[vsnet-alert 1420] (fwd) re EsB363 / vsnet-alert 1419

[Daisaku Nogami <nogami>]

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From: "PETER F WILLIAMS" <PFWILLIAMS@onaustralia.com.au>
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Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 15:52:12 +1100
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Subject: [vsnet-alert 0] re EsB363 / vsnet-alert 1419
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The following may be of interest re EsB363.

This is a deep reddish carbon star which lies only 2.4 arcmin at pa 260
degrees from the brilliant white star Beta Crucis (mag 1.2 and slightly
variable).  It is well known to many southern hemisphere amateurs for its
colouring.

It is listed as GCCCS2031 and GCCGCS3284 in C.B.Stephenson's (1) General
Catalogue of Cool Carbon Stars, Publ Warner & Swasey Observatory Vol 1 No4
(1973); and (2) General Catalogue of Cool Galactic Carbon Stars, Publ
Warner & Swasey Observatory Vol 3 No2 (1989), respectively.

Both these list give an epoch 1900 position RA 12h 41m 33.8s Dec -59deg 08'
45" but there is some question as to the accuracy of these co-ordinates.

Alternative designations given there are Westerlund 79-2 and Hen 183
(Rybski).  A spectral classification N was given by Thackery (1949).

EsB363 was apparently first noted for its colour by John Herschel and was
later listed by Rev. T.E.Espin & J.Birmingham in their 1883 catalogue of
orange/red stars, hence EsB363.  It is not listed in either the GCVS4 or
NSV catalogues but, being a carbon star, variation of some kind would not
be unexpected.

In recent years it has been mentioned in several Australian amateur club
newsletters.  Attention was directed to EsB363 in 1991 when it was reported
to have faded to near 13th magnitude (visual) but these observations were
made near its lower culmination and this event apparently passed 
unconfirmed.  In 1992 it reportedly 'flared' to visual magnitude 5.0, but
again this passed unconfirmed.  Also reported is a visual magnitude range
of 9.0 to 10.7 with a 17.5 day period.

All this seems a little confusing but if these unconfirmed observations
represent genuine variations then EsB363 is certainly an exceptional star!

The late David Allen of the Anglo Australian Observatory was going to
attempt a detailed spectrum of this star following the 1992 report but I do
not know if this was actually obtained.

Visual observation of EsB363 is exceedingly difficult through small
telescopes due to its strong red colouring, its relative faintness and
close proximity to Beta Cru and extreme care must be exercised by the
visual observer.

I hope the above is of some interest to vsnet readers

Regards

Peter Williams

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