Friday, July 12, 2024

Alkalurops in Bootes (evening)

A medium-bright, triple star named Alkalurops (or Mu Bootis), a name loosely translated as "the Shepherd's Staff", sits 4.5→ northeast of the star Delta Bootis, forming a squat triangle with magnitude 3.5 stars Delta Bootis and Nekkar. Two of Alkalurops' stars can be discerned with sharp eyes or binoculars. The fainter, southerly star in the close pair splits into two
stars when viewed through a telescope. All three Alkalurops stars are orbiting one another in a dance that takes at least 125,000 years for one orbit. Before moving on, position Alkalurops towards the right side of your binoculars'
field of view and look on the left for two close-together stars named Nu
Bootis or v1 and v2 Boo. The have dramatically different colours!

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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