Stars

Constellation: Sagittarius

Right Ascension: 18h 49m 49.36216s

Declination: –23° 50′ 10.4291″

Distance: 9.7 ly

Apparent Magnitude: 10.4

Ross 154, also known as V1216 Sgr is a red dwarf UV Ceti type flare star. Studied by Frank Elmore Ross in the 1920's for its variability and its proper motion. Located some 9.7 light years away, makes it currently the 6th closest star to our solar system. Despite the closeness, being a red dwarf, its magnitude is only 10.4 which requires an optical aid to see it. It's estimated to be a relative young star at an age of 1 billion years. And so far no planets or circumstellar dust disk has been detected around it.

Details: Category: Stars; Published: 28 June 2022

Nearest Stars

Telescope: Explore Scientific 127 Refractor

Camera: ZWO 2600 MM

Constellation: Sagittarius

Right Ascension: 17h 52m 00.72665s

Declination: −28° 01′ 20.5622″

Distance: 1,359 - 6,000+

Apparent Magnitude: 8.59 - 11.0

A very large red giant star located withing the constellation bounds of Sagittarius. If it was located where our Sun was, it would extend out past Mars. A pulsating long period variable star with a long period of around 670 days. It varies in magnitude from 8.5 to 11.0 over its long period, with a smaller magnitude pulsation period of around a third of a day. There are no reliable distance measurements other that its far enough away that parallax measurements are currently unreliable. It is the reddish brighter star located near the center. A rich star field for a back drop as we look towards the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

Details: Category: Stars; Published: 15 June 2022

Telescope: Explore Scientific 127 Refractor

Camera: ZWO 2600 MM

Constellation: Ursa Major

Right Ascension: 09h 47m 30.71

Declination: +63° 14` 53.3

Distance: 246 ly

Apparent Magnitude: 6.94

HD 84406 is located in the constellation of Ursa Major, and a yellow star of spectral type G, and shines at a magnitude of 6.9, just dimmer than a person can see without optical aid.

What is special about HD 84406? Actually not too much as stars go, but that is a good thing as it was used for the initial focusing of the new James Webb space telescope.

Some of the constraints were the star would have to be in the field of view for the telescope for the entire collimation of the mirrors. The star couldn't be too bright which would cause issues with the sensors. Also the star needed to be in an uncrowded area by other stars. And of course the star needs to be stable with a constant magnitude.

Details: Category: Stars; Published: 31 May 2022

Telescope: GSO RC10

Camera: ZWO 2600 MM

Constellation: Leo

Right Ascension: 10h 56m 28.99s

Declination: +07° 00′ 52.0″

Distance: 7.9 ly

Apparent Magnitude: 13.5

A red dwarf star located in the constellation of Leo, its the reddish star located in the center of the image. It's name comes from astronomer Max Wolf who studied that exhibit large proper motion across the sky. A star with a large proper motion appears to move across the sky over the years. Most are relative close stars that their movement can be measured over the years.

One of the closer stars at 7.9 light years, but because its one of the dimmest of the local red dwarfs, its magnitude is a faint 13.5.

Image of Wolf 359 taken in 2015, compared to its current location shows its movement over the years.