Old nova GK Per in dwarf nova-type outburst

ATel #965; L. Brat (Altan Observatory), R. Hudec, V. Simon, J. Strobl, P. Kubanek, M. Nekola (AI Ondrejov), and M. Jelinek (IAA Granada)
on 18 Dec 2006; 14:28 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Novae
Credential Certification: Rene Hudec (rhudec@asu.cas.cz)

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The old nova GK Per is obviously undergoing its rare dwarf nova-type outburst. According to the CCD R band photometry from the Altan Observatory, Pec pod Snezkou, Czech Republic, GK Per has reached an R magnitude about 0.65 mag above the quiescent level. The brightening started around JD 245403135 and since then a continuing brightness increase has been observed. During a single night, rapid variations on the time scale of tens of minutes with the peak-to-peak amplitude of about 0.25 mag(R) were observed. These findings were confirmed by independent measurements provided by the BART robotic telescope at the Ondrejov Observatory. We note that the time interval from the previous outburst of GK Per in 2004 is around 755 days, i.e. shorter than between the previous outbursts in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2004, when the time interval was between 1091 and 1333 days. See Hudec (BAAC, 32, 93 (1981)) and Simon (A&A, 382, 910 (2002)) for the complicated history of the previous outbursts. The preliminary light curve is given at pod.snezkou.cz/altan/vysledky.php?lang=en&meduzastar=GK%20Per and pod.snezkou.cz/altan/vysledky.php?lang=en&file=2006-12-14-GKPer.txt