BELGIAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY V.V.S. -  Working Group Variable Stars
Cataclysmic Variables Circular No.129                1997, March 30
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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AQ CMi [UGSU, 14.5p - <16.5p]
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Jochen Pietz, Germany has detected an outburst of this poorly
studied UGSU-type dwarf nova, which is part of the Belgian
CVAP (Cataclysmic Variables Alert Programme). Confirmation has 
been received from Gary Poyner, UK. The available observations
are :

1997 Mar 28.88  UT, 14.5  (J. Pietz, visual);
     Mar 29.839 UT, 14.3  (G. Poyner, 0.40-m refl., visual);


AQ CMi was last seen in outburst (this was the first observed
outburst since the discovery of the object by Morgenroth in 
1933) on 1996, February 9/10 by R. Claudi and J. Pietz [CVC 81].
Superhump detections were reported shortly afterwards by Joe
Patterson and A. Shambrook, Columbia University, who found a
superhump period of 95.9 +- 0.3 minutes. Independent observations
by the Japanese Ouda team of Kyoto University revealed a super-
hump period of 95.4 min [CVC 82].

Both visual and CCD observers should follow this star as it gets
fainter, and look for the "echo" signature that is often seen in
this class of dwarf novae. Please report any observations of
enhanced brightness without delay.


Tonny Vanmunster