Gravitational microlensing, TCP J05074264+2447555

[Rob_K]

The star marked in the attached image brightened up more than 2 1/2 magnitudes over a few days and is now dimming off. But it seems that the star did nothing and the apparent brightening was due to a phenomenon called gravitational microlensing, where a foreground object (not visible) passes across the line of view, its mass bending space-time and and acting like a lens which magnifies the background star. Many such events have been recorded in the galactic bulge where star density is greater but this one in Taurus is a comparatively rare event. And very bright!

The image was taken by me on 01 Nov 2017 and the star is around peak magnitude of 11.5 compared with its usual mag 14.1 (V). The brightening was first noticed by T. Kojima, Gunma-ken, Japan, on 31 October and the star designated TCP J05074264+2447555. It has since been investigated by professional observatories around the world, as well as by many amateurs.

Ain't astronomy wonderful!

For those wanting more information:
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unco...4+2447555.html
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=10919
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=10921
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=10923
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=10926
https://asas-sn.osu.edu/light_curves...7-7f79ce1f39f7 (light curve)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravit...l_microlensing

Cheers -

[gary]

Originally Posted by Rob_K

The star marked in the attached image brightened up more than 2 1/2 magnitudes over a few days and is now dimming off.

The image was taken by me on 01 Nov 2017 and the star is around peak magnitude of 11.5 compared with its usual mag 14.1 (V). [/url]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the post.

That's really fabulous! Congratulations on imaging it.

[Atmos (Colin)]

Congratulations!!
Isn’t the universe just so full of surprises

[Shiraz (Ray)]

how cool is that - well done.