Thursday, August 29, 2024

Watch Algol Brighten

The star Algol (or Beta Persei) in the constellation of Perseus is among the most easy-to-monitor variable stars. During a ten-hour period that repeats every 2 days, 20 hours, and 49 minutes, Algol dims noticeably and then re- brightens when a companion star with an orbit nearly edge-on to Earth crosses behind the much brighter main star, reducing the total light output we perceive. Algol normally shines at magnitude 2.1, similar to the nearby star Almach in Andromeda. But while dimmed to minimum brightness, Algol?s magnitude 3.4 is almost the same as the star Rho Persei, which shines just two
finger widths to Algol's lower right (or 2.25 degrees to the celestial south). For observers in the eastern half of North America, fully dimmed Algol will
sit in the lower part of the northeastern sky on Thursday morning, August 29
at 12:02 a.m. EDT or 04:02 UT. Five hours later the star will shine at full intensity from a perch nearly overhead in the eastern sky. Observers in more westerly time zones will see most of the brightening process.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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