dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (02/21/86)
There's a star in the sky this month known as Hind's Crimson Star. We'll tell you about it -- after this. February 21 Hind's Crimson Star Stars shine pretty steadily for most of their lives. When they do vary in brightness, it's usually over a long period of time -- too long to be noticeable to sky watchers. But there are certains kinds of stars called variables that pulsate more rapidly. We can watch these stars get brighter and fainter. Many different kinds of variable stars exist. One group is called the red variables. These are red giants -- cooler stars which are old and highly evolved. There are different reasons why variables pulsate. In the case of red variables it could be that the fusion reactions that power stars are taking place in an outer shell of the star as well as in the core. A very famous red variable is in the sky every February. It's called R Leporis -- also known as Hind's Crimson Star -- because it's distinctly ruby red in color. With clear skies, a pair of binoculars, and a good star chart you would be able to find this star in the constellation Lepus -- in the southern sky each evening now. Some observers have described the star as looking like a glowing coal or an illuminated drop of blood. The cycle of R Leporis is long compared to some variables. It takes 432 days to fade and brighten again. Sometimes it becomes visible to the eye -- and sometimes not. This past December the star didn't become visible when it reached its peak in brightness. But amateur astronomers with binoculars and telescopes no doubt are still watching the star as it begins to fade again from view. Script by Holly Clark and Deborah Byrd. (c) Copyright 1985, 1986 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin