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Certainly Brighter
Hi Glen & All,
Took a good long look at this last night (13122009) at about 2am when it had enough altitude. It is definitely brighter than last year and in my 'scope makes it a bit more challenging now to see the Homunculus Nebula well.
After comparing with about 1/2 dozen nearby stars between mag 4.06 and 4.96 I'd estimate between mag 4.35 to 4.45 -- using the 'scope and naked eye. Happily there are a several useful K-type stars within 1.5 degrees that can be used to minimise the Purkinje effect.
In some ways it'd be nice to be around to witness the death of this famous star, but sadly it would destroy the Homunculus Nebula -- one of my favourite objects and kill any hope of a properly dark-sky for maybe 3-4 months.
Watching the light-echoes through the Eta Carinae complex (NGC 3372) would be fascinating -- but would take a couple of hundred years to see ...
Best,
Les D
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