Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Sat, 11/05/2022 - 16:16

Do I understand right, that BG Cyg reached minima for two months to predicted date?

BG Cyg

I understand that predicted minimum can vary by several weeks or more. I'm not aware of when the current minimum for BG Cyg was expected. My observation from August 31st gave an instrumental (non-transformed) V magnitude of 12.681, which from the AAVSO curve is close to minimum. My following observations show a gradual rise through my last observation on November 2nd of 11.439.

If something unusual is happening here please let the rest of us know.

Jamey (JENJ)

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Maybe I wrongly thought that…

Maybe I wrongly thought that "mid" in ephemerides means minima? If so - sorry for the misunderstanding.

In reply to by Anonymous

Affiliation
Association Francaise des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables (AFOEV)
Mid in VSX

For mira stars, "Mid" is the predicted maximum, computed from Epoch and Period.

Dominique

 

In reply to by Anonymous

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Theoretically.

But…

Theoretically.

But according to light curve BG Cyg went last maximum in the end of April, however ephemeris shows mid at 13 February 2022. That's why I scratch on the back of the head.

Affiliation
Association Francaise des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables (AFOEV)
O-C maxima

A lot of miras are irregular...

Look at BG Cyg observed maxima by the AFOEV: https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/afoev/activ/obs/lpv/repmira/cygbg.htx

(O = observed max, C = computed max, O-C = -91 to +62 days !!!)

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
BG Cyg period is variable

Greetings,

If you look at the "remarks" section for BG Cyg on VSX.  You will see that the period is variable, ranging from 288d to 307.3d depending on the date range.  Ephemerides are forecast predictions of the time of maximum and are not perfect either statistically or more so in the case of a star with a variable period.

This is one of the reasons we observe to elucidate the behavior of these stars... leading to reasoning it out and finally understanding and knowledge.

BG Cyg is a good star to have on your observing program because the period is variable. 

Jim (DEY)

Affiliation
Svensk Amator Astronomisk Forening, variabelsektionen (Sweden) (SAAF)
I have updated elements for…

I have updated elements for BG Cyg on my page with O-C diagrams at http://var.saaf.se/mirainfooc2.php. With my period elements the time for maximum have shifted between -60 to +100 days. Since year 1900 has the period fluctuated between 284 and 299 days according to my data at http://var.saaf.se/mirainfoper2.php.

The star is more of what is called a meandering mira, where the period goes up and down, than a mira with a steady period change.

Thomas Karlsson

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
The 2.5 magnitude definition…

The 2.5 magnitude definition is kind of an arbitrary dividing line unfortunately. I think it is one of the numerous things we classified or defined before we really understood what was going on. Many SRa stars behave like Miras and seem to be of the same type, but have less than delta 2.5V and others behave more like SRbs or something else. 

Here is a good paper on Red Variable classification. Janet Mattei is the lead author. 

https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997ESASP.402..269M/abstract 

Here is another one on the Secular Evolution of Mira Pulsations by Templeton & Mattei. 

The Astronomical Journal, 130:776 –788, 2005 August

Clear Skies, 

Rich