This star is a binary system with a period of around 8000 years, at a distance of 110 lightyears. The brighter star is Cor Caroli or ‘Charles’ Heart’, though there is some uncertainty over whether it refers to Charles I or II. It is a variable with a mean apparent magnitude of 2.9 and of spectral type A0.
The fainter companion is of spectral type F2 and is of apparent magnitude 5.6. The diffraction spikes can be faintly seen to the upper right of the main spikes in this image.
This RGB image is the result of 1h 30m of data capture from Horsham, on an evening in April 2026. A ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera was used, through an 8-inch Teleskop-Service Ritchey-Chretien reflector.
Date: 05/04/2026
Location: Horsham, West Sussex
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
