Carbon & Other Red Stars

[Mr Spock]

I was just wondering if anyone out there is observing red stars? Not because of their variability but simply because of the colour.

At the moment μ Cephei is well placed for northern observers. I might give it a look the next time I'm out.

I'll also see if I can find a list somewhere - unless someone already has one?

[DeanCJ]

My wife and I have enjoyed observing many carbon stars, some of the reds are so vivid, absolutely stunning.

check this out.

https://www.astroleague.org/files/obsclubs/CarbonStar/CarbonStar-List.pdf

[Mr Spock]

That's a nice list. Thank you 

[RobertI]

I love carbon stars - I really must have a proper carbon star evening. That list looks good, although I do have a list in Sky Safari from somewhere. I never know which is my best scope to use for coloured stars like this - I think bigger apertures like the C8 are supposed to reveal more colour, but the star shapes in the the 102ED are just so sharp and crisp. Perhaps I'll try the binoviewer and see if two eyes help with colour.  

[Pixies]

There's a public list on Sky Safari.

[Mr Spock]

2 hours ago, RobertI said:

I never know which is my best scope to use for coloured stars like this - I think bigger apertures like the C8 are supposed to reveal more colour, but the star shapes in the the 102ED are just so sharp and crisp.

I've always found star colours to be more vivid in my ED80 than any of my reflectors or achros. I think it's down to a combination of tighter stars and better contrast. I'm looking forward to seeing what the 102 can do; that has more aperture and better glass.

[Nik271]

Last winter I observed R Leporis: Hind's crimson star, which has striking deep red colour. You need to observe it in winter when it's as high as possible. Here is some more info from another post:

 

 

[Mr Spock]

I'll take a look at that one too. Might be a bit low here though - I have a restricted horizon.

[Macavity]

Remarkable "Hubble" pictures of CW Leonis... Sadly only 10th Magnitude?
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/hubble-celebrates-halloween-with-a-glowering-dying-star

I recall I once got a spectrum of Mu Gem. with the gain of my Watec (EEVA)
Camera at max. Mu Ceph (The Garnet Star) is indeed worth a visual look? 😎

[Mr Spock]

25 minutes ago, Macavity said:

Remarkable "Hubble" pictures of CW Leonis... Sadly only 10th Magnitude?

Will have to use the 250 to get that bright enough. Fascinating star though.

[ollypenrice]

15 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

I've always found star colours to be more vivid in my ED80 than any of my reflectors or achros. I think it's down to a combination of tighter stars and better contrast. I'm looking forward to seeing what the 102 can do; that has more aperture and better glass.

I suspect that too much light brightens star colour towards white. The secret of your ED80 may, in part, be its small aperture. I certainly think smaller aperture helps star colour.

Olly

[Space Hopper]

Mu Cephei is a beauty.

I remember looking at it with my 140 refractor last year, and it was a stunning sight.

I'm interested in red and carbon stars as well and plan to observe them a lot more.

[Davidv]

119 Tauri is the reddest and brightest carbon star I've ever seen. Looks fantastic in my 7 X 50 binocs. Also know as the Ruby star it's below the lower horn of Taurus. Not to be missed.

Edited November 21, 2021 by Davidv
Wrong number entered for star ID

[MylesGibson]

I do like a carbon star hunt sometimes! The reddest I've seen is probably R Leporis (Hind's Crimson Star) which is probably rather well known by now! Finding the right time to view it is the trick. As with a lot of carbon stars, it is variable, and looks most red when at its dimmest. If you view it under rally dark skies, the colour is really striking. 

[callisto]

Are there any books to be had on carbon stars?

 

Mark.

[IB20]

I love a red or Carbon star. The three that have stuck in my mind are Wz Cass, Mu Cephei and La Superba. All three have beautiful colouration.

 

[Ags]

Slightly off topic, but what about other strong colors. I have seen strong oranges and yellows, but a good blue is really elusive. Alnitak should be the bluest of blue (being an O type star with high apparent brightness), but it just looks white to me. Maybe "cold white", but that's all.

[Mr Spock]

I'd like to find some blue stars. WRs are quite rare though, but there must be other types.

[RobertI]

2 hours ago, Ags said:

Slightly off topic, but what about other strong colors. I have seen strong oranges and yellows, but a good blue is really elusive. Alnitak should be the bluest of blue (being an O type star with high apparent brightness), but it just looks white to me. Maybe "cold white", but that's all.

Yes I've always struggled with anything other than orange/yellow. The Pleiades are pretty blue I think, but still just seem white to me! 

[Voyager 3]

@astroavani's

Wonderful blue and red star pairing ! 

[Muc]

On 19/11/2021 at 17:15, DeanCJ said:

check this out.

https://www.astroleague.org/files/obsclubs/CarbonStar/CarbonStar-List.pdf

Many thanks for this, had an early evening hour of checking some of these out. SU and VX Andromedae Also SAO 109003 and Z both in Pisces. Perfect for quickies out the garden.

Z Pisces was the most vivid colour-wise. SAO 109003 was the most difficult to detect colour. The two in Andromeda had lovely star fields. Will be using this list regularly.

Cheers

Muc

 

[MylesGibson]

When looking for carbon stars, I tend to use a list, much like the one posted here and just do a different constellation each night. Although I do always tend to visit a few favourites first!