Variable star Chi Cygni in outburst

[jjjnettie]

Recieved this email today.

The variable star Chi Cygni is currently undergoing one of its
brightest
outbursts. Look for the "extra" star in the swan's neck:

http://www.aavso.org/charts/CYG/CHI_CYG/CHICYG-A.GIF

It is currently brighter than magnitude 4 and still rising.

[[1ponders]]

A good opportunity to practice some photometry......if you would get rid of the cloud for me. :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Apparently it is up to mag. 3.1 now.

[jjjnettie]

From Atlas of the Night Sky by Storm Dunlop.
X Cyg, a remarkable long period Mira-type variable, P=408 days, d=346LY. It has an exceptional range of at least 10 magnitudes (with extremes of about mag.3.3 and 14.2). This means that its brightness varies by about 10,000 times between max.and min. Around max., its deep orange colour becomes apparent.

I checked out Chi Cygni tonight and compared it to Eta Cygni and I felt that Chi was marginally brighter. So I guess it could be at approx mag. 3.4. This guessing game is new to me, but this is the best way to learn I suppose.
The colour is beautiful, as it says above, a very orange star.

[astroron]

I have sent some time tonight observing XCygni, easy naked eye star even with a bright Moon.
I took a 10 second photo piggy back on the 20cm Celestron 800 iso 55mm lens I don't know how it will turn, Ionly wanted the constellation outline.
I don't have a digital camera so will have to wait a while to get the film developed.:sadeyes: :thumbsup:
As you say jjj it is a beautiful Deep orange colour, Quite awesome to think it has such a big brightness range.

[gaa_ian]

Sounds great, I will be doing some tours at the Garma festival tonight.
I will look out for it !

[astroron]

Hi Ian get the chart ,see post #1 , even though it is naked eye, with the moon up it will make it a bit easier:thumbsup:

[CoombellKid]

Have been waiting to have a look at Chi Cygni latest outburst for several
days now. But we're in storm mode hasn't let up much since we got back
from Astrofest, except for a few hours with the PST.

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[jjjnettie]

There is an animation Cygnus before and after outburst on the link below. The file was too big to post here. You'll have to scroll down to find it.
http://www.irishastronomy.org/boards/viewtopic.php?p=31167

[jjjnettie]

Rob, hope you are all enjoying the PST. Have you made a screen for it yet so you don't fry your face?

[janoskiss]

Not visible to most of us in the south. :(

[jjjnettie]

If you're far enough north to see the Ring Nebula you'll be able to see it.

[gaa_ian]

I was able to share this beautiful bright orange star with 100's of guests at the Garma festival here in Arnhem land over the W/E.
This led to many discussions on the nature of a recurrent Nova star, and of the life cycle of a star generally.

[astroron]

Good on ya! Ian:thumbsup: it is quite lovely coloured star through a telescope, The varabilaty of this star is instabilityfrom inside not external as in a nova, it is a Mira type star and has one of the greatest amplitudes of any known star,going from at its brightest around mag 2.3 to dimmer than mag 13.:eyepop:
Glad you had a good turnup::)

[gaa_ian]

Thanks Ron, I will write a full report on Garma once I get a few photos

[Lee]

Grabbed a shot of the area tonight, hope to compare with subsequent days/weeks as she fades....
It certainly is a nice red star.

Details - Nikon D70 13sec f/2.5 50mm ISO 800 - levels adjusted to remove horrific light pollution

[jjjnettie]

You captured the colour as well! great stuff.
Ron, you'll know, will the colour fade as it decreases in mag?

[astroron]

It is a Mira type variable which are orange to red and is in fact a red giant star, they stay the same colour they just get duller till they get down to their faintest mag.
If you watch the most famous variable star Mira, you will notice it is the same colour ,but it does not have the amplitude of Chi going from around mag 3.5-9mag in 331 days but there are fluctuations in brightness and length of period over a four year period

[astroron]

Here is a 10 second shot of Chi Cygni, also in the shot is the remains of a Meteor which went of just before I clicked the shutter.
Minolta SRT101 55mm lens, 800 Iso, Piggyback on Sct.
Gama is the closest star to the bottom edge of the picture and Beta (Albireo) is the bright star below the double star at the top of the picture.

[jjjnettie]

Thanks for posting Ron.

[CoombellKid]

Hey jjjnettie,

sorry for the late reply, puter has been to the puter shop for the last
week and a half. The PST is excellent!!! seen some major flares/Prom over
the last few days, major being the biggest I've seen yet. Still been
having trouble locating Chi Cygni with it :lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually still haven't chased down Chi Cygni, had forgoten about it
until now. However since tossing my in-accurate home made optical
alignment tool and aquiring the celestron you beaut version. My Scope
is performing really well, it's amazing how well when you have nicely
aligned optics. Just ask 1ponders, it was pretty bad...:whistle: something
I must of got used to over a period of time.

Astroron, Did you get the CD-rom back through the post ok?

regards,

Rob

[astroron]

Thanks Rob I did:thumbsup: Ron

[CoombellKid]

Np's Ron


Now for my "Dofus Chi Cygni Report"

Well I happened to wake in the early hours of this morning, 2:30am
or there abouts. Stumbled out to the kitchen, hit the button on the
jug in anticipation of loading myself up with coffee. While waiting for
the jug to boil I logged on to check email and the usual stuff. This
is when I realised I hadn't chased down Chi Cygni yet, after seeing
jjjnettie last msg to this thread come through. Things should of started
snapping into place for this _expert_ astronomer:rofl: maybe it's starting
for you right now, Anyways it didn't for me. So expert astronomer standing
at the back door (which faces to the north) sipping his coffee and smoking
a ciggerette. Thinks he spies Albireo, it doesn't occurr to this expert that
hey maybe this version of Albireo might be a tad bright by a few magnitudes.
No not at all, so the next great idea this expert had, is since I didn't have
the my scope setup I'll just grab lil Jakes 60mm Tasco. A bit more fumbling
and a few minites later we're setup on the backstep. Slot 12mm ortho in
line up Albireo, and geee she's bright tonight so bright I cant even split
the mother. It wasn't until some minites later while gazing naked eye at
the Pleiades that I realise "Hey ain't Lyra meant to be about there" I'm
still scratching my head in wonder as to how I came to mistake Aldebaran
for Albireo, regardless of the fact that Taurus looks nothing like Cygnus.
Maybe it's these new billberry pills I'm on.

ok, this message wishes to self-destruct in 30-seconds.....did ya hear me!!! 30 seconds darn ya

regards,CS

Rob

[Lee]

You were only a few hours late.... :doh:

[CoombellKid]

lol, next time I think I'll wait until the coffee kicks in :whistle:

regards,CS sunny days

Rob

[Lee]

Grabbed another shot of Chi Cygni tonight..... I feel from this pic Chi Cygni is now a similar brightness to Eta Cygni when 2 weeks ago it was appreciably brighter.....

[jjjnettie]

Dear Rob,

Your mad.

Fondest regards
Jeanette

[jjjnettie]

I reckon it is still marginally brighter than Eta, but then again red stars do stand out more.