Observation by Alex Pratt: (319) Leona occults Betelgeuse

Uploaded by

Alex Pratt

Observer

Alex Pratt

Observed

2023 Dec 12 - 01:15

Uploaded

2023 Dec 13 - 16:02

Objects

Betelgeuse
319 Leona
Lightcurve

Equipment
  • QHY174M-GPS camera - 135mm f/2.8 lens - R filter
Exposure

20 ms

Location

El Plantio Golf Resort, Alicante

Target name

(319) Leona occults Betelgeuse

Title

(319) Leona occults Betelgeuse

About this image

I teamed up with Michael O'Connell to observe this pro-am occultation event from El Plantio Golf Resort where the accommodation includes private rooftop terraces, ideal for amateur astronomers. This preliminary light curve was obtained using a QHY174M-GPS camera, 135mm lens and red filter, using SharpCap Pro to record at 50 fps.

The night of Dec 10/11 was very clear but on the key night we had bands of thin cirrus cloud with intermittent clear spells. It was clear about one hour before the occultation, then the sky quality degraded again, yet Betelgeuse was still visible at almost 60 deg altitude.

We set our systems recording for a 4-minute period centred on the predicted mid-time then observed Orion with the naked eye. Thin patchy cloud was moving across the constellation. It was fascinating to see Betelgeuse fading over 3 or 4s, as if someone had used a dimmer switch - Orion looked strange without his 'shoulder' star because Betelgeuse was now fainter than Bellatrix and the belt stars - then its return to full brightness was less distinct (because of the haze / thin cloud).

This 'once in a lifetime' event lasted about 7s and was a great experience. The data from tens of observers will be used to model this red supergiant star.

 

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Comments
Tim Haymes
Tim Haymes, 2023 Dec 16 - 16:19 UTC

Congratulations to Alex and Michael for their successful expedition to Alicante.  :-) 

A lot of equipment testing and planning was involved.  ( I was in Portugal with a similar set-up).   To see the giant star fade from view was breathtaking, albeit short.  I estimate a 2-3 magnitude drop was seen.

Alex Pratt
Alex Pratt, 2023 Dec 16 - 17:19 UTC

Thanks Tim,

You got a great light curve from clearer skies in Portugal. Yes, a lot of testing and planning, and we all shared advice and ideas, ensuring that we were ready as long as the weather cooperated.

Provisional data is already giving info on the diameter of Betelgeuse and we look forward to any announcements from the professionals, and their formal paper perhaps later next year.

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