'DY Crucis' Variable Carbon Star

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Last night I tried something different from the usual Galaxy hunt, or imaging Carina (again ).

I imaged the beatiful little blood red variable Carbon Star 'DY Crucis'.
It can be found right next to Mimosa (Beta Crucis) in the Southern Cross (Crux).
I also managed to capture Mimosa's companion 'B' star. I didn't know I'd got it until I stacked it!!!

ED80, Toucam 840k, 12 x 1 second, captured in Desire, stacked in Registax 3, no processing done.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Its an amazing colour that star isn't it. Such a deep coppery red colour.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Its an amazing colour that star isn't it. Such a deep coppery red colour.

Sure is, Geoff.
In the EP is is a beautiful Blood-Red.

This stack of 1 second images send it orange. I imaged it at 2 seconds and it turned yellow.
I also tried it at 0.5 seconds but it almost vanished, so 1 second with orange colour won out

I was tempted to make it red in PhotoShop, but decided to leave it as I captured it

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

nice one ken. i like the variety of colours of stars. this week seems very promising

[Mick (Michael)]

Very nice Ken, we don't get to see enough of this type of image.

[Ric]

Nice capture Ken, Mimosa is a giant compared to DY and the companion star.

Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Ric

Nice capture Ken, Mimosa is a giant compared to DY and the companion star.

Cheers

Yep, sure is a size difference!!!

There is another possible Beta Crucis companion star recently found, but it is extremely hard to see! It is so close that it looks like it is almost touching Beta Crucis. It is only 4 arcseconds from Beta!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[erick (Eric)]

Nice shot, Ken. I always look for that star since you first showed it to me. It's amazing what you learn to see with observing time. I always looked in that area (Jewel Box fanatic!), but never saw it. Now I cannot miss it. If I put my 12x60s on the tripod, I can see it in them as well - just!

Last night I got enough of a break in the clouds to track down R Leporis - Hind's Crimson Star (RA 04h59.6m, Dec -14deg48min). Why don't you try to capture that one for comparison? I think our southern Crux star is a deeper red?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by erick

Nice shot, Ken.
Last night I got enough of a break in the clouds to track down R Leporis - Hind's Crimson Star (RA 04h59.6m, Dec -14deg48min). Why don't you try to capture that one for comparison?

Thanks Eric.

Hmmm, never heard of that one. I'll have to look it up and give it a try

[erick (Eric)]

I read that it is a variable (5.5 to 11.7 mag), cycles over 14.5 months, is an "intensely smokey red colour" when it is dimmest - around one month in the 14.5 months. At that time "it is a candidate for the reddest star which is easily observable". I don't now where it is in its cycle at present, but probably not at its dimmest?

[goober (Doug)]

Originally Posted by erick

I read that it is a variable (5.5 to 11.7 mag), cycles over 14.5 months, is an "intensely smokey red colour" when it is dimmest - around one month in the 14.5 months. At that time "it is a candidate for the reddest star which is easily observable". I don't now where it is in its cycle at present, but probably not at its dimmest?

It was quite bright in mid-November, certainly around the mag. 6 end of things. I saw it more orange than red in a 4" scope, but I believe the redness deepens as it fades. It certainly stands out.

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by goober

It was quite bright in mid-November, certainly around the mag. 6 end of things.....

That explains why I didn't have too much trouble finding it. I'm still learning how to locate and observe the really faint. (Well really faint for me is relative!)