the sense that on a couple of
occasions, it has shown rebrightenings after outbursts (maybe
of a similar nature as the ones exhibited by GO Com, V1028 Cyg
and others). These secondary maxima of T Leo can be almost as bright 
as the primary outburst, but last for only one day or so.

Since there is considerable interest in a detailed study of this 
phenomenon, T Leo has been added to the CVAP programme in May 1995.
Our primary objective was to monitor a number of future outbursts 
intensively in order to detect and follow-up these secondary
maxima [CVC 38].

We encourage our observers to continue monitoring this object
during its present outburst in the period after the initial decline.
With a little luck, the fading will occur without moonlight inter-
vening, hence providing an excellent opportunity to study T Leo,
which is now well placed in the evening sky.


Tonny Vanmunster