mikey cee
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Reged: 01/18/07
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Loc: bellevue ne.
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I think Gamma is the most beautiful gold and blue double star in our sky! Any takers??   Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
Edited by mikey cee (09/27/08 04:06 PM)
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KWB
Postmaster
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Posts: 9268
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'd say it is one of them,along with Alpha Herculis. I've heard Alpha Centauri rates a 10 as well. Beta Cygni can't be left out. Truely a subjective opinion courtesy of the opinion giver.
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Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8279
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
I think Gamma is the most beautiful gold and blue double star in our sky! Any takers?? Mike
Well, the two can be compared numerically:
ALMACH (Gamma And.), R.A. 2h 3.90m Dec. +42d 19.8'
Primary: mag. 2.2 sp. K3III, Secondary: mag. 4.8 sp. B8V
Sep. 9.8" arc, P.A. 64 deg. (mag. 6.3 companion of Gamma-B at 0.4" arc, p.a. 103 deg., closing separation).
Colors seen in 10 inch: Yellow (Gold) and light blue.
ALBIREO (Beta Cyg) 19h 30.72m Dec. +27d 57.6'
Primary: mag. 3.1 sp. K3II Secondary: mag. 5.1 sp. B8V
Sep. 34.3" arc P.A. 54 deg.
Colors seen in 10 inch: Yellow and light blue.
Thus, both pairs are fairly similar and it is tough to say which is better. For the smaller scope, Albireo is probably the winner, as its much wider separation make it easier, especially at lower power where the rich starfield around it make it all that much more beautiful. For those who like tighter doubles, Almach is a winner, especially under good seeing. I like both, so there is no real overwhelming favorite here. They are probably the two best of all the color-contrasting doubles in the night sky. Clear skies to you.
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GlennLeDrew
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/08
Posts: 1269
Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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I have a hard time making a decision between these two. It depends largely on the instrument used. But for strong color contrasts, I'll have to give the nod to the pairs--even optical--which involve carbon stars. WZ Cas is probably the strongest red-blue combo I've seen yet.
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Home-made 11X50 right angle bino, 8.1 deg. FOV
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My Gallery
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7761374
journeyman
Reged: 09/25/08
Posts: 6
Loc: Maldive Islands
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Thats a tough one. I think i like them both. But i don't like optical doubles. Heard that whether alberio is a true binary is not certain. But if gamma And is a true binary i would prefer it. But its the deep love i have for Beta Cygni since it is one my first DS and that made me go whoah which makes is harder to decide.
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Bonco
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/17/06
Posts: 2297
Loc: Florida
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For me in the city its a toss up. However in the country with transparent dark skies, Alberio wins because of its setting amoungst a nest of dimmer stars.
Bill
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RV6
Meade 2045
6 inch f/4 RFT R. Fagin Optics
TV Genesis
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3 inch Polarex/Unitron Equitorial
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RLTYS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/04
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Loc: New York (Long Island)
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I've always prefered Albiro but Gamma And does have the most deepest blue star I've ever seen.
Clear Skies.
Rich (RLTYS)
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10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr. (Genesis)
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"I want to do more then just look."
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tigerroach
sage
Reged: 08/13/08
Posts: 465
Loc: Houston, TX
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I like Gamma And because it is just a hair more obscure. 
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Brian
TeleVue TV-102, Gibralter alt-az mount
Webster 14.5" f/4.3 truss dob *under construction*
Canon 10x30 & 15x50 IS binocs
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proud uncle
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 1576
Loc: Central Texas
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Initially, when I saw this thread, I would have given my vote for Albireo, but I had observed it more than Almach (Gamma And). Last night I revisited Almach for the first time this year. 
Quote:
Thats a tough one. I think i like them both. But i don't like optical doubles. Heard that whether alberio is a true binary is not certain. But if gamma And is a true binary i would prefer it. But its the deep love i have for Beta Cygni since it is one my first DS and that made me go whoah which makes is harder to decide.
Now I agree with this thinking.
I don't recall reading anything in this thread re. what powers you are using. It is an easy split. At 39x I had a "peanut". At 60x I had a clean split with definite black space between. To me, the primary was a brilliant yellow-orange with a blue secondary.
What PA are you finding in your observations? I estimated the PA last night to be 130 degrees, but EdZ lists 64 degrees. I'm guessing his source is the WDSC. I'm thinking my approach to estimating PAs is way off.
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Kenneth
Zhumell 10" Dobsonian (f/4.9)
2" 32mm WA eyepiece
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JohanK
super member
Reged: 05/21/07
Posts: 171
Loc: Ghent, Belgium
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Quote:
They are probably the two best of all the color-contrasting doubles in the night sky.
To make the podium complete... which would be third? Delta Cepheii?
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Johan
Orion XT10, Takahashi TSA-102
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
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Posts: 10494
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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WZ Cassiopeiae and h3945 are also worthy of consideration.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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asteroid7
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/19/04
Posts: 4238
Loc: CT
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The triple Beta Mon ain't bad
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Eyepieces:
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NerfMonkey
sage
Reged: 06/12/08
Posts: 482
Loc: NE Ohio
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Dabih is beautiful at low magnification and fits in the same field as Algedi in binoculars.
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Mike
Zhumell 12", Oberwerk 15x70s
107 Messiers, 247 total DSOs, 6 planets, 1 comet
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cuzimthedaughter
cuzimthegenius
Reged: 08/14/07
Posts: 422
Loc: Touristville, CA
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Quote:
Well, the two can be compared numerically:
ALMACH (Gamma And.), R.A. 2h 3.90m Dec. +42d 19.8'
Primary: mag. 2.2 sp. K3III, Secondary: mag. 4.8 sp. B8V
Sep. 9.8" arc, P.A. 64 deg. (mag. 6.3 companion of Gamma-B at 0.4" arc, p.a. 103 deg., closing separation).
Colors seen in 10 inch: Yellow (Gold) and light blue.
ALBIREO (Beta Cyg) 19h 30.72m Dec. +27d 57.6'
Primary: mag. 3.1 sp. K3II Secondary: mag. 5.1 sp. B8V
Sep. 34.3" arc P.A. 54 deg.
Colors seen in 10 inch: Yellow and light blue.
I only picked up a portion of this...would someone mind translating for me?  
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Celestron Nexstar 8SE (AKA Rachael); Orion Stratus 13mm & 17mm EPs; Green Light Saber; and a lot of other bank account draining accessories to go with her!
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KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
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Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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RA-right ascension and DEC-declination are the celestial coordinates of the location of this binary system.
Primary is the brightest star. MAG is the magnitude or apparent brightness.
SP-spectral type of the star.
SEP-is the separation of the two components and in this example,in ARC seconds.
P.A.-position angle of the secondary star in relation to the primary.
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Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
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Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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Quote:
The triple Beta Mon ain't bad
That's correct. However, it's not colorful.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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asteroid7
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/19/04
Posts: 4238
Loc: CT
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But they're all very bright
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Clear Nights "Make My Day"
4.5" f/7 APM (TMB) APO Refractor CG5 GoTo with Orion extension tube
8" Celestron CPC (two)
Eyepieces:
40mm Pentax; 24mm Tele Vue Panoptic, 18mm Tele Vue Radian, 18mm HD Ortho, 15mm Celestron Omini,14mm Pentax,10mm Tele Vue Radian, 7mm,5mm & 3.5mm Nagler; 7.4mm Tele Vue Plossl.
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Dave Mitsky
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Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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Omicron Cygni is a triple star with contrasting colors.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 10494
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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While I was observing last night at the ASH Naylor Observatory, I took a look at Omicron (31) Cygni with the club's 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain. As on past occasions, using a variety of telescopes, the stars appeared as yellow (not red), white, and blue to my eyes.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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fishonkevin
member
Reged: 04/29/07
Posts: 72
Loc: Michigan
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Albireo is a sentimental favorite for my wife and I. It is the first DS that I showed her, and we watch for it to rise every spring. I even designed our wedding rings with gems for the 2 colors.
Kevin
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Kevin
W.O. ZS 105
Meade AR-5
GM-8
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Rebel XT Modified
Quantaray 300mm Mirror Lens, Ziess 135mm, Sigma 24-60mm APO
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