In Search of the Southern Cross (Abstract)

Volume 28 number 2 (2000)

Raymond Berg

Abstract

(Abstract only) This accounting of a month-long journey through New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia describes the author’s observations of the wondrous night skies at these locations, meeting with southern amateurs, and a visit to famous Siding Springs Observatory. The results of a limited study of three unconfirmed Fleming variables are presented. No variation was noted in 21 visual observations of NSV 840 (constant at visual magnitude 7.9), NSV 1214 (constant at visual magnitude 8.3), and NSV 3379 (constant at visual magnitude 7.1). Comments are presented on other southern variable stars observed, including the recently-publicized eta Carinae. Astrophotos obtained with the Anglo-Australian-Telescope illustrate some of the most impressive deep sky objects in the southern heavens.