WZ SGE 2001 OUTBURST CAMPAIGN

Background information

What is WZ Sge?
Cataclysmic variables, dwarf novae and related research

For potential observers:

FINDING CHART FOR WZ SGE OBSERVATIONS
Downloadable AAVSO finder charts and precision photometry of comparison stars

Latest updates:

2/10: PREPRINT: First results from the multi-wavelength campaign
19/9: PREPRINT: Detection of the secondary star!
12/9: Final fading has started after 52 days
31/8: Series of rebrightenings
20/8: Simultaneous Chandra/HST visits on the 22nd of August
18/8: Rapid decline, WZ Sge dropped below V=12
13/8: Two more HST visits are now scheduled for Aug 19 + 22
02/8: First HST visit scheduled for 8th of August!
02/8: Chandra spectroscopy reveals the X-ray emission line spectrum [link to Pete Wheatley's page]
30/7: Doppler imaging reveals strong spirals in disc of WZ Sge [IAU Circular]

Lightcurve of the current outburst based on quicklook AAVSO and VSNET observations (plotted data are orbital averages);

Some links:

Photometry of the series of re-brightening from Teide Observatory (Casares, Zurita, Rodriguez & Martinez-Pais)
Plots by Erik Kuulkers of the previous outbursts and comparison with current
Gianluca Masi's page with extensive photometry
Link to VSNET WZ Sge page [DATA SEARCH]
AAVSO WZ sge page ; extensive photometry, 1978/2001 composite lightcurve [QUICKLOOK DATA SEARCH]
Early outburst photometry from Athens
Photometry from the James Gregory Telescope at St.Andrews

Please let me know if you feel anything is missing and/or incorrect on this page!

UT DATE
Photometry
Spectroscopy
Space based

23 July first report of outburst V=9.7

XTE quicklook

24 July
V-band photometry (UT 21:40 - 01:40 St.Andrews), CBA Photometry (Patterson)

25 July
CBA Photometry (Patterson), UB photometry (2.5 hrs Red Buttes), K photometry (WIRO)

26 July
V-band photometry (St.Andrews), CBA Photometry (Patterson), U+V photometry (2.9 hrs Red Buttes), Southampton photometry (UT 22:30 - 03:00 ), V&R band (Casares, IAC)

27 July
Southampton, B & R (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (INT), J&K spect (Howell)
Chandra LETG (UT 02:44 - 08:50 )

28 July
U-band photometry (Henden, USNO), V-band (St.Andrews) + R-band (Keele) photometry, Southampton photometry, B Photometry (IAC)
La Palma (INT)
XTE

29 July
U-band photometry (Henden, USNO), B & K Photometry (IAC)
La Palma (INT)
Chandra ACIS (UT 16:49 - 18:40)

30 July
UBVRI photometry (Smith, Wyoming 0.6m), B & J Photometry (IAC), Radio (Pooley, Ryle 15Ghz 19:34-21:40 UT ; no detection)

FUSE UV/EUV spectra (UT 08:40 - 12:09)

31 July
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), B,R & J photometry (Casares, IAC)

1 August
Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

2 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (WHT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

3 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), Radio (Pooley, Ryle 15Ghz 02:23-03:22 UT ; no detection), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

4 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

5 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

6 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (INT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
Chandra (LETG, 20ks starting UT 19:53)

7 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (INT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
Chandra (5ks, starting UT 17:47)

8 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (INT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)<
HST STIS ( 14:41- 20:32 UT)

9 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (INT)

10 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (INT), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)

11 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (INT), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)

12 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
J&K spectroscopy (Howell)

13 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (WHT), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)

14 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 5:00-6:20), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)

15 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), SAAO (van Zyl, 1.9m)
DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 6:45-8:30)

16 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 2:00-4:10)

17 August
B&R (Casares, IAC),Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

18 August
B photometry (Bortoletto, LNA 0.6), B&R (Casares, IAC)
DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 4:25-5:45 6:40-7:10)
Chandra 20ks starting 08:07

19 August
5s B band (Bortoletto, LNA 0.6), 2s R band (van Zyl, SAAO 1.9m), U band (Henden, NOFS), B&R (Casares, IAC)

HST (05:59 - 11:48 UT)

20 August
B photometry (Bortoletto, LNA 0.6), B&R (Casares, IAC)

21 August

22 August
B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), U&B (KAIT, Filippenko)
VLT UVES spectroscopy, Lick (Filippenko, 3m)
DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski 1:40-4:45) HST (06:12-12:01 UT)
Chandra (ACIS 8:40-11:40 UT)

23 August
B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), U&B (KAIT, Filippenko)
VLT UVES spectroscopy, Lick (Filippenko, 3m)
DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski 3:00-3:40)

24 August
B&R (Casares, IAC)
La Palma (WHT)

25 August

26 August

27 August
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT), NOT (Abbott)

28 August
B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
echelle spectroscopy (James, CTIO), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

29 August
B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), UBVRI polarimetry (Hakala, NOT)
ESO NTT, Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

30 August
B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)

31 August
UBVRI photometry (Hakala, NOT), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
ESO NTT

1 September
B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

2 September

ESO NTT

3 September

Bologna 1.5m (Bernabei)

4 September

5 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

6 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
echelle spectroscopy (James, CTIO)

7 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

FUSE

8 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

9 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

10 September

11 September

HST (2:55-3:50 UT)

12 September

13 September
UBVR Photometry (McDonald)

14 September
UBVR Photometry (McDonald)

15 September
UBVR Photometry (McDonald)

16 September
UBVR Photometry (McDonald)

17 September

18 September

ESO NTT

19 September

ESO NTT
Chandra ACIS 10ks 1:57UT

20 September

21 September

22 September

23 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

24 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

25 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

26 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

27 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

28 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m),
La Palma (INT), UKIRT

29 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT), UKIRT
FUSE

30 September
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

1 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

2 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

3 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

4 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

5 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

6 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

7 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

8 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

9 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

10 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

HST (UT 12:00-13:44)

11 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

12 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

13 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

14 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

15 October
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

1 November

FUSE

10 November

HST 11:30-12:30UT

24 November
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

25 November
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)

26 November
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

27 November
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

28 November
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

29 November
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

30 November
Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
La Palma (INT)

Danny Steeghs, July 2001

UT DATE	Photometry	Spectroscopy	Space based
23 July	first report of outburst V=9.7		XTE quicklook
24 July	V-band photometry (UT 21:40 - 01:40 St.Andrews), CBA Photometry (Patterson)
25 July	CBA Photometry (Patterson), UB photometry (2.5 hrs Red Buttes), K photometry (WIRO)
26 July	V-band photometry (St.Andrews), CBA Photometry (Patterson), U+V photometry (2.9 hrs Red Buttes), Southampton photometry (UT 22:30 - 03:00 ), V&R band (Casares, IAC)
27 July	Southampton, B & R (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (INT), J&K spect (Howell)	Chandra LETG (UT 02:44 - 08:50 )
28 July	U-band photometry (Henden, USNO), V-band (St.Andrews) + R-band (Keele) photometry, Southampton photometry, B Photometry (IAC)	La Palma (INT)	XTE
29 July	U-band photometry (Henden, USNO), B & K Photometry (IAC)	La Palma (INT)	Chandra ACIS (UT 16:49 - 18:40)
30 July	UBVRI photometry (Smith, Wyoming 0.6m), B & J Photometry (IAC), Radio (Pooley, Ryle 15Ghz 19:34-21:40 UT ; no detection)		FUSE UV/EUV spectra (UT 08:40 - 12:09)
31 July	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), B,R & J photometry (Casares, IAC)
1 August	Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
2 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (WHT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
3 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), Radio (Pooley, Ryle 15Ghz 02:23-03:22 UT ; no detection), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
4 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), Photometry (Wood, Mt.Laguna), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
5 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
6 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (INT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)	Chandra (LETG, 20ks starting UT 19:53)
7 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (INT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)	Chandra (5ks, starting UT 17:47)
8 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (INT), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)<	HST STIS ( 14:41- 20:32 UT)
9 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (INT)
10 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), U Photometry (Henden,NOFS 1.0m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (INT), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)
11 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), BRJK (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (INT), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)
12 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	J&K spectroscopy (Howell)
13 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (WHT), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)
14 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 5:00-6:20), J&K spectroscopy (Howell)
15 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), SAAO (van Zyl, 1.9m)	DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 6:45-8:30)
16 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 2:00-4:10)
17 August	B&R (Casares, IAC),Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
18 August	B photometry (Bortoletto, LNA 0.6), B&R (Casares, IAC)	DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski, 4:25-5:45 6:40-7:10)	Chandra 20ks starting 08:07
19 August	5s B band (Bortoletto, LNA 0.6), 2s R band (van Zyl, SAAO 1.9m), U band (Henden, NOFS), B&R (Casares, IAC)		HST (05:59 - 11:48 UT)
20 August	B photometry (Bortoletto, LNA 0.6), B&R (Casares, IAC)
21 August
22 August	B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), U&B (KAIT, Filippenko)	VLT UVES spectroscopy, Lick (Filippenko, 3m) DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski 1:40-4:45)	HST (06:12-12:01 UT) Chandra (ACIS 8:40-11:40 UT)
23 August	B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), U&B (KAIT, Filippenko)	VLT UVES spectroscopy, Lick (Filippenko, 3m) DDO spectroscopy (Rucinski 3:00-3:40)
24 August	B&R (Casares, IAC)	La Palma (WHT)
25 August
26 August
27 August	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT), NOT (Abbott)
28 August	B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	echelle spectroscopy (James, CTIO), Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
29 August	B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m), UBVRI polarimetry (Hakala, NOT)	ESO NTT, Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
30 August	B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	Mexico (Tovmassian, SPM 2.1m)
31 August	UBVRI photometry (Hakala, NOT), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	ESO NTT
1 September	B&R, J&K (Casares, IAC), Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
2 September		ESO NTT
3 September		Bologna 1.5m (Bernabei)
4 September
5 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
6 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	echelle spectroscopy (James, CTIO)
7 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)		FUSE
8 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
9 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
10 September
11 September			HST (2:55-3:50 UT)
12 September
13 September	UBVR Photometry (McDonald)
14 September	UBVR Photometry (McDonald)
15 September	UBVR Photometry (McDonald)
16 September	UBVR Photometry (McDonald)
17 September
18 September		ESO NTT
19 September		ESO NTT	Chandra ACIS 10ks 1:57UT
20 September
21 September
22 September
23 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
24 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
25 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
26 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
27 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
28 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m),	La Palma (INT), UKIRT
29 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT), UKIRT	FUSE
30 September	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
1 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
2 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
3 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
4 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
5 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
6 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
7 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
8 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
9 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
10 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)		HST (UT 12:00-13:44)
11 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
12 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
13 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
14 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
15 October	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
1 November			FUSE
10 November			HST 11:30-12:30UT
24 November	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
25 November	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)
26 November	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
27 November	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
28 November	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
29 November	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)
30 November	Fast photometry (Harlaftis, Kryoneri 1.2m)	La Palma (INT)