Seeing double ~ Crux (opinions please)

[chunkylad (David)]

Great work Ving. Thank you.

Can't waitfor future installments.

Dave

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Originally Posted by astroron

By the way Rod and others did you join the Webb Society?

I must confess, Ron, the answer is not yet. I am still interested, but it is all a matter of $$$, and the many demands on finite resources. Sometime very soon hopefully!

[ving (David)]

join the ving society its cheaper

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

I went after the Ving doubles tonight. I couldn't find 3 & 4, because I could not see 4547 or 117 anywhere on the chart. Now I see they are labelled 1-7 I could not see it on the printout. Ah well. Two left for next time.

That carbon star looked really cool Ving! Gamma Crux looked very yellow to me, not white.

Had some great seeing over here for a couple of hours or so. Now how about something a bit harder for the next one? I looked for some others in Crux marked on the Sky 2000.0 as doubles, but they were too hard.

Thanks for putting this together, Ving! It's good fun. One gets to know the constellation a lot better too doing a double hunt.

[ving (David)]

yeah you are right steve, i didnt know there were so many open clusters in crux till i did this. it was an eye opener for me too.

I'll have to recheck gama crux thnx for the heads up

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

If any of you guys are interested in chasing down some RED "Carbon Stars", let me know and I will put an observing list of these together.

The Red one that you guys have been observing near Beta Crucis is known as EB 365 or "Ruby Crucis" and it is one of the best visual carbon stars in the sky.

CS-John B

[ving (David)]

which would you say is the best john?

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

David,

Apologies for the delay in replying.

There are several nice ones. Ruby Crucis is one of the best. All Carbon stars appear redest when they are dimmest, it depends on what aspect you find appealing. I like some of the brighter ones which are not as red as some of the dimmer ones. But I also like a couple of the dim variables which are blood red when at their dimmest.

Some nice ones include:-

R Fornacis, which has scientific significance in that it is also a Mira (Omicron Ceti) type variable. It's magnitude varies from about 7.5 to 13.0 over a period of about 450 days. This is not visible at this time of year.

X Cancri. Quite bright at about Mag 6 but presently only visible early evening.

U Antliae. Another reasonably bright one at about mag 6 with about 1 mag of variability. Currently well placed for observation.

R Centuari. Is another nice 1 and again is a mira type varibale. Currently perfectly placed for observation.

R Leporus. This is also known as Hind's Crimson star. It is also a mira type variable and is at its redest when it is dimmest, which is only 1 month every 14. It is currently just west of Sirius and only visible very early evening from Sydney. It is arguably the redest star in the sky, when dimmest.

CS-John B

[ving (David)]

didnt realise you had replied!
thanks john. if i get a chance i'll hunt them down

[robagar]

.. another one in the northern sky at the moment: Y Canes Venaciti, AKA "La Superba". Can't be too bad

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Checked out the rest of them night before last. I also revisited the rest this time with the 12". The carbon star looks even more impressive in the 12". The seeing was not very good, and the star looked like an orange core surrounded by an unsteady deep red glow.

John, I'm looking forward to checking out your list of C stars. Thanks!