Mysterious Flashing Star Identified

Issue 64 - Science & Technology

Garden Home-- For years, young Steven Kramer looked out his window in late summer or early autumn and noticed a star (or something similar) flashing in the gap between two trees in the Northeastern sky. Unlike most stars, the object flashed green red white, and sometimes even appeared to flash blue or yellow.

     "When I first saw it it scared me," Steven said, "I had no idea what it was. Dad came in my room and told me that it was an airplane or helicopter, but then it never moved."

     The years went by, and it kept appearing over those trees at that same time. As Steven grew older, fear turned to curiosity and admiration of its beauty. It was added to a tongue-in-cheek family flag he drew, and several theories about its identity were thrown around. Last night, it was identified with a fairly high certainty.

     "I finally decided to set things straight," Steven said, "I went up to my room with a star wheel, but wasn't able to find anything decisive. So I did what any reasonable man would do: I looked up red and green flashing star northeast."

     What followed were a number of articles describing a bright flashing star in the Northeast, visible in autumn: Capella.  While the page described a November sky, several checks were done involving star arrangements with the big dipper. All of them checked out

     "The webpage suggested that many people wonder about this object," Steven said, "It's good to know I'm not alone."

     The article stated that the star is a binary system about 42 lightyears away. The star itself is about the same color as the sun, except much larger. the flashing it produces is evident in all stars but due to Capella's brightness-- it's the sixth-brightest object in the sky-- makes this effect more visible that on most other stars.

The flag of the property designed by Steven Kramer depicting two major astronomical features viewed out his bedroom window. Capella is the pink star on the right.

Original ID made with this article:
http://earthsky.org/?p=3623