AF And (J004333.09+411210.4)

Find In Simbad Query LGGS Massey (2016) at VizieR

ATEL 10383 (2017 May 16 UT)

The classical Luminous Blue Variable (Humphreys & Davidson, 1994) AF And = J004333.08+411210.3 = Var 19 in M31 (Hubble & Sandage, 1953) is currently undergoing an S Doradus outburst. Brightening was first noted by Hornoch and Kucakova using the 0.65-m telescope at Ondrejov Observatory (Czech Republic) at R = 15.77 +/- 0.07 (2017 May 8.088 UT) and R = 15.80 +/- 0.04 (2017 May 11.064 UT). It was confirmed with pre-dawn BVR imaging in twilight on May 14 & 15 by the 20-inch telescope at the University of Illinois Springfield Henry R. Barber Observatory in Pleasant Plains, IL, USA.

Over the last 800 days its BVRI brightness has increased more than one magnitude while getting redder. Since Sept it has increased 0.6 mag in V and reddened from (V-R) = 0.27 to 0.37. Presently, the sun-angle is < 30 deg and increasing.