Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzy
Yes Jacqui, sure is. Seems you know Mira well. 
Les D was telling me a couple of days ago that this was a nice bright one and that we can't be guaranteed next time around of such a bright event. He also said that the average brightness maximum is 3.5 mag., so this is a brighter than normal average. |
No, I don't know it that well, but I've followed it a bit over the years. I know 2.3 is bright as I had a chance encounter with it the last time it was that bright, probably back in the 90's(?). I had been outside in the evening trying to find something else and I looked across to west where a bright orange-coloured star was blinking through the trees. I was a bit puzzled as to which star it was, as I was aware enough about the sky to know there wasn't usually a bright star in that area. It was a little while later I learnt that it was Mira, and that it was brighter than it had been for some time. So that's how I know.
I had a look last night and it was certainly easy to see. Thanks for the heads up on this one.
