Brief outbursts in the dwarf nova V1316 Cygni

Abstract

Several brief outbursts were detected in the dwarf nova V1316 Cyg during 2005. These events have an average amplitude of 1.4 magnitude and a duration of <1 to 2 days. Whilst no outburst period could be confirmed, the shortest period between detected events is 10 days. These curious brief outbursts appear to be the normal pattern of behaviour for this system. They are of smaller amplitude and shorter duration than normal outbursts previously reported in this star. V1316 Cyg appears to be a very unusual system and we suggest that further observations by both amateur and professional astronomers could yield important information about the underlying mechanism.