Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Boötes (Boo)  ·  Contains:  Extremely wide field
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A visit of the Keeper, Samuel Kohler

A visit of the Keeper

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
A visit of the Keeper, Samuel Kohler

A visit of the Keeper

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Description

In proximity of the constellations of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor Arcturus, therefore called the "the bear guardian" (Greek "arktos", "ouros"), is an orange giant. Observing from earth there are only three stars brighter than him.

With a surface temperature of 4300 Kelvin, Arcturus is much colder than our sun yet 25 times its size and with an estimated age of 7 billion years this giant has seen things our sun hasn't. When his time will come he will leave a planetary nebula behind rather than go out as a supernova due to his low mass.
It is yet not proven that this star was formed in our Milky Way but originated within a galaxy that merged with our own some 6 billion years ago. Its low metallic content and composition of heavy elements would back up this theory.

Only half a million years ago we would not have been able to see this giant from earth because he is moving towards us for a visit before leaving us behind. The picture taken shows the state of this star of only 36 years and 8 months ago.
Take look at him while you can because if you wait another half million years you won't be able any longer. Let's appreciate how lucky we are to witness his presence.


04/09/2023, 11pm, 47° N, 3130 ft, wind calm, temperature 3°C, dewpoint -1°C
lights 441x 2sec, filter: none (50 flats, 50 darks, 300 bias)

integration: 14min 42sec
camera: panasonic lumix DMC-LX100, 75mm, f/2.8
mount: ordinary photography tripod, tracked by hand
preprocess: DeepSkyStacker
postprocess: Pleiades Astrophoto, PixInsight

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A visit of the Keeper, Samuel Kohler