------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 3165 2016 May 12 09.35UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.theastronomer.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMBIOTIC STAR STHA 169 In OUTBURST (NSV 12466) U. Munari, INAF Padnova reports on ATEL 9036 that the symbiotic star StHa 169 is in outburst, possibly the first ever noted for this object. On 2016 Apr 25.9 UT they measured U=13.133, B=13.617, V=12.823, Rc=11.963, Ic=11.108. Mean quiescence values from the UBVRI photometric catalogue of symbiotic stars by Henden and Munari are U=16.27 B=15.32 V=13.68, Rc=12.64, Ic=11.54, thus the event is currently showing an amplitude of 3.1 mag in U, 1.7 mag in B, and 0.9 mag in V band. Similar quiescence values characterised 2009-2015 photometric data, the Kepler satellite observations and the ASAS monitoring of this object. A spectrum of StHa 169 in outburst has been obtained with the Asiago 1.22m telescope + B&C spectrograph on May 6.93 UT, covering from 3300 to 8000 Ang at 2.31 Ang/pix dispersion. Compared with similar spectra recorded during the 2010-2015 quiescence period, a strong blue continuum now completely overwhelms the M giant absorption spectrum short of 6000 Ang, and the Balmer continuum is now in a much stronger emission. The [NeV] 3426 and the OVI Raman scattering at 6825 Ang, that were weakly present in quiescence, are gone. The emission lines have largely increased their integrated flux. Hbeta flux is 9.3x10(-13) erg/cm2sec, or 6.9 times the average value in quiescence, and HeII 4686 flux is 3.0x10(-13) erg/cm2sec, or 4.4 times the quiescence. The Hbeta/HeII ratio has increased from the average 2.0 of the quiescence to present 3.1 value. The width of emission lines remains sharp with no sign of a P-Cyg profile, and their radial velocity stays close to the mean -92 km/s characterising quiescence. At the request of the editor John Murrell checked the literature as no position was given above. He finds the object is also designated NSV 12466 which has a position of: RA 19h 49m 57.591s DEC +46 15' 20.58" (2000) See also: http://cdsportal.u-strasbg.fr/#NSV%2012466 The target star also has a close fairly bright companion. A chart and sequence can be obtained from the AAVSO by inputting 'NSV12466' under 'Pick a Star' on the home page. Guy M Hurst