Delta Scorpii strange fading

Email from Brian Fraser

Hi Chris,
I don't know if you have space for a short plea for observers to have a look at Delta Sco, 
but if you do could you put this in Canopus.

Delta Sco is behaving strangely and confusing the experts.  After getting brighter than mag 1.7, 
it has now faded to around 1.9, in an erratic and puzzling manner.   Many more estimates are now
needed quite urgently.  You can observe this variable with the naked eye!!  No telescope needed.

( Click here for the sky chart ) 

-----Original Message-----
From: Sebastian Otero [mailto:varsao@fullzero.com.ar ]
Sent: 23 June 2002 09:55
To: Be Stars
Subject: [vsnet-chat 5357] Delta Scorpii strange fading

There is some important news on delta Scorpii.
Take a look at the recent photometry:

20020615.125     1.77V  Doug West
20020616.065     1.77     Sebastian Otero
20020616.969     1.77V  Brian Fraser (B-V= -0.05)
20020619.049     1.76:    Sebastian Otero
20020619.700     1.89V  Brian Fraser (B-V= -0.06)
20020622.074     1.88     Sebastian Otero

There was an important fading on June 19.
The star wasn't this faint since September 11, 2001. But such a rapid drop in brightness is strange.

Thom Gandet is analysing the observational data from Brian Fraser, Doug West and myself and 
we'll be publishing results soon. So, keep an eye on Delta Scorpii because it is very active.
Spectra are strongly needed.

Regards,
Sebastian Otero.