SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 43007
DR JOHN P. PYE
LEICESTER UNIVERSITY
 UK LE1 7RH
LEICESTER
UNIVERSITY ROAD

  E-mail: PYE@STAR.LE.AC.UK	Tel: +44 116 252 3552	Fax: +44 116 252 3311
  Medium: 2GB8MM

Subject: STARS                                                       
  Title: LONG-TERM BEHAVIOUR OF THE CONTACT BINARY VW CEP                                


Abstract:
 VW Cep is one of the nearest, brightest and best studied W UMa-type contact
 binaries. Long-term optical monitoring suggests the presence of a stellar activity
 cycle with a period of order 8-10 years. We propose to observe VW Cep for 20ks
 exposure, in order to build on our ASCA AO-1 measurement (and other previous X-ray
 observations) of this object. These observations will then form the basis for
 long-term X-ray monitoring with X-ray CCD instruments, to complement the on-going
 optical programme, and provide a direct measure of the coronal activity levels. The
 extensive optical and UV measurements have clearly demonstrated the importance of
 long-term, multi-wavelength coverage in attempting to understand the activity mechanisms in VW Cep and similar systems.

 Co-Is:
   1  K. MAKISHIMA        	TOKYO UNIVERSITY              JAPAN     
      (No Co-I contact data)
   2  E.F. GUINAN         	VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY          USA       
   3  D.H. BRADSTREET     	EASTERN COLLEGE               USA       
   4  S.T. HODGKIN        	LEICESTER UNIVERSITY          UK        
   5  M.A. BARSTOW        	LEICESTER UNIVERSITY          UK        
   6  J.E. MORLEY         	LEICESTER UNIVERSITY          UK        


Target Name           PRI RA        Dec        Time TC  Off GIS SIS_Cts  Obs
-------------------   --- --------  --------   ---- --  --- --- -------  ---
VW CEP                 3  309.3396   75.6006    20   N   Y   P  0.50000   1