The challenge of BE Cas

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Fri, 08/05/2016 - 01:07

As a new entrant in my 'YSO of the season' we have BE Cas. The challenge is twofold - first of all BE Cas lies very close to beta Cas and secondly it has a 13.3m companion! When I first started to observe it, I thought it would be impossible, but not so. It helps to have beta out of the field but you would tend to use a fairly high power to separate BE and its companion less than 30" of arc away. On good nights however the two can be separated with a lower power. Anyway, have a try - MQ Cas isn't far away either.