[vsnet-chat 4595] Ruby Crucis (aka DY Cru, NSV 19481, CCCS 2031, EsB 365...)

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

I confess to being pleased by item 794 in the just-published Variable 
Star Name List 76. My favourite Extremely Red Star has been promoted to 
full status as DY Cru. Although personally I like the more poetic name 
"Ruby Crucis" bestowed on it by a friend :)

But, unfortunately, parts of its story seem to have been missed because 
of its numerous designations over the years. Even the VSNET lightcurve at 
http://vsnet.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/vsnet/LCs/index/NSV19481.html omits 
some observations of this star reported to vsnet (such as vsnet-obs 3179 
and subsequently). No doubt this data-linking problem afflicts other 
stars too, despite SIMBAD's excellent indexes; and I'm certain there are 
earlier data awaiting discovery in someone's archives!

Except for novae, this is the most extreme variable designated in (or 
near) Crux for many years. The visual range witnessed since 1989 seems to 
be from 8.4 down to 12th magnitude; possibly fainter. As usual, further 
observations are encouraged. You can download a chart from 
http://vsnet.trilobytes.com.au/astronomy/varstars/esb365.zip

Meanwhile, I intend to do some analysis. Classifying it "SR" doesn't seem 
to explain everything in the lightcurve...


cheers,
Fraser Farrell

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