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Re: Once in a lifetime event

By: De_Composed in 6TH POPE | Recommend this post (0)
Mon, 08 Jul 24 4:52 AM | 32 view(s)
Boardmark this board | 6th Edition Pope Board 		Msg. 54896 of 58493
(This msg. is a reply to 54197 by De_Composed)
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The stars that make up Corona Borealis are a little dimmer than those in the Big Dipper. For that reason, although I'm able to see the constellation without binoculars, it's a challenge. Depending on the amount of light pollution where you are, it may be impossible to see with the naked eye.

I think the easiest way to find Corona Borealis may be to use the Big Dipper - which I trust everyone can find on a clear night - as a guide. Using a ruler... or even your hand if it's big enough... measure the distance at arm's length from the bottom left star in the dipper's "pan" to the outermost star in its handle. Extend that line two distances further. At that point, you've gone just a little beyond the Corona Borealis constellation. It looks like a cup.

In the picture I've provided, I've drawn a small circle indicating where I think the nova is supposed to appear. With my binoculars, I can already see something in that location, but I don't think it's relevant. The nova is supposed to be bright... comparable to Polaris, the North Star... and what I see today certainly isn't that. (FYI: The two end stars in the Big Dipper's pan point to Polaris which is in the Little Dipper.)

My weakest set of binoculars are 7x35, and they're actually too strong for looking at Corona Borealis. I recommend a set of opera glasses if you have them. Otherwise the entire constellation will not fit in the binoculars' field of view. For viewing only the nova, anything will work. I plan on bringing out my best telescope.








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The above is a reply to the following message:
Re: Once in a lifetime event
By: De_Composed in 6TH POPE
Sun, 16 Jun 24 4:55 AM 		Msg. 54197 of 58493

Here's what you're looking for: At the moment (10:30 at night) it's almost directly overhead. If you can find the Big Dipper (which is part of Ursa Major), you should be able to use its handle as a "finger" pointing fairly close to Corona Borealis. You'll need binoculars. The Big Dipper is visible to the naked eye, but most of us can't see Corona Borealis that way.

The nova is the result of carbon dust that accumulates on the surface of a white dwarf star within the constellation's "cup"... well to the left of center. The star is normally too dim to see (Magnitude 10). Ironically, the reason they know a nova is about to occur is that the star is getting even dimmer. Approximately every eighty years, the carbon causes enough heat buildup to produce a massive thermonuclear explosion that blasts the dust back into space.

At its peak, the nova will be about as bright as Polaris (Magnitude 2).

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