U Aquarii Approaching Deep Minimum

U Aquarii, an interesting variable of the R Coronae Borealis (RCB) type, has been declining in brightness for a while now. Visual observers (notably observer PEX) have faithfully been able to track U Aqr down to about magnitude 15.4, below which it becomes too faint for their equipment. Employing CCD photometry I recently observed this variable at about magnitude 16.80 in the Johnson V-band (I expect to get some measurements in the B-band on my next sets of observations). U Aqr has been known to decline to about magnitude 18.3 before beginning its recovery. I encourage observers with the right equipment to monitor U Aqr down to its minimum and then its recovery to "normal" brightness.