Algol ::: Catch A Star

OUR OBSERVATIONS

Our group was able to conduct several observations of the star during its eclipses and to visually approximate its magnitude. To do this, we chose several non-variable stars, whose magnitudes we knew, and compared them with the magnitude of Algol. Our observations are recorded in Table 1.

Table 1. Observation Data
Date (JD UT) Comparison Stars Estimated Magnitude Remarks
Name m Name m
2452509.560 Alpha Per 1.80 Beta Ari 2.64 2.20 Before eclipse
2452511.468 Beta And 2.06 Eps Cas 3.38 3.00 Beginning of eclipse
2452511.468 Gamma And 2.18 Alpha Tri 3.41 3.41 Eclipsed

The Constelation of Perseus The Region around Algol Algol
The Constelation of Perseus. Algol is the bright star in the middle. Algol and the region around it. Algol

We were also able to take a picture of Algol using a CCD camera and a Schmidt telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory in Rozhen, Bulgaria. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions, we were unable to picture a minimum. We also took photographic pictures of the Perseus constellation and the near regions at the National Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium of Gabrovo.