601 replies to this topic

[Fiske]

Thank you for this wonderful observing report, Jordan. 

 

A few weeks ago, when I was observing Porrima, I noticed Corvus peeking over trees to the south, and maneuvered to get a better angle on it. (One of my favorite constellations.) I was able to view M 104 (the Sombrero Galaxy) as a faint smudge with the Highlander Fluorite -- detecting any galaxy visually from an urban yard is a triumph. 

 

I also viewed STF 1669 / VV Corvi, which is a wonderful binocular telescope double. A BT headliner double in urban skies.

 

STF 1664 is sort of a guide to M 104 for me -- a fine grouping of doubles. I don't think I have ever viewed the C/D components, though. That would be worth deploying more aperture. And maybe a sketch. 

 

Elgafar seems like a nice test for the 120 EON. I will give that a try.

Edited by Fiske, 28 May 2024 - 07:55 AM.

[Fiske]

. . .

 

Going back towards UMi I found a couple of other fun doubles for BTs:

STF 1846 AB (Elgafar)

14h 28m 12.22s -02° 13' 40.6" P.A. 111.00 sep 5.2 mag 4.92,10.02 Sp G2III dist. 36.26 pc (118.28 l.y.)

Yeah, pretty tough but when the sky is good (like it was tonight) you can see some pretty interesting doubles. This one is for the bigger BTs and/or support telescopes but it is rewarding!

 

. . .

So STF 1846 is in Virgo. Is it just me, or does Elgafar sound like it should be the name of an elf in Lord of the Rings? 

 

Looking at that in Sky Safari (which disappointingly does not include the name of the star) I noticed the globular cluster NGC 5634 four degrees to the south. The only globular in Virgo. I somehow didn't realize Virgo had even a single globular cluster. It's small (5.5 arcmin) but ninth magnitude, so it might be detectable from urban skies with a BT. A worthy urban astronomy challenge/adventure at any rate. 

Edited by Fiske, 28 May 2024 - 10:54 AM.

[jrazz]

So STF 1846 is in Virgo. Is it just me, or does Elgafar sound like it should be the name of an elf in Lord of the Rings? 

 

Looking at that in Sky Safari (which disappointingly does not include the name of the star) I noticed the globular cluster NGC 5634 four degrees to the south. The only globular in Virgo. I somehow didn't realize Virgo had even a single globular cluster. It's small (5.5 arcmin) but ninth magnitude, so it might be detectable from urban skies with a BT. A worthy urban astronomy challenge/adventure at any rate. 

Well funnily enough so did I (see NGC 5634) on the map and actually observed it!

 

My notes say that it looked like a fuzzy blob and could only be viewed in averted vision.

[Dale Smith]

Loving reading about your respective double star adventures in Virgo, Fiske and Jordan. Like Fiske, I’ve managed to see M104 here in my suburban/urban sky, as a faint smear at 20x and higher, mostly higher, including recently in the BT-82 at 32x. In comparison, at the Bortle 3 dark-sky site two weeks ago, it was readily apparent in “optically okay” budget 15x70s, handheld.

 

Will be visiting some of these double star pairings in the future. Thank you both!

[Fiske]

In addition to fun and frolic with a support telescope last night, I also enjoyed a few Canon 15x50 IS double stars.

 

STF 1850 / Bootes

7.09/7.56 sep 25.1"

 

A little south of the Sigma / Rho Bootis duo, which are a fine view in their own right.  Close but not tight. Both stars white. Primary slightly brighter. A nice double for the 15x50 IS.

 

I noticed several bright stars further to the south, just in view past the treeline, and realized it was Zubeneschamali and Zubenelgenubi in Libra. Checking one of my double star lists in Sky Safari (imported from stelledoppie), I noticed SHJ 202 and STF 1962 to the east of Zubeneschamali. 

 

SJH 202

6.86/7.61 sep 52.2"

 

Cozy but not close. Primary brighter and yellowish.

 

STF 1962

6.55/6.44 sep 11.7"

 

Evenly matched warm white stars resolved by a hair with the 15x50 IS. Close to my resolution limit with this binocular. A fantastic double for it.

Edited by Fiske, 07 June 2024 - 01:55 AM.

[jrazz]

I've been going around and picking the 15x doubles with the 12x 

 

Been fun trying. There is no doubt the CIS is a better doubles binocular though.

[Dale Smith]

You guys are stoking my interest in acquiring a Canon 15x50 IS (or an 18x50 IS) 

[Pezdragon]

It was fun splitting Graffias in Scorpius tonight. Blue pinprick  mag 5 secondary / 2.5 mag white primary 14” separation.

100mm BT @ 25x

Edited by Pezdragon, 07 June 2024 - 10:40 PM.

[Dale Smith]

I think I’m falling in love with binocular double stars 

 

This week I’ve viewed Albireo (an old favorite), Delta Lyrae, 61 Cygni, and Alpha Librae (Zubenelgenubi). Identifying Zubenelgenubi was an adventure, given sky conditions (haze) and local light pollution in my driveway.

 

Last night after the clouds closed in I stayed up pouring over The Pocket Sky Atlas, Double Stars for Small Telescopes, Discovering Double Stars and finally, The Cambridge Double Star Atlas. I was thinking I was looking at a double star in Virgo. The separation of the primary and secondary was great enough at 12x (Canon IS 12x36) I thought I was viewing an optical double, but no, this is the real deal, and a beautiful binary it is, the A component silver and the secondary straw-colored.

 

And yes, RA and DEC are now my new best friends. However, I also was comparing the binary’s position to Spica, of course visible naked-eye despite the terrible conditions and used that later to help triangulate (after a fashion) the location.

 

Couple this with support telescope splits of Porrima and the famous Double-Double a few days earlier, and yes, I’m falling in love with double stars, both binocular and telescopic. Binocular DS are especially fun because of the wider separation of such targets and the low power views that show those binaries in their star fields.

[Dale Smith]

More fun last night, using a BT-82 at 32x. I viewed Alpha Librae, Nu Scorpii, Rho Ophiuci, and Albireo and I can see why Fiske, Jordan, AZNuge and others here enjoy view binocular double stars in binocular telescopes. Beautiful color rendition, decent separation between the two members of a stellar pairing. 

[Fiske]

A nice thing about most doubles is you can relax and enjoy the view. No worries trying to tease out minor detail barely seen in averted vision. Resolving extreme doubles can be challenging, but one can always wait for Jordan's observing report. 

Edited by Fiske, 10 June 2024 - 04:35 PM.

[jrazz]

Unless you're trying to separate a 2" double that is 9-10 magnitude... 

 

Just sayin

[Fiske]

What is the limit at 9-10th magnitude?

 

[jrazz]

I didn't say it was a limit... I just find that dim, close doubles can be less relaxing

[Fiske]

Hey! I observed a fantastic 9-10th mag double Thursday evening. Have been meaning to post about it. 

[Fiske]

With the 100XL+20XWs. 

[jrazz]

2" separation? Impressive! 

[Fiske]

2" separation? Impressive! 

 

Closer to 11 seconds, but it's two red dwarfs only 11.4 LY away from our solar system. One of the closest double stars. Plus, the guide star is a fantastic 15x50 IS double. It was a highlight of my Lewis-Young session last Thursday. I'm wondering if I can observe it from the yard with the 120XL. 

 

I will post about it this evening. 

Edited by Fiske, 10 June 2024 - 07:49 PM.

[jrazz]

Cool!!!

I'd love to know which one it is. Sounds like something I would love.

[Fiske]

Cool!!!

I'd love to know which one it is. Sounds like something I would love.

STF 2398. The guide star is STF 2420 / Omicron Draconis. 

Edited by Fiske, 10 June 2024 - 08:00 PM.

[jrazz]

Nice!

I observed Omicron Draconis with the Oberwerk 20x65 on July 2nd 2022. I noted that I really liked it but that the secondary is far dimmer than the primary.

I need to revisit the area!

[Fiske]

Nice!

I observed Omicron Draconis with the Oberwerk 20x65 on July 2nd 2022. I noted that I really liked it but that the secondary is far dimmer than the primary.

I need to revisit the area!

There is always something else. Always something we didn't notice or realize was present in whatever star field when we viewed it, and then we come across it later, and are delighted.

 

 

STF 2420 / Omicron Dacronis

18h51m +59*23'

4.77/826 sep 37.6" pa 316*

 

Can be seen naked eye from Lewis-Young park. A striking double. Light orange primary with a white secondary at a generous distance. Primary much brighter.

 

STF 2398

18h42m +59*38'

9.11/9.96 sep 11.4" pa 180.8*

 

A pretty, delicate double in a lovely star field. The primary is deep yellow and the secondary has a ruddy tint. The primary is slightly brighter. Close but not tight at 28x.

Edited by Fiske, 10 June 2024 - 10:15 PM.

[jrazz]

Wonderful night. Nice and calm, not warm or cold, not many bugs, good stable air. Fun!

 

Mostly doubles but also a galaxy. All observed with the 64x100 EBT and the support telescope - FDC.

 

Start off with:

STF 1487 (54 Leo)

10h 55m 36.80s +24° 44' 59.0" P.A. 112.00 sep 6.6 mag 4.48,6.30 Sp A1V+A2Vn dist. 87.95 pc (286.89 l.y.)

What a gorgeous double! blue-yellow and really neat! I love these colorful doubles!

 

STF 1596 (2 Com)

12h 04m 16.60s +21° 27' 33.0" P.A. 234.00 sep 3.4 mag 6.18,7.48 Sp F0IV-V dist. 101.01 pc (329.49 l.y.)

Another super pretty blue-yellow double and even closer together. Still plenty of separation but starting to be challenging for the EBT. The support telescope has not broken a sweat yet!

 

STF 1650

12h 31m 32.99s +24° 37' 13.1" P.A. 178.00 sep 16.6 mag 9.54,10.47 Sp F6V

Wide (for me) but really dim double. Here the double eye EBT held an advantage though the FDC is so sharp and contrasty it pulls really close!

This one could be a great 15x50is double for darker skies

 

I stopped to peek at NGC 4494 which was surprisingly bright! I could easily see the core and the general shape of it. Wonderful binocular galaxy! (maybe we need a binocular galaxy thread )

I then looked at 16 Comae Berenices not because it's a double but because of the lovely triangle of stars around it. The geometry just drew me in!

 

Back to doubles now!

STF 1643 AB (HD 108421)

12h 27m 13.72s +27° 01' 29.6" P.A. 3.00 sep 2.8 mag 9.03,9.45 Sp K2 dist. 27.21 pc (88.76 l.y.)

Love this one! Sharp and not too bright. Very even. Perfect for the EBT!

 

Finally:

STF 1651 (HD 109054)

12h 31m 43.87s +27° 01' 03.3" P.A. 215.00 sep 7.0 mag 8.65,10.07 Sp G5

I'm really loving these "dimmer" doubles. They can be hard to spot with the Moon up but once you see them they resolve beautifully. 

 

I did observe some other things but this was the gist of my star travels. I really love the way the EBT is working out. Just simple and very immersive!

[Fiske]

. . .

 

I stopped to peek at NGC 4494 which was surprisingly bright! I could easily see the core and the general shape of it. Wonderful binocular galaxy! (maybe we need a binocular galaxy thread )

 

. . .

A binocular galaxy topic would be wonderful, Jordan. Please start one. 

 

And thank you for another fine report. 

 

  

[Trapezium]

There is always something else. Always something we didn't notice or realize was present in whatever star field when we viewed it, and then we come across it later, and are delighted.

 

 

STF 2420 / Omicron Dacronis

18h51m +59*23'

4.77/826 sep 37.6" pa 316*

 

Can be seen naked eye from Lewis-Young park. A striking double. Light orange primary with a white secondary at a generous distance. Primary much brighter.

 

STF 2398

18h42m +59*38'

9.11/9.96 sep 11.4" pa 180.8*

 

A pretty, delicate double in a lovely star field. The primary is deep yellow and the secondary has a ruddy tint. The primary is slightly brighter. Close but not tight at 28x.

I enjoyed both of these doubles last night with my BT-100XL @ 40x in suburban twilight, also viewing the Kemble 2 asterism 13 degrees east of Omicron Draconis; a mini Cassiopeia. Thanks Fiske!

Edited by Trapezium, 12 June 2024 - 08:16 AM.