Observation by Alan Thomas: La Superba! Y Canum Venaticorum

Uploaded by

Alan Thomas

Observer

Alan Thomas

Observed

2026 Mar 19 - 20:47

Uploaded

2026 Mar 20 - 11:50

Objects

Y-CVn

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Constellation

Canes Venatici

Field centre

RA: 12^h45^m
Dec: +45°26'
Position angle: -53°00'

Field size

0°36' × 0°27'

Equipment

Unistellar 112mm reflector

Exposure

64sec.

Location

Norbreck Observatory, Warrington, Cheshire, UK.

Target name

La Superba! Y Canum Venaticorum

Title

La Superba! Y Canum Venaticorum

About this image

It's not often I image an individual star, but La Superba caught my attention as I was setting up the Unistellar. It is a variable red giant, and should be observed soon as it is likely to transition into a planetary nebula shortly (within a few thousand years).

Regrettably, the name has nothing to do with the truly magnificent opera singer, Montserrat Caballé. Instead, it's name seems to have been given by a Jesuit priest, Angelo Secchi (1818-1878), who was impressed by the star's spectrum. I wonder, though, if he could sing?

Files associated with this observation

La_Superba-eQuinox-20260318-204707 (2).jpg (2.4 MB)

Like this image

Mark Fairfax, David Basey

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