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BZ Crucis — Star in Crux

Magnitude 5.2–5.5m Star Crux (Cru) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.31
Range 5.24 - 5.45
Variable Type Gamma Cassiopeiae (Eruptive Be Star)
Spectral Type B1IIIe bright giant
Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.27)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 42m 50.3s
Dec -63° 03' 31.0"
Constellation Crux (Cru)
HR 4830
HIP 62027
HD 110432
SAO 252002
Variable ID BZ Cru
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Medium Hard+ Hard
50mm finder Easy Easy Easy
150mm scope Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Feb – Apr (peak: Mar)

5Survey Image

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6

Size Comparison

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7

Compare Stars

8

Spectral Classification

9

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
10

Stellar Lifecycle

11

Blackbody Spectrum

12

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

13

Stellar Fusion

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14Stellar Notes

Gamma Cas 5.24 - 5.45V.
10.21d.
Sco-Cen assoc.
Also classified B2pe. Hydrogen and FeII emission with small variations in Balmer emission lines.

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

C98
NGC 4609
Easy
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster mag 6.9 0.1° Crux
Coalsack Nebula
Easy
Dark nebula — shows as a void against the Milky Way
Dark Nebula mag 12.0 0.6° Crux
Alpha Cru
HIP 60718; Alpha2 Crucis
Easy
Hot blue O-type star
Star mag 1.73 1.8° Crux
Acrux
HIP 60718; Alpha1 Crucis
Easy
Easy double, sep 3.5″
Double Star mag 1.33 1.8° Crux
Becrux
HIP 62434; Beta Crucis
Easy
Hot blue O-type star
Star mag 1.25 3.4° Crux
S Cru
Medium
Pulsating variable, period 4.7d
Variable Star mag 6.58 4.8° Crux
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