One of the most important stars in the history of astronomy.

[chris2be8]

Originally Posted by xilman

Not easily available in either the UK or La Palma.

I brought it from WHSmith.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by chris2be8

I brought it from WHSmith.

Thanks for the info. I will pop by the Cambridge branch and see whether it is worth buying.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by chris2be8

Were you inspired by the August issue of Astronomy?

No, it was purely coincidental that I imaged that region, though I admit to stealing "most important" tag from a post in Cloudy Nights. I didn't find out until this morning that there was an Astronomy connection.

A little background: I have been monitoring two luminous blue variables (LBV or SDOR stars as they are generally termed) in M31 for years. Those are AE And and AF And; each as a luminosity of between 100K and 500K times than the Sun. While I am in the district I very often image other interesting objects in M31, generally globular clusters or other bright variable stars, occasionally H-II regions or open clusters. It just so happened that M31 V0619 was the target of opportunity on that night.

There really is something for almost every amateur astronomer in M31, with the obvious exception of planets, asteroids and double stars. Large apertures are not a requirement. I have seen an image of AE And taken with a 70mm refractor.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by xilman

There really is something for almost every amateur astronomer in M31, with the obvious exception of planets, asteroids and double stars. Large apertures are not a requirement. I have seen an image of AE And taken with a 70mm refractor.

What about those south of Sao Paulo?

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

What about those south of Sao Paulo?

"Almost" every amateur astronomer.

The great majority of amateur astronomers either live north of Sao Paulo or can access a robotic observatory in the northern hemisphere.

If I wished I could observe the LMC from Cambridge.

[RMLabrador]

Sun. No Sun, no life on the Earth, no astronomy)