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Dr Ski
Valencia Observatory
10/28/2019
04:20 am

Equipment Details:

Canon EOS M10
80mm, f1. 1
10s@ISO2000

Image Details:

One of the over 1,250 disposable Russian rocket bodies still orbiting the Earth is passing in front of Orion's belt. Cosmos 1626 was launched in 1985. Not sure what the payload was.
W orionis is a beautiful red carbon star that doubles in brightness over the course of 7 months. It is currently near it's peak magnitude of +6.
Carbon stars have more C than oxygen in their atmosphere, hence the "ruby" color.
They have consumed their supply of hydrogen, which was fused into helium (which fuses into carbon). Basically, it's dying. But just down the block is the Orion Nebula, where new stars are being born. It's the cycle of life.

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