Telescope Reviews: two nice doubles in Cygnus

Tonight with my 16x70, after viewing the most beautiful Alberio, I looked 6.5 degrees NE to 17 Cyg. This is a double star, separated by 26 arcsec, but with the very different brightnesses of 5.0 and 9.2 magnitude. Not hard though.

1 degree south of 17 is a bit of a mystery: a very similar double, but not shown double on Star Atlas 2000.0. This one is a little wider however, and I actually "discovered it" (go ahead somebody, tell me the Struves beat me) in a 10x50 and at first thought it must be 17, but later figured out it wasn't.

These two make a nice pair in the sharp part of the field of the 16x70. The sight is reminiscent of the "other double double in Lyra" that CESDewar recently told us about, but, the two having very different PAs, is not as delightfully confusing to look at. Hey, they're easier.

I don't know if 17 Cyg can be seen with a 10x50. I didn't notice it the night I wandered upon the unknown star to the immediate south. I bet it would be kind of tough and will try it next time I get a chance.
Ron

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