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Observations of objects of type "Star":

Alpha Boo (Arcturus) (Star, in Bootes)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 130-mm equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Tue Apr 6 02:15:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2243

Last evening, I pointed my telescope towards Arcturus while it was high up. Its yellow-orange color really blew me away. The color also means this beautiful star is nearing the end of its life.

Alpha Cyg (Deneb) (Star, in Cygnus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 5.1-inch equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Fri Jun 26 02:45:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2165

Last evening, I observed The Northern Cross with my 5.1" Short Tube Newtonian Reflector & 10X50 binoculars. As I was scanning though the stars of the Milky Way, I suddenly came to the Northern Coal Sack Nebula. In my scope, the view was blank until I skewed back to where the stars were. It was a nice view through my instruments.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sun Mar 15 23:40:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2136

This evening, I observed Betelgeuse to see if the reports of its brightening is true. I now estimate its magnitude to be about 1.3 magnitude which is .3 degree brighter than it was about a month ago at 1.6 magnitude. It is definitely getting brighter now & we'll see how bright it gets.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Fri Feb 28 00:00:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2134

This evening, The skies finally cleared & I was able to see Betelgeuse become a little brighter. I now estimate Betelgeuse's magnitude at 1.4 compared to 1.5 last week. Also last week I got up very early in the morning to view Mars & Jupiter for the first time in 2020.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sat Feb 15 03:55:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2133

After a week of cloudy weather, I was able to observe Betelgeuse as I arrived home from work. Betelgeuse seems to be holding steady at about 1.5 magnitude compared to Bellatrix's 1.6 mag. It does look like Betelgeuse has bottomed out with its lessening mag. Hopefully I will be taking a peak at it tonight.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Mon Jan 20 01:30:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2129

This evening, my brother Anthony & I observed Betelgeuse once again with both binoculars & the naked eye. We both agreed Bellatrix is now a little brighter than Betelgeuse, maybe by half a magnitude. We also think the middle star of Orion's belt may also be brighter. There's no doubt Betelgeuse is still dimming. My brother & I will continue to monitor this.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Jan 16 02:00:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2128

This evening, I observed Betelgeuse with my naked eyes & 10X50 binoculars. It now looks like Betelgeuse has faded to about the same magnitude as its Orion shoulder partner Bellatrix. They both look about 1.6 magnitude now. I will continue to check often.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Mon Jan 6 03:00:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2127

This evening I checked to see if Betelgeuse is still fading. With Bellatrix's magnitude being 1.6 as comparison it looks like Betelgeuse's magnitude has now dropped to 1.5 from 1.4. I'm really going to keep my eyes on this star for the next several weeks.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Wed Dec 25 03:30:00 2019 UT   Obs. no.: 2126

Hearing reports of the sudden dimming of the red super giant star Betelgeuse, my brother Anthony & I observed the star. Betelgeuse has become much dimmer than Orion's blue giant star Rigel. It now looks a little brighter than the other shoulder star on Orion Beletrix. Astronomers say it is possible Betelgeuse may go supernova in the near future as a result of this sudden dimming. If it happens, it will be some sight.

Alpha Lib (Star, in Libra)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sat May 18 03:30:00 2019 UT   Obs. no.: 2106

This evening, I split the easy binocular double Alpha Librae witn my 10X50 Binoculars. It turned out to be an easy split of both stars.

Alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) (Star, in Orion)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sun Oct 22 05:15:00 2017 UT   Obs. no.: 2035

Early this morning, while I was looking for Orinid meteors, I looked at two bright old dying stars. In Taurus, I compared Aldebaran with Orion's Betelgeuse. Both stars at orange colored meaning their temperatures are on the lower side. However Betelgeuse looks a little ruddier than Aldebaran which makes it older & cooler than Aldebaran. Based on this simple observation it looks like Betelgeuse will be the first to go supernova.

Sirius B (Star, in Canis Major)
Observer: Attila Schne (e-mail: yolo@chello.hu, web: http://www.ebeamguns.com)
Instrument: 11-inch other   Location: Veszprem, Veszprem, Hungary
Light pollution: light   Transparency: good   Seeing: excellent
Time: Sun Oct 27 02:20:00 2013 UT   Obs. no.: 1898

Using my 11" Yolo telescope. I was able to observe the faint pair of Sirius at 400x. It was visible very easily, even when the Sirius was in the middle of the field of view.

Alpha Lup (Star, in Lupus)
Observer: Sriram.M.Gubbi (e-mail: sriram_gubbi@yahoo.co.in)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Light pollution: light   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed May 5 05:00:00 2004 UT   Obs. no.: 1203

though wrongly known as a dim constellation,it really consists of many second magnitude stars which adds to the beauty of the scorpius-centaurus milky way and its OB association.one among them is alpha lupi,a hot blue giant.

Beta Cen (Agena) (Star, in Centaurus)
Observer: Sriram.M.Gubbi (e-mail: sriram_gubbi@yahoo.co.in)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Light pollution: light   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed May 5 05:00:00 2004 UT   Obs. no.: 1202

it could be easily found as it is on of the pointer stars along with rigil kentaurus to the southern cross.

Alpha Lyr (Vega) (Star, in Lyra)
Observer: Sriram.M.Gubbi (e-mail: sriram_gubbi@yahoo.co.in)
Instrument: 50-mm refractor   Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Light pollution: light   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: excellent
Time: Sun Apr 25 05:00:00 2004 UT   Obs. no.: 1206

this metallic blue-white(though an A-class main sequence star),fifth brightest star is one of my favourite and so is it's constellation.

Epsilon UMa (Alioth) (Star, in Ursa Major)
Observer: julian owens (e-mail: julianowens@hotmail.com, web: http://www.geocities.com/julianowens/TCSP)
Instrument: 7x25-mm binoculars   Location: Trophy Club Texas, USA
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: good   Seeing: good
Time: Thu Mar 7 05:00:00 2002 UT   Obs. no.: 614

While getting a few last glimpses in 03/2001 of Orion now coming around to the south westerly portion of my sky ending the winter, I looked over my house rooftop and directly above me spotted Ursa major trying to let me know that spring was coming around and it was time to forget about my long love for orion. I got a good glimpse with my naked eye to make me ship make sure I gave all the stars a good glimpse. I was particularly interested in the double that supposedly hides in the center star in the handle. This wasnt really discernable as you are faked into thinking that 28601 just off to the side of Alioth is part of the double. But what is actually the double is much closer star to the 1.7 in the handle. None the less I was able to traverse each one of the stars clearly. Later in April I hope to catch the spoons treasures which range in magnitude of 6.7 to 12. This constellation was a clear cut gem and harold in the spring sky.

Alpha Car (Canopus) (Star, in Carina)
Observer: Sriram.M.Gubbi (e-mail: sriram_gubbi@yahoo.co.in)
Instrument: 50-mm refractor   Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Light pollution: light   Transparency: good   Seeing: excellent
Time: Sat Apr 15 21:30:00 2000 UT   Obs. no.: 1200

though i can identify any star in the sky now,till the previous years(2002-03),i had a wrong notion that any constellation in the southern hemisphere was completely invisible from any part in the northern hemisphere.though i used to see a bright star high above the southern horizon every winter night,i did not believe it to be canopus because of this false notion.our city lies only 13 degrees north of equator and almost all constellations are visible except a handful of constellations or not even that.but still i thought it might be canopus as it appeared brighter than any other star except sirius,the brightest star.moreover,canopus,the second brightest star, was my favourite star.i dont know why.after referring to many sites and guide books,i gradually came to know that the bright star high above southern horizon was my favourite star,canopus.this is the most wonderful experience i have ever had in my amateur astronomy career.realizing canopus launched my numerous observations of the southern constellations.if it is a poorly known star of the deep south,well,its really a very well known star for me.

Alpha Cru (Acrux) (Star, in Crux)
Observer: Sriram.M.Gubbi (e-mail: sriram_gubbi@yahoo.co.in)
Instrument: 50-mm refractor   Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Light pollution: light   Transparency: good   Seeing: excellent
Time: Sat Apr 15 21:30:00 2000 UT   Obs. no.: 1199

a beautiful double star.

Alpha Boo (Arcturus) (Star, in Bootes)
Observer: Sriram.M.Gubbi (e-mail: sriram_gubbi@yahoo.co.in)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Light pollution: light   Transparency: good   Seeing: excellent
Time: Sat Apr 15 21:30:00 2000 UT   Obs. no.: 1198

i confused this star for mars as i had not yet seen Antares to mistake it for mars.

Alpha Aur (Capella) (Star, in Auriga)
Observer: John Callender (e-mail: jbc@west.net, web: http://www.west.net/~jbc/)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: Carpinteria, CA, USA
Light pollution: light   Transparency: poor   Seeing: poor
Time: Sun Feb 27 04:45:00 2000 UT   Obs. no.: 512

Pressed by my friends and family, lazing in the jacuzzi, to identify "that yellowish star, over there," I was gratified to be able to say, "Um, I think it's Capella, in Auriga," and turn out (after consulting my planisphere) to have been right.

Omicron Eri (Beid) (Star, in Eridanus)
Observer: John Callender (e-mail: jbc@west.net, web: http://www.west.net/~jbc/)
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian reflector   Location: Carpinteria, CA, USA
Light pollution: light   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: fair
Time: Sun Dec 5 06:00:00 1999 UT   Obs. no.: 499

After reading the description in Burnham's I tried to spot the white dwarf that is the brighter component of the fairly close pair (Omicron 2 Eridani B-C) that is in turn the distant companion of Omicron 2 Eridani A. Burnham's describes it as "the only white dwarf star which can honestly be called an easy object for the small telescope." I could certainly detect it as a dim companion of the primary star, but couldn't spot the C star.

Alpha Lyr (Vega) (Star, in Lyra)
Observer: Mark Stutzman (e-mail: mark@cca.ci.coatesville.pa.us)
Instrument: 4 1/2-inch equatorial reflector   Location: Gilbertsville, PA, usa
Light pollution: light   Transparency: good   Seeing: good
Time: Sat Jun 20 02:30:00 1998 UT   Obs. no.: 346

Tonight was the first time in a few weeks that conditions were good at my backyard.viewed vega tonight at high power and through my scope the star looked like a fireball surrounded by green flares even though I'm sure that this was just an illusion created by the optics it was an awesome sight.

Barnard's Star (Star, in Ophiuchus)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 12.5-inch equatorial reflector   Location: Harrisburg, PA, USA
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: good
Time: Thu Jun 18 01:40:00 1998 UT   Obs. no.: 345

This was my first observation of this 9.5 magnitude, M4 red dwarf since last summer. Barnard's Star has an absolute magnitude of 13.2 and has a luminosity only 1/2300th that of our sun's. It is the closest star, other than the sun, visible from mid-northern latitudes and has an extremely high proper motion of 10.31"/year. Barnard's Star was easily visible to the northeast of the apex of the "V" of faint stars on the finder chart in _Burnham's Celestial Handbook_. I used magnifications of 121 and 159x.

Alpha Lyr (Vega) (Star, in Lyra)
Observer: Joe Muse (e-mail: jmuse@bigfoot.com, web: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3185)
Instrument: 16-inch Dobsonian reflector   Location: Roswell, NM, USA
Light pollution: none   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed Oct 29 14:00:00 1997 UT   Obs. no.: 236

This is about the Utsunomiya Comet that was by Vega.This is my first observation of a dim comet, so the best I can do is say that it was a rather oblong fuzzball that had a tail only after you stared at it for a while. I used a 40mm eyepiece. 6.5 mag. skies.

Alpha Lyr (Vega) (Star, in Lyra)
Observer: Joe Muse (e-mail: jmuse@bigfoot.com, web: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3185)
Instrument: 16-inch Dobsonian reflector   Location: Roswell, NM, USA
Light pollution: none   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed Oct 29 14:00:00 1997 UT   Obs. no.: 235

This is about the Utsunomiya Comet that was by Vega.This is my first observation of a dim comet, so the best I can do is say that it was a rather oblong fuzzball that had a tail only after you stared at it for a while. I used a 40mm eyepiece. 6.5 mag. skies.

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