Red stars (observation report)

Ever notice them? It doesn’t take much effort to spot these stars — given dark enough skies with the resulting large number of other blue and white stars to make the red ones stand out. I spotted two new ones for me tonight; Mirach in the constellation Andromeda and Shedir in the constellation Cassiopeia. Actually, I was aware from years of reading about astronomy that Mirach was very red but funny, I never noticed until tonight. Shedir was close by which made me notice it also. It isn’t quite as red as Mirach but does have a definite redness about it.

I had gone to a boat launch by a lake about 5 miles from my house tonight with my 12.5 inch dobsonian and 7 x 50 binoculars. As it ended up, I never set up the telescope (just left it in the car and trunk) because mosquitoes were rampant. As I sat on the hood of my car, one foot on the ground and one foot on my car’s front bumper, I surveyed the eastern horizon. Funny how one can never get tired of looking at the same things year after year. . .photons from the Andromeda Galaxy filled my eyes. The NELM of the sky was about 5.5 — not great — but good enough that I figured I had a chance at getting a visual of the North Amercan Nebula (NGC 7000). Nope. Couldn’t make it out with unassisted eyeballs or the binoculars. Still, the Milky Way showed some stratification.

I ended up this short 30 minute observing session by trying to see the faintest stars I could with my bare eyes. A good test for me here is to attempt to make out the 5.5 magnitude close partner of Eta Ursae Minoris. Upon discerning it, I called it an evening. Some of my most satisfying observation sessions continue to come without telescopic aid.