{"id":81,"date":"2015-06-09T17:44:04","date_gmt":"2015-06-09T16:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:4545\/?page_id=68"},"modified":"2024-08-05T15:26:56","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T14:26:56","slug":"guides","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/variablestar\/reference\/guides\/","title":{"rendered":"Observing Programme 2015 onwards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Variable Star section members are, of course, free to observe and submit observations of any variable star.<\/p>\n

The “programme” which follows has been designed, however, with beginners in mind and lists stars that are (hopefully!) not too difficult to locate and which usually show a good amount of variation.<\/p>\n

Click on the name of each variable to access a finder chart and more information about the star.<\/p>\n

Stars that can show significant brightness changes over a few hours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Star<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RA<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Dec<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Range<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Type<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Period(s)<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

U Cephei<\/a><\/td>\n01h02.3m<\/td>\n+81o53′<\/td>\n6.7 – 9.3<\/td>\nEA<\/td>\n2.493d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RZ Cassiopeiae<\/a><\/td>\n02 49.8<\/td>\n+69 38<\/td>\n6.4 – 7.8<\/td>\nEA<\/td>\n1.195d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beta Persei (Algol)<\/a><\/td>\n03 08.2<\/td>\n+40 57<\/td>\n2.1 – 3.4<\/td>\nEA<\/td>\n2.867d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
U Coronae Borealis<\/a><\/td>\n15 18.1<\/td>\n+31 39<\/td>\n7.8 – 8.8<\/td>\nEA<\/td>\n3.45d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RR Lyrae<\/a><\/td>\n19 25.5<\/td>\n+42 47<\/td>\n7.0 – 8.1<\/td>\nRRLyr<\/td>\n0.567d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Stars that show brightness changes over a week, sometimes from night to night<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Star<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RA<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Dec<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Range<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Type<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Period(s)<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Zeta Geminorum<\/a><\/td>\n07h04.1m<\/td>\n+20o34\u2032<\/td>\n3.7 – 4.3<\/td>\nCep<\/td>\n10.150d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beta Lyrae<\/a><\/td>\n18 50.1<\/td>\n+33 22<\/td>\n3.4 – 4.3<\/td>\nEB<\/td>\n12.941d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delta Cephei<\/a><\/td>\n22 29.2<\/td>\n+58 25<\/td>\n3.4 – 4.3<\/td>\nCep<\/td>\n5.366d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Stars that show brightness changes over the course of several months<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Star<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RA<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Dec<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Extreme Range<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Type<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Period(s)<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Betelgeuse (Alpha Ori)<\/a><\/td>\n05h55.2m<\/td>\n+07o24′<\/td>\n0.4 – 1.3<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n1600d?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
W Orionis<\/a><\/td>\n05h05.5m<\/td>\n+01o10′<\/td>\n5.9 – 7.7<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n212d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RX Leporis<\/a><\/td>\n05 11<\/td>\n-11 51<\/td>\n5.1 – 6.7<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n80d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Z Ursae Majoris<\/a><\/td>\n11 56.3<\/td>\n+57 52<\/td>\n6.3 – 9.6<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n195d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RW Bootis<\/a><\/td>\n14 41.2<\/td>\n+31 34<\/td>\n7.4 – 8.9<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n209d?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alpha Herculis<\/a><\/td>\n17 14.6<\/td>\n+14 23<\/td>\n3.0 – 4.0<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n100d, 6yr?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R Scuti<\/a><\/td>\n18 47.5<\/td>\n-05 42<\/td>\n4.5 – 8.6<\/td>\nRV Tau<\/td>\n142d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
U Monocerotis<\/a><\/td>\n07 31<\/td>\n-09 46<\/td>\n5.1 – 7.1<\/td>\nRV Tau<\/td>\n92d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AF Cygni<\/a><\/td>\n19 30.2<\/td>\n+46 09<\/td>\n6.4 – 8.4<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n92d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R Lyrae<\/a><\/td>\n18 55.3<\/td>\n+43 57<\/td>\n3.9 – 5.0<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n46d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RY Draconis<\/a><\/td>\n12 56.5<\/td>\n+65 59<\/td>\n6.0 – 8.0<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n200d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
W Cygni<\/a><\/td>\n12 36<\/td>\n+45 22<\/td>\n5.1 – 8.9<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n132d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mu Cephei<\/a><\/td>\n21 43<\/td>\n+58 47<\/td>\n3.4 – 5.1<\/td>\nIrr<\/td>\n860d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EU Delphini<\/a><\/td>\n20 38<\/td>\n+18 16<\/td>\n5.4 – 6.7<\/td>\nSemi Reg<\/td>\n58.6d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Stars that show large brightness changes over the course of a year<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ranges given in brackets for these Mira Type variables are the mean ranges.<\/p>\n

The other ranges given are extreme ranges.<\/p>\n

All of these stars can be followed using binoculars when they are near maximum (a couple may be visible to the naked eye), but a telescope will be needed if you wish to follow them all the way down to minimum brightness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Star<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RA<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Dec<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Range<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Type<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Period(s)<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

R Bootis<\/a><\/td>\n14h37.2m<\/td>\n+26o44′<\/td>\n6.2 – 13.1<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n223d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(7.2-12.3)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T Cephei<\/a><\/td>\n21 09.5<\/td>\n+68 29<\/td>\n5.4 – 11.0<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n389d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(6.0-10.3)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Omicron Ceti (Mira)<\/a><\/td>\n02 19.3<\/td>\n-02 59<\/td>\n1.7 – 10.1<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n332d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(3.6-9.3)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chi Cygni<\/a><\/td>\n19 50.6<\/td>\n+32 55<\/td>\n3.4 – 14.2<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n407d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(5.1-13.4)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R Leonis<\/a><\/td>\n09 47.6<\/td>\n+11 26<\/td>\n4.8 – 11.0<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n310d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(5.8-10.0)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
U Orionis<\/a><\/td>\n05 55.8<\/td>\n+20 10<\/td>\n5.3 – 12.6<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n372d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(6.3-12.0)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R Serpentis<\/a><\/td>\n15 50.7<\/td>\n+15 08<\/td>\n5.7 – 14.4<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n357d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(6.9-13.4)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R Trianguli<\/a><\/td>\n02 37.0<\/td>\n+34 16<\/td>\n5.4 – 12.0<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n266d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(6.2-11.7)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
R Ursae Majoris<\/a><\/td>\n10 44.6<\/td>\n+68 47<\/td>\n6.7 – 13.4<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n302d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(7.2-13.0)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
S Ursae Majoris<\/a><\/td>\n12 43.9<\/td>\n+61 06<\/td>\n7.2 – 12.7<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n226d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(7.9-11.7)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
T Ursae Majoris<\/a><\/td>\n12 36.4<\/td>\n+59 29<\/td>\n6.6 – 13.5<\/td>\nMira<\/td>\n257d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n(7.7-12.9)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Stars whose brightness changes are totally unpredictable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Star<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RA<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Dec<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Range<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Type<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Period(s)<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

R Coronae Borealis<\/a><\/td>\n15h48.6m<\/td>\n+28o09\u2032<\/td>\n5.8-15.0<\/td>\nRCB<\/td>\nnone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rho Cassiopeiae<\/a><\/td>\n23h54.4m<\/td>\n+57o29\u2032<\/td>\n4.2 – 6.2<\/td>\nSDOR<\/td>\nnone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gamma Cassiopeiae<\/a><\/td>\n00h56m<\/td>\n+60o43\u2032<\/td>\n1.6 – 3.0<\/td>\nGamma Cas<\/td>\nnone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This category will also include any bright novae that appear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Variable Star section members are, of course, free to observe and submit observations of any variable star. The “programme” which follows has been designed, however, with beginners in mind and lists stars that are (hopefully!) not too difficult to locateRead more<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":78,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-variable-stars"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t