Observation by Mazin Younis: RW Cep surprise dimming

Uploaded by

Mazin Younis

Observer

Mazin Younis

Observed

2023 Jan 01 - 19:00

Uploaded

2023 Jan 01 - 22:55

Objects

RW-Cep

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Constellation

Cepheus

Field centre

RA: 22^h23^m
Dec: +55°56'
Position angle: +50°07'

Field size

1°20' × 0°53'

Equipment

Quattro 200mm Newtonian f/4
ASI 294MC-Pro
UV-IR Filter

Exposure

20 subs @ 180s (1hr total exposure)

Location

My remote telescope, Morocco

Title

RW Cep surprise dimming

About this image

RW-Cep is a hypergiant variable star in Cepheus, at the edge of the Sharpless 132 HII region, which you can see at the lower edge of the photo. The star's radius is more than 1,000 times that of the Sun, thus larger than the orbit of Jupiter.

RW-Cep might be undergoing a dimming event similar to that observed in Betelgeuse a few years ago, already reaching mag. V=7.6. In other words, something a little weird is happening to what is the third-largest star in the Milky Way by some measures.

A great start of astrophotography for 2023.

Files associated with this observation

RW_Cep_marked.jpg (1.7 MB)

Like this image

Jeremy Shears, Mike Harlow, Graeme Coates, Nick Hewitt, Graham Winstanley, Duncan Hale-Sutton, Martina McGovern

Comments

Jeremy Shears, 2023 Jan 01 - 23:10 UTC

Super image, Mazin. Thank you!

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