SS Virginis + M13

R Leo is another fine red star ( stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/rleo.html ) that is well placed at present. It was approx. 6th magnitude (8th magnitude according to AAVSO) when I checked it out last month, and was a fine sight, especially with the blue white 19 Leo and golden 18 Leo in the same field.

Y CVn (La Superba) is another fine bright specimen, while R CVn was approx 8th magnitude last month.

As regards M13, I'm waiting for a nice night to check it out with the new larger scope. I'm hoping for that Wow factor. The nights are getting so short now, and the Summer constellations are rising ever higher - it's amazing how quickly time passes.

Cheers, Mike.

Hi,

Audbrey, congradulations, that's a great start to variable star astronomy!

Paul, the amplitude of variable stars covers a tremendous range. From the minute (best done with CCD or Photoelectric Photometry) to over 10 magnitudes (10,000 fold increase in light intensity), even leaving out novae. At the moment have a look at Chi Cygni along the bottom of the 'Northern Cross', it is now an easy naked-eye object (at least from non-city areas). In about six months it will have faded to about mag 13, not an easy object in the crowded milky way field.

John