Observing Eta Carinae.

[astroron]

Hi all,

In February I had the Link Here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=72113) from which the above quote is derived) moved from the Observation Reports forum to this forum as to encourage feed back on the brightening of the Star Eta Carina, unfortunately none was forth coming:ashamed:
My intrepid Astro buddy Suzy did some investigating and has come up with this Data from AASVO
Thanks Suzy:thumbsup:
http://www.aavso.org/ql/results?auid...=2455577.93245 (http://www.aavso.org/ql/results?auid=000-BBR-655&startjd=2455577.93245)
The observations in this data for the 25/01/11 corresponds with my observations for that period:D and the data really proves that sure enough Eta Carina is truly brightening.
Another site worth looking at is http://etacar.fcaglp.unlp.edu.ar/
Which has been presented on other posts on this subject.
I encourage everyone to keep observing Eta Carina as often as possible by both Optical and visual means as this dynamic star may one day just give us that big surprise we are all waiting for

Please report any observations of Eta Carina on this thread.

For further information on what we have been discussing so far, including helpful links, please lookhere (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=60184)in the "Radio Astronomy and Spectroscopy" forum.

[barx1963]

Hi Ron
I have been looking at Eta Car. fairly consistently this year. I thought last year that it was appearing brighter and in my opinion there is more detail available to view in one lobe, but that may be that I am getting better at seeing.
Do you know of any charts with comparison stars nearby to make brightness estimates?

Malcolm

[Suzy]

Hi Malcolm :)

Here you go http://www.aavso.org/vsp/chart/pl/4118aiu

4.7 & 5.1 are the comparison mag. stars.


I got this information from http://www.aavso.org/ql/results
At the top of the list, I used the chart information by the observer "SANG". This was obtained by clicking on his "chart" (4118 aiu).

There is even a map from an observer who user binoculars!
http://www.aavso.org/vsp/chart/pl/1009qnf

Currently as of April 14th, Eta Carinae sits at mag. 4.9. A slight shift from what it has been sitting on at 4.7.

Though I have observed this star extensively, and researched much theory on it, I'm about to start an exciting journey of variable star observing with this star and learn as much as I can. :D

I really do hope others will join in and post their observations. It will be a fun, informative, informal way of observing such an exciting extrinsic cataclysmic Luminous Blue Variable star.

Great to see that within the first two posts, Ron's obs and your response Malcolm, matches up and makes for some very interesting observation reporting.

Les D are you able to help us further? I've come to understand the Sydney Observatory runs some variable star programmes, so perhaps you may be able to help us further. :question:

[barx1963]

Thanks Suzy. I have also downloaded and printed the AAVSO manual, which should make some interesting reading.

[mental4astro]

This is an interesting development, and astute observing, Ron.

Keen eyes indeed. Ron, do you regularly follow variable stars?

Hopefully we'll have a clear sky for the next new Moon. I've been wanting to have a closer look at the Homunculous for the last three months. I've also set myself a task to sketch it from a dark site, and the Eta Carina Nebula too. This is my last effort on the nebula from Sydney done with my 17.5", over three hours. Eta Carina is the reddish star just left of the centre of the sketch.

Good articles too, Susy. Man, aren't variable star observers filling a niche slot. Cool stuff.

[Paddy]

Well spotted Ron. And thanks for a very interesting thread and challenge. And thanks Suzy for the links.

[orestis]

Hi everybody:hi:,

Very interesting thread.

I observe the eta carinae complex quite extensively.Probably each time out with the scope.I might make a sketch of the homunculus nebula to show how it looks like now for future reference.

I'll keep a very close eye on this one.

Thanks for the challenge guys
cheers Orestis:thumbsup:

[ausastronomer]

Hi all,

Firstly let me say I am not a variable star observer per se. Due to my change of job and family relocation I have done very little observing in the past 9 months. I had my first serious run back from a spell recently at Coonabarabran. I have always taken a major interest in Eta and its associated targets, consequently when I was at Coona recently I was quite interested to see what Eta Carina had done in the 10 months since I looked at it last. Seeing and mirror cooling didnt support magnification high enough in the 30" SDM to push any detail out of the Homunculus which was dissappointing. On the 1st and 2nd April I estimated ETA Carina at Mag 4.8, without reference to any other observers estimates.

Cheers
John B

[Suzy]

I found this link (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/variablestars/3304121.html?page=1&c=y) full of helpful tips to observe variable stars. Here's a sample... :)