Mira Maximum

[iamjulian]

Hello

I have just been reading about Mira - what a great star. It is due to reach its maximum about now (may even have been last night) of around mag 2 or mag 3. Then will fade over the coming months down to mag 9 or 10. Happens every 11 months.

Has anyone experience of observing this amazing star?

[Towa]

I observed mira two nights ago. Very easy to see with the naked eye. I estimated the brightness at magnitude 3.4.

[brianb]

Long period variables like Mira are a bit unpredictable, the predicted date & magnitude can be out be a considerable amount. In any case the brightness does not change significantly for a week or two around the actual date of maximum.

My recent observations have been:

Jul 30,9.2

Aug 06,9.1

Aug 22,9.1

Sep 01,9.1

Sep 11,8.9

Oct 07,7.4

Oct 17,6.0

Oct 23,5.0

Oct 31,4.0

Nov 07,3.7

Nov 14,3.6

Note that different peoples' eyes have different sensitivities to red light, it's not unusual to have a bit of "scatter".

[iamjulian]

Thank you both.

Brian that is excellent. I read last year it was 3.1 and the year before 2.0 Good to hear it stays for a week or two. May get a chance to view it!

[Towa]

When I was running a variable star group, the star mu Cephei was a real swine, with estimations sometimes differing by as much

as 1.5 magnitudes between individual observers.

[Talitha]

Thanks for the reminder Julian, i'll take a look tonight.