[vsnet-chat 3469] delta Sco - more comparison stars

[Fraser Farrell <fraser@trilobytes.com.au>]

As Delta Sco continues to brighten - and who knows how much more? - I find
it necessary to nominate some more comparison stars.  These are intended
for use by naked-eye observers:

star          visual magnitude
Beta Cen      0.6
Alpha Aql     0.8   (Altair)
Alpha Vir     1.0   (Spica)
Alpha PsA     1.2    (Fomalhaut)
Alpha Gru     1.7
Epsilon Sgr     1.8
Theta Sco     1.9
Alpha Pav     1.9
Theta Cen     2.1
Epsilon Sco     2.3
Eta Oph     2.4
Beta Sco     2.6

(Delta Sco's "normal" magnitude is 2.3 - tonight it is 1.8)

Some of the above are known to be slightly variable but the changes are
undetectable to the eye.  However, two stars that should _not_ be used are
Alpha Sco (Antares) and Lambda Sco, as their variations are large enough to
upset your results.

For those of you who don't normally look at variable stars, this is a rare
opportunity to watch one in action without _any_ optical aid.  Go for it!



cheers,
Fraser Farrell

VSNET Home Page

Return to Daisaku Nogami

---

vsnet-adm@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp