Introduction:

Below are reports of my most recent observations, based on visual estimates and CCD photometry. Visual observations are made using the fractioanl or step method and the CCD images are processed usin AIP4WIN 2.0.

VSXJ74727

This is a very faint star at minimum and I have only recorded the star bright (>14.0) on three occasions including this set of of observations from November 2006. The CCD image is a single 60 seconed unfiltered exposure using a DSI Pro CCD and a 90mm Mak/Cass telescope. The light curve ploted shows positive visual observations made using a 10" SCT and the unfiltered CCD observations.

Q1994/044 Tau:

This is a very faint star at minimum and I have only recorded the star bright (>14.0) on three occasions including this set of of observations from November 2006. The CCD image is a single 60 seconed unfiltered exposure using a DSI Pro CCD and a 90mm Mak/Cass telescope. The light curve ploted shows positive visual observations made using a 10" SCT and the unfiltered CCD observations.

VUL V335:

January 2008
My observations now cover five cycles of this star. Unfortunately, in part due to the very poor Uk summer I was unable to make early observations in order to try and record maximum brigthness. Taking the average of all five peak magnitudes gives a figure of 366 days. Clearly the period for this star is around one year, its location in the sky and the approximate time of peak brightness means recording this is very difficult.

The lightcurve below shows four cycles of this Mira/carbon star made from visual observations. The aim for 2007 is to extend observations to fainter levels using CCD images to look for the minimum for this star. My recent observations of this star put it at magnitude 12.8 on 28.6.07 and 13.5V on 07.07.07 suggesting the star is fading.