Observation by Alan Thomas: Mu Cephei: Herschel's Garnet Star in Cep...

Uploaded by

Alan Thomas

Observer

Alan Thomas

Observed

2022 May 31 - 23:09

Uploaded

2022 Jun 01 - 10:37

Objects

The Garnet Star (μ-Cep)

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Constellation

Cepheus

Field centre

RA: 21^h43^m
Dec: +58°48'
Position angle: -51°34'

Field size

0°36' × 0°27'

Equipment

Unistellar eQuinox 112mm reflector

Exposure

4min.

Location

Norbreck Observatory, Warrington, Cheshire, UK.

Target name

Mu Cephei: Herschel's Garnet Star in Cepheus

Title

Mu Cephei: Herschel's Garnet Star in Cepheus

About this image

William Herschel described this star as "a very fine deep garnet colour" but this was not especially noticeable in this observation, However, this hypergiant star, one of the largest known, is variable (3.4-5.1) and the colour is more or less prominent according to its brightness. It is also a candidate for supernova status any time soon.

Distance estimates vary widely but perhaps around 1,870 ly. Diameter c.1,420 million miles.

Files associated with this observation

eVscope-20220531-230857 (2).jpg (310.3 kB)

Like this image

Mark Fairfax, Dr Paul Leyland

Comments

Dr Paul Leyland, 2022 Jun 01 - 18:28 UTC

Looks pretty red to me.\

Alan Thomas, 2022 Jun 01 - 18:48 UTC

I do have a degree of 'colour blindness' but mainly in distinguishing green and blue. Perhaps I'm now losing red sensitivity too .... Old astronomers never die, they only fade away!

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