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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all) Holst Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/13/07 Loc: Portland, OR Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: KWB]       #2226572 - 02/29/08 03:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Kenny! Post Extras:       Joe Bergeron Vendor - Space Art Reged: 11/10/03 Loc: Upstate NY Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2226582 - 02/29/08 03:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, Marya. Remind me to show you a few pretty binary stars if you're ever in the neighborhood. Post Extras:       janehoustonjones professor emeritus Reged: 10/21/07 Loc: 34 N 118 W, 652.0 feet Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Joe Bergeron]       #2229245 - 03/01/08 12:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm starting the Astronomical League's Double Star project tonight, as I just finished another project - the AL Observe Galaxy Groups and Clusters Project, which I worked on and off for about 10 years! The double star project is 100 doubles, variables and binaries. I see some of my favorite stars in the list, so I am looking forward to a different kind of project. I got a Meade 12mm Illuminated Reticle Astrometric Eyepiece for Valentines Day, so in addition to looking at, and sketching the doubles, I'll calculate the position angle and distance between the doubles. Since I've never done this before, it seems you can teach a old dog some new tricks! So for me the excitement is looking at many of the same stars I've shown people at star parties, many times, but in a new way using some new tools. It's all butterfly collecting, but some collectors like the pretty colors and some like the science in the stars, and some just like checking things off a list. :-) I like all those reasons myself! Jane Post Extras:       roccosabal member Reged: 09/13/04 Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2234697 - 03/04/08 12:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Can you recommend which of my eyepieces would be best to use for star-splitting? You can see what I have in my signature. Thank you! Actually, doubles come in a range of separations and magnitude differences. Some require high power because they are at (and many more are beyond) the physical limit of a particular telescope's resolving power; while others are so widely spaced that they can be split with a finder scope, Gamma Leporis, for example. Others, though usually not true companions, can even be split using the naked eye, Mizar and Alcor in Ursa Major. Many people like to see how low their telescopes can go and still be able to achieve a clean split. Oh, and the colors! I dare you to check out Eta Geminorum (Propus). Its in the foot of Gemini near M35. Regards, Rocco. ps. Please don't grade my post. Post Extras:       Holst Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/13/07 Loc: Portland, OR Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: roccosabal]       #2236569 - 03/04/08 09:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Rocco! Post Extras:       Avatar sage Reged: 05/27/06 Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2236775 - 03/04/08 11:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Doubles are the only sort of celestial object that can keep me outside for any amount of time that is long enough to justify lugging out all the astro *BLEEP*. I look at a planet and that is it. I've seen it. There seems nothing else to do with it. Lunar obsrvation is definitely more engaging in possibilities than the (all of three major) planets even though everything is a part of one small close satellite. However, even Luna is boring for me. DSOs frighten me. They are NOT part of our more or less direct world, our Zodiac, direct influences, the things that make their marks upon us. On the other hand, doubles observing always involves (for me, anyway) a dynamic, which also takes t-i-m-e. Progressively higher magnifications to make elongations, then splits (hopefully). There are so many doubles to observe. They show up at all times of the year, so there's always something to look for. Separations open and close. Position angles change. There are many different types of doubles and multiples, even/uneven mags, close/distant pairs, often exotically colored component stars. Also, very many double stars can be observed through small, simple scopes,,,supported by relatively small mounts. Post Extras:       Holst Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/13/07 Loc: Portland, OR Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Avatar]       #2237059 - 03/05/08 04:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's another great explanation! Thanks Avatar! Hey by the way, I saw the Trapezium (and for that matter, M42) for the first time tonight! My book says the Trapezium is known as "multiple stars." How is that different from star clusters? The Trapezium seemed more beautiful to me than e.g. the Beehive cluster, and there are obviously a lot less stars in the Trapezium but I'm just wondering what the technical difference is. I also took a look at Mizar and Alcor but I'd seen them before... Post Extras:       mathteacher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/13/07 Loc: Oakland, CA Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2238787 - 03/05/08 09:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great question. I'm not an expert but this is what I think about the Multiple/double star vs. star cluster question. The trap is actually an open cluster being born out of the orion nebula. The stars we see are only the brightest. Maybe after all the gas is used up by star formation in orion, we will see something like the beehive or the pleiades. So, in the case of the trap, you see the beginning of a new cluster. I read a theory which says double and multiple stars are remnants of open clusters. Open clusters have loose gravitational bonds, and some eventually drift apart. Doubles and multiples are the few stars close enough to still travel the heavens together. So, doubles outside of star forming regions are actually the end of an open cluster. A globular cluster is a different animal altogether, and I won't get into that. I'd be interested to hear others' knowledge about this, and correct any misconceptions I may have. Again, you get a A for the question! Post Extras:       Holst Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/13/07 Loc: Portland, OR Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: mathteacher]       #2239089 - 03/06/08 12:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Mathteacher...that was interesting! Post Extras:       ronharper Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/14/06 Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2239178 - 03/06/08 01:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Marya, The trouble with the Trap is all that stupid glowing gas in the field of view that can distract the undisciplined star fiend. There are two dim stars involved besides the four obvious ones. These are called E and F ( the other four are A-D). Clifford the Big could do it, but only if the seeing is good. Try this. Go find those stars, and come back and tell us you didn't feel a thing, you don't get it, you don't have a problem. Ron Post Extras:       skj super member Reged: 04/13/07 Loc: McKinney, Texas Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: ronharper]       #2239659 - 03/06/08 10:28 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Try this. Go find those stars, and come back and tell us you didn't feel a thing, you don't get it, you don't have a problem. Ron Be careful Marya, this is the exact challenge some guy issued to me a while back. Last night I spent an hour and a half looking for a one star near Struve 761 that is probably invisible to my scope. And I can't wait to do it again. It's scary. Post Extras:       roccosabal member Reged: 09/13/04 Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: skj]       #2241087 - 03/06/08 10:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Marya, There once was this Greek fellow who said "There is no accounting for taste." If you don't think observing doubles is your thing, big deal. At least you tried. In my experience the only view that has grabbed 100% of the people who have looked at it has been Saturn. One night my brother-in-law looked at M17 with my xt10. He said "The Swan Nebula? Why do they call it the 'Swan' nebula? Looks more like a duck....They should call it 'The Duck Nebula.'" He was serious. We're still on speaking terms Rocco Post Extras:       Holst Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/13/07 Loc: Portland, OR Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: roccosabal]       #2241358 - 03/07/08 03:11 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Marya, There once was this Greek fellow who said "There is no accounting for taste." If you don't think observing doubles is your thing, big deal. At least you tried. In my experience the only view that has grabbed 100% of the people who have looked at it has been Saturn. One night my brother-in-law looked at M17 with my xt10. He said "The Swan Nebula? Why do they call it the 'Swan' nebula? Looks more like a duck....They should call it 'The Duck Nebula.'" He was serious. We're still on speaking terms Rocco Post Extras:       BianchiAZ super member Reged: 01/04/08 Loc: Roseville, Michigan Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2246521 - 03/09/08 05:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Marya, I think I can chime in here from the perspective of a newbie to the astronomy hobby. Usually I just observe all "my" easy celestial objects. I was sitting there in my chair and just enjoying the evening and thought to myself... why not try to find a real nice double star. What I came across was simply amazing looking. If you can find CMa 145 it is a colored double star that is just beautiful. The primary star is yellowish gold and the secondary is a striking blue. I have renamed this my Michigan Double for the colors of The Wolverines of Michigan. It is my favorite object now. When I found this double it was a real accomplishment. I went over to Saturn and was observing and that colored double just stayed in my mind and I found my way back to it shortly. I was observing through my Tasco Reflector with a 12.5mm EP. The double is in the southern sky. It is a gem if you can find it. Here is a link and there is a star hopping guide on the page also. The star hopping guide can be found in a link at the mid page section. Hope you find this colored double and this should explain a little bit more about the excitement of finding and viewing these objects. Clear Skies Rick Post Extras:       Bonco Post Laureate Reged: 04/17/06 Loc: Florida Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: BianchiAZ]       #2246748 - 03/09/08 07:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've had my say on an earlier post but Rick brings up a good point. Many fascinating jewels are observable in a small inexpensive scope even in city skies. Cheers, Bonco Post Extras:       Holst Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/13/07 Loc: Portland, OR Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Bonco]       #2247328 - 03/10/08 12:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey thanks Rick! Post Extras:       NeilR super member Reged: 02/18/08 Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2248317 - 03/10/08 02:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Check out the Prairie Astronomy Club link in the pinned thread above, listing interesting links. That link describes a half dozen or so fast moving binaries that can be seen to move within a year or so. You are young; keep good notes and simple sketches. Get a good illuminated reticle and build a micrometer and take measurements. Years from now you can observe changes in separation and position angle. There aren't many objects outside the solar system that "move" in a single lifetime. Burnham's Celestial Handbook is a good reference because he included orbital sketches of many popular binaries. It's a bit dated but I'm always inspired when I read it. It puts some context into those "boring stars" in the sky . It's a great reference no matter what you like to observe and should be in everyone's library. I'm always inspired after a cloudy night session with those volumes (a 3 volume set). It's worth it to find a hard copy; I think those are out of print now. It may get a lot of use and abuse... Neil Post Extras:       RussL Music Maker Reged: 03/18/08 Loc: Cayce and Lancaster, SC Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2276647 - 03/23/08 01:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I once heard someone say, "I love doubles, and I'm not ashamed of it." I didn't get it either until I heard that Castor is a double. I was amazed to see it for myself. But I was really hooked when I first saw the "Winter Albireo" in Canis Major. I haven't even seen Albireo in Cygnus yet in the summer. What a beautiful pair at even low power (81X was really nice). One star is gold, the other very pale blue, or at least it appears blue in contrast to the gold--may be white). Try this one before the season passes any further. I guarantee you'll "get it" after that. Post Extras:       SkyscraperJim scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/29/07 Loc: Providence, RI Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: Holst]       #2301063 - 04/02/08 08:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Ok I know I'll feel dumb for asking...especially years (or weeks) from now when I "get it" and wish I could go back and delete this thread! I'm not saying there's nothing magical about the stars -- obviously I think they're wonderful. But there's a whole forum on double stars and I'm wondering what it is about them that fascinated you guys? Is it that they look like one star and then with equipment you see that it's not just one star? Is there something about the hunt that makes it worthwhile? Just want to know what I'm missing! Thanks... Thinking back about how I got into observing, double stars were among the easiest and first objects I began to observe after the moon and planets. I fondly remember looking at zeta Ursa Majoris (aka Mizar) EVERY night I went out, even when the Big Dipper was sitting on the horizon. When they were favorible from my viewing location, I would turn to beta Cygni (Alberio) and epsilon Lyrae (double-double). Over the years I've added a few more to my short list of frequently observed doubles. Although I wouldn't consider myself an avid double star observer, I do look at least one double each time I'm out. The variety of doubles in separation, orientation, and color makes them interesting for me to look at. Double stars can be viewed at any time of the year and even during full moon. You can also use doubles to test your observing skill, conditions, and equipment. And they look particularly sweet in a refractor. Post Extras:       EdZ Professor EdZ Reged: 02/15/02 Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W Re: Please explain double star excitement... [Re: janehoustonjones]       #2301932 - 04/03/08 08:33 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: It's all butterfly collecting, but some collectors like the pretty colors and some like the science in the stars, and some just like checking things off a list. :-) I like all those reasons myself! Jane Nice way of putting it. I myself like to measure things. And when I get to use doubles for that purpose, not only do I get to exercise my desires, but also I get to see a wide variety of esthetically pleasing pairs. Each is different in it's own way. edz Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all)

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