{"id":2355,"date":"2017-02-11T13:49:06","date_gmt":"2017-02-11T13:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.popastro.com\/main_spa1\/variablestar\/?p=2355"},"modified":"2017-12-07T17:26:01","modified_gmt":"2017-12-07T17:26:01","slug":"mira-visible-with-the-naked-eye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/variablestar\/2017\/02\/11\/mira-visible-with-the-naked-eye\/","title":{"rendered":"Mira visible with the naked-eye"},"content":{"rendered":"

The variable star Mira (omicron Ceti) brightened rapidly during January and is now visible with the naked-eye from reasonably dark observing sites. From less dark sites it should be easy to see in small binoculars.<\/p>\n

Mira is currently closing in on its 2017 maximum, which is predicted to occur in late February.<\/p>\n

The light curve below shows the brightness changes seen in recent years, as observed by SPA VSS members. Note the gap in observations each spring when Mira is near conjunction with the Sun.<\/p>\n

\"Mira\"<\/p>\n

Mira is located in a fairly bland area of the sky. Normally, I would recommend making use of the fact that the “V” of the Hyades points towards it. However, during mid February 2017, Venus and Mars act as better “pointers”, as can be seen in the chart below.<\/p>\n

\"Mira<\/p>\n

More information about Mira can be found in\u00a0\u00a0this guide\u00a0, which also includes charts that label useful “comparison stars” with which the brightness of Mira can be compared.<\/p>\n

According to the latest observations, Mira is currently at around magnitude 3.6.<\/p>\n

The peak brightness of Mira varies from one cycle to the next. The brightest peak ever recorded reached magnitude 1.7, while fainter ones have been around three magnitudes below this. The average is magnitude 3.6.\u00a0 Mira has already reached this brightness in 2017 and could yet go brighter.<\/p>\n

Be aware, however, the Cetus is heading rapidly towards the evening twilight and Mira will be lost in the twilight by mid March.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The variable star Mira (omicron Ceti) brightened rapidly during January and is now visible with the naked-eye from reasonably dark observing sites. From less dark sites it should be easy to see in small binoculars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-variable-stars"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\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