Quote:
Originally Posted by ngcles
Hi All,
Here's something of interest to observe tonight.
Via the AMASTRO mailing list, American amateur Jerry Lodriguss has flagged a possible brightening within a jet associated with the variable star Z Canis Majoris on the Canis/Monoceros border close-by to the small cluster/knot of stars VdBergh 92 and embedded in the extended nebula IC 2177.
Z Canis Majoris is a pre main-sequence T-Tauri type variable with a spectral class of B8pe that is coughing and spluttering its way though birth pangs.
The star itself underwent a significant outburst (2-3 mags) in 2008. There is a fairly strong jet associated with the star in PA 300 extending up to an arc-minute (a few light years) long. This jet or parts of it have apparently brightened somewhat recently, likely as a result of the recent activity of the host star.
You can compare images here:
http://www.astropix.com/Z_CaM/Wang1.HTM
showing a substantial difference between the blue and red POSS1 & POSS 2 and a recent RGB colour image. Looks as though this jet might be quite visible in smallish/moderate-sized telescopes.
Here is a light curve for Z CMa from the AAVSO for the last several years:
http://www.aavso.org/lcg/plot?auid=0...A&lastdays=200
0&start=&stop=2455569.65155&obscode =&obscode_symbol=2&obstotals=yes&gr id=on&
visual=on&uband=on&bband=on&v=on&po intsize=1&width=600&height=450&mag1 =&mag2
=&mean=&vmean=
(Let's hope the link doesn't break!)
Interesting at least and something to take a peek at. Hoping for a few hours tonight out at my southern highlands spot!
Best,
Les D |
Thanks Les . Let us know how you get on
I hope to have my Mirror back next week, could be a good target for first light
Cheers