|
Clouds prevailed all day Monday but by nightfall the skies cleared. I haven't used my 5" refractor in a while, so I thought I'd chase down some double stars. Without a doubt the most challenging was Sirius. The only way I could see the companion was using my occulting bar-modified Edmund RKE 12.5mm and a Tele Vue 5X Barlow lens.?
?
List: 25/02/10 Takahashi TSA-120?
Venus
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:34:11?PM
Comment: Now at 30% illuminated, Venus exhibited quite a bit thinner crescent than a week ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
?
35 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:38:09?PM
Comment: Struve 12
11.5"?
Pretty pair of stars. The primary is blue-white, and the secondary is deep blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
34 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:39:27?PM
Comment: Struve 5
7"?
Close pair with magnitude contrast. The primary is 5.4 magnitude and the secondary 9.5.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 79%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
42 Piscium
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:40:42?PM
Comment: Struve 27
30"
Although widely separated I was not able to see the 11.5 magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 2714
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:43:22?PM
Comment: Struve 32
29"
Although a wide pair, the primary is 6.8 magnitude, and the secondary is a faint 10.6 magnitude.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Iota Cancri
(Variable Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:56:14?PM
Comment: Struve 1268
30"
An absolutely gorgeous pair of stars, with colors much like Alberiro in the summer sky. The magnitude 4th primary is deep gold, and the 6th magnitude secondary is powder blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 74348
(Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:59:16?PM
Comment: Struve 1166
23"
A 9th magnitude primary and an even fainter 10th magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2301
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:07:02?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, 6th magnitude open cluster of about 30 stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
SAO 114308
(Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:09:45?PM
Comment: Nice triple star, but the third component is challenging at 11.5 magnitude especially on a nearly full moon night?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Trapezium - Theta1 Ori
(Variable Double Star in Orion)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:12:07?PM
Comment: I was able to see the fifth Trapezium easily. The sixth was more challenging, but I was able to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Sirius - Alpha CMa
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:23:44?PM
Comment: After multiple tries, I finally saw The Pup. The only way I was able to see it was using the 12.5mm Edmund RKE occulting bar eyepiece and a Tele Vue 5x Powermate Barlow at 350x. Since I don¡¯t have a motor drive, I let Sirius drift towards the coating bar. When I failed to see it, I¡¯d let it drift again, and then again, and then again. Finally I split it. The pair have been closing for the past few years, so it¡¯s even more difficult now than just a few years ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Phact - Alpha Col
(Variable Double Star in Columba)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:31:44?PM
Comment: There is nothing special about this star, except it might be one of the furthest south I¡¯ve seen from my backyard.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 40864
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:33:38?PM
Comment: Struve 832
23"
An easy pair to split but the secondary is faint at magnitude 10.6
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 41532
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:36:07?PM
Comment: Struve 843
23"
Easy pair to split but the primary is 8.3 magnitude and the secondary is 11.2. I was able to see the secondary with averted vision?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 49546
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:38:29?PM
Comment: Nice pair of equally bright blue stars. The primary has another 1.2" component which I was able to see. Fortunately, they were equal in brightness as well?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:47:53?PM
Comment: M 47 never fails to impress, especially in a refractor with sharp, crisp star images?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
2 Puppis
(Double Star in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:50:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1138
16.7"
Blue-white primary and a pale blue secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:51:40?PM
Comment: It's amazing how faint M 46 looks in a 5" refractor compared to the 25". I could barely see the open cluster, much less the embedded planetary nebula. Of course, on this night the moon was nearly full.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HR 2883
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:55:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1112
24"
An easily split pair but the secondary is 9.5 magnitude, so a bit challenging on a full moon night. SkySafari shows the secondary as 8.7 magnitude, but it looks more like 10.5 to me.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8Transparency: 9
?
HR 2859
(Variable Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:00:29?PM
Comment: A pretty gold star with a blue secondary. The primary has a 0.7" companion, but I could not see it. The pair lies next to the open cluster NGC 2396.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 61275
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:13:55?PM
Comment: Otto Struve 176
1.6"
This is one of Agnes Clarke's picks. It's hardly a show object but I was able to split the pair?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 59538
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:16:04?PM
Comment: Struve 1103
3.9"
A pretty pair of close stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
|
Sirius has gotten much harder this year than the past two years. I looked it up on Sky Tools but can't tell how accurate they are as it varied only 0.01 arc seconds. Impossible to notice that visually. If you believe AI it takes 50 years to complete an orbit that varies from 3 to 11 arc seconds. All I know is that it seems harder this go around.
I hate the weather predictions. Kent and I had agreed to observe together pending decent weather. The forecasts were absolutely no help, all over the place. At 6:30 it looked bad but by 7 or 7:30 it was actually pretty good. Too late to travel and set up. When this happens I set up on the balcony withe the three inch SV. It is an easy set up and an easy take down if it goes to pot.
I did see Mars and it was fairly good but getting smaller now. This year will not be one for the books. Did do some doubles that were fun.
57 Cancri, STF 1291, close and even. 6th magnitude for both at 1.5 arc seconds. That is pretty good for a 3 inch.
Iota UMa another tough surprise. 3.13/ 9.2 ? 2.3 arc seconds. That surprised me. I thought it might be beyond the range of the 3 inch but I did do it using a 3.3TOE in good seeing.
66 CNC. I had written that off the last time I looked but last night I did split it. 5.95/8.56? 4.4 arc seconds.
38 Lynx 3.92/6.09? 2.6 arc seconds. The fourth surprise.
I did several more wide doubles for fun. It sure was cold last night. I got fed up around 9:45 and packed up. The sky here is much worse than Kent's place. Too many of the ubiquitous strip malls Virginia Beach is rightly famous for between us.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 09:12:09 AM EST, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
Clouds prevailed all day Monday but by nightfall the skies cleared. I haven't used my 5" refractor in a while, so I thought I'd chase down some double stars. Without a doubt the most challenging was Sirius. The only way I could see the companion was using my occulting bar-modified Edmund RKE 12.5mm and a Tele Vue 5X Barlow lens.?
?
List: 25/02/10 Takahashi TSA-120?
Venus
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:34:11?PM
Comment: Now at 30% illuminated, Venus exhibited quite a bit thinner crescent than a week ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
?
35 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:38:09?PM
Comment: Struve 12
11.5"?
Pretty pair of stars. The primary is blue-white, and the secondary is deep blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
34 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:39:27?PM
Comment: Struve 5
7"?
Close pair with magnitude contrast. The primary is 5.4 magnitude and the secondary 9.5.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 79%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
42 Piscium
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:40:42?PM
Comment: Struve 27
30"
Although widely separated I was not able to see the 11.5 magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 2714
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:43:22?PM
Comment: Struve 32
29"
Although a wide pair, the primary is 6.8 magnitude, and the secondary is a faint 10.6 magnitude.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Iota Cancri
(Variable Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:56:14?PM
Comment: Struve 1268
30"
An absolutely gorgeous pair of stars, with colors much like Alberiro in the summer sky. The magnitude 4th primary is deep gold, and the 6th magnitude secondary is powder blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 74348
(Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:59:16?PM
Comment: Struve 1166
23"
A 9th magnitude primary and an even fainter 10th magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2301
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:07:02?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, 6th magnitude open cluster of about 30 stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
SAO 114308
(Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:09:45?PM
Comment: Nice triple star, but the third component is challenging at 11.5 magnitude especially on a nearly full moon night?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Trapezium - Theta1 Ori
(Variable Double Star in Orion)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:12:07?PM
Comment: I was able to see the fifth Trapezium easily. The sixth was more challenging, but I was able to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Sirius - Alpha CMa
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:23:44?PM
Comment: After multiple tries, I finally saw The Pup. The only way I was able to see it was using the 12.5mm Edmund RKE occulting bar eyepiece and a Tele Vue 5x Powermate Barlow at 350x. Since I don¡¯t have a motor drive, I let Sirius drift towards the coating bar. When I failed to see it, I¡¯d let it drift again, and then again, and then again. Finally I split it. The pair have been closing for the past few years, so it¡¯s even more difficult now than just a few years ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Phact - Alpha Col
(Variable Double Star in Columba)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:31:44?PM
Comment: There is nothing special about this star, except it might be one of the furthest south I¡¯ve seen from my backyard.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 40864
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:33:38?PM
Comment: Struve 832
23"
An easy pair to split but the secondary is faint at magnitude 10.6
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 41532
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:36:07?PM
Comment: Struve 843
23"
Easy pair to split but the primary is 8.3 magnitude and the secondary is 11.2. I was able to see the secondary with averted vision?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 49546
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:38:29?PM
Comment: Nice pair of equally bright blue stars. The primary has another 1.2" component which I was able to see. Fortunately, they were equal in brightness as well?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:47:53?PM
Comment: M 47 never fails to impress, especially in a refractor with sharp, crisp star images?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
2 Puppis
(Double Star in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:50:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1138
16.7"
Blue-white primary and a pale blue secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:51:40?PM
Comment: It's amazing how faint M 46 looks in a 5" refractor compared to the 25". I could barely see the open cluster, much less the embedded planetary nebula. Of course, on this night the moon was nearly full.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HR 2883
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:55:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1112
24"
An easily split pair but the secondary is 9.5 magnitude, so a bit challenging on a full moon night. SkySafari shows the secondary as 8.7 magnitude, but it looks more like 10.5 to me.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8Transparency: 9
?
HR 2859
(Variable Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:00:29?PM
Comment: A pretty gold star with a blue secondary. The primary has a 0.7" companion, but I could not see it. The pair lies next to the open cluster NGC 2396.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 61275
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:13:55?PM
Comment: Otto Struve 176
1.6"
This is one of Agnes Clarke's picks. It's hardly a show object but I was able to split the pair?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 59538
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:16:04?PM
Comment: Struve 1103
3.9"
A pretty pair of close stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
|
Very nice list, Kent ¨C thanks. ?I¡¯d just like to add that the wonderful colors seen visually in double stars can vary with conditions and the observer¡¯s eye, at least. ?The variation adds to the attraction ¨C what colors will you see? ?For example, the last time I was out I also observed Iota Cancri, also with a 5¡± refractor. ?For me that night, the primary star was yellowish and the secondary a beautiful deep blue, rather than your observed deep gold and powder blue. ?Either way a marvelously colored double. ?I look forward to seeing it again.
On 02/11/2025 9:12 AM EST Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
?
?
Clouds prevailed all day Monday but by nightfall the skies cleared. I haven't used my 5" refractor in a while, so I thought I'd chase down some double stars. Without a doubt the most challenging was Sirius. The only way I could see the companion was using my occulting bar-modified Edmund RKE 12.5mm and a Tele Vue 5X Barlow lens.?
?
List: 25/02/10 Takahashi TSA-120?
Venus
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:34:11?PM
Comment: Now at 30% illuminated, Venus exhibited quite a bit thinner crescent than a week ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
?
35 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:38:09?PM
Comment: Struve 12
11.5"?
Pretty pair of stars. The primary is blue-white, and the secondary is deep blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
34 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:39:27?PM
Comment: Struve 5
7"?
Close pair with magnitude contrast. The primary is 5.4 magnitude and the secondary 9.5.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 79%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
42 Piscium
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:40:42?PM
Comment: Struve 27
30"
Although widely separated I was not able to see the 11.5 magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 2714
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:43:22?PM
Comment: Struve 32
29"
Although a wide pair, the primary is 6.8 magnitude, and the secondary is a faint 10.6 magnitude.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Iota Cancri
(Variable Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:56:14?PM
Comment: Struve 1268
30"
An absolutely gorgeous pair of stars, with colors much like Alberiro in the summer sky. The magnitude 4th primary is deep gold, and the 6th magnitude secondary is powder blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 74348
(Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:59:16?PM
Comment: Struve 1166
23"
A 9th magnitude primary and an even fainter 10th magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2301
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:07:02?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, 6th magnitude open cluster of about 30 stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
SAO 114308
(Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:09:45?PM
Comment: Nice triple star, but the third component is challenging at 11.5 magnitude especially on a nearly full moon night?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Trapezium - Theta1 Ori
(Variable Double Star in Orion)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:12:07?PM
Comment: I was able to see the fifth Trapezium easily. The sixth was more challenging, but I was able to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Sirius - Alpha CMa
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:23:44?PM
Comment: After multiple tries, I finally saw The Pup. The only way I was able to see it was using the 12.5mm Edmund RKE occulting bar eyepiece and a Tele Vue 5x Powermate Barlow at 350x. Since I don¡¯t have a motor drive, I let Sirius drift towards the coating bar. When I failed to see it, I¡¯d let it drift again, and then again, and then again. Finally I split it. The pair have been closing for the past few years, so it¡¯s even more difficult now than just a few years ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Phact - Alpha Col
(Variable Double Star in Columba)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:31:44?PM
Comment: There is nothing special about this star, except it might be one of the furthest south I¡¯ve seen from my backyard.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 40864
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:33:38?PM
Comment: Struve 832
23"
An easy pair to split but the secondary is faint at magnitude 10.6
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 41532
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:36:07?PM
Comment: Struve 843
23"
Easy pair to split but the primary is 8.3 magnitude and the secondary is 11.2. I was able to see the secondary with averted vision?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 49546
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:38:29?PM
Comment: Nice pair of equally bright blue stars. The primary has another 1.2" component which I was able to see. Fortunately, they were equal in brightness as well?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:47:53?PM
Comment: M 47 never fails to impress, especially in a refractor with sharp, crisp star images?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
2 Puppis
(Double Star in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:50:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1138
16.7"
Blue-white primary and a pale blue secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:51:40?PM
Comment: It's amazing how faint M 46 looks in a 5" refractor compared to the 25". I could barely see the open cluster, much less the embedded planetary nebula. Of course, on this night the moon was nearly full.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HR 2883
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:55:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1112
24"
An easily split pair but the secondary is 9.5 magnitude, so a bit challenging on a full moon night. SkySafari shows the secondary as 8.7 magnitude, but it looks more like 10.5 to me.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8Transparency: 9
?
HR 2859
(Variable Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:00:29?PM
Comment: A pretty gold star with a blue secondary. The primary has a 0.7" companion, but I could not see it. The pair lies next to the open cluster NGC 2396.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 61275
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:13:55?PM
Comment: Otto Struve 176
1.6"
This is one of Agnes Clarke's picks. It's hardly a show object but I was able to split the pair?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 59538
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:16:04?PM
Comment: Struve 1103
3.9"
A pretty pair of close stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
|
Good point Roy. Not only does the eye perceive color (when it can) in a highly individualistic way, add in the physical variation in many cooler variable stars. Then mix in different glass characteristics and designs and you get almost infinite stellar possibilities, except maybe green which is impossible no matter what Kent sees in planetary nebula  .
Having done a bit of public astronomy at the late planetarium, one thing I have noted is how well children, untrained and refreshingly free of indoctrination, nail colors with no prompting effortlessly. Adults a lot less so. Many have to be prompted to see it. The tick of defocussing the star image can help sometimes. Like all tricks results may vary by user.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 12:03:25 PM EST, Roy Diffrient <mail@...> wrote:
Very nice list, Kent ¨C thanks. ?I¡¯d just like to add that the wonderful colors seen visually in double stars can vary with conditions and the observer¡¯s eye, at least. ?The variation adds to the attraction ¨C what colors will you see? ?For example, the last time I was out I also observed Iota Cancri, also with a 5¡± refractor. ?For me that night, the primary star was yellowish and the secondary a beautiful deep blue, rather than your observed deep gold and powder blue. ?Either way a marvelously colored double. ?I look forward to seeing it again.
On 02/11/2025 9:12 AM EST Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
?
?
Clouds prevailed all day Monday but by nightfall the skies cleared. I haven't used my 5" refractor in a while, so I thought I'd chase down some double stars. Without a doubt the most challenging was Sirius. The only way I could see the companion was using my occulting bar-modified Edmund RKE 12.5mm and a Tele Vue 5X Barlow lens.?
?
List: 25/02/10 Takahashi TSA-120?
Venus
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:34:11?PM
Comment: Now at 30% illuminated, Venus exhibited quite a bit thinner crescent than a week ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
?
35 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:38:09?PM
Comment: Struve 12
11.5"?
Pretty pair of stars. The primary is blue-white, and the secondary is deep blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
34 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:39:27?PM
Comment: Struve 5
7"?
Close pair with magnitude contrast. The primary is 5.4 magnitude and the secondary 9.5.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 79%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
42 Piscium
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:40:42?PM
Comment: Struve 27
30"
Although widely separated I was not able to see the 11.5 magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 2714
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:43:22?PM
Comment: Struve 32
29"
Although a wide pair, the primary is 6.8 magnitude, and the secondary is a faint 10.6 magnitude.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Iota Cancri
(Variable Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:56:14?PM
Comment: Struve 1268
30"
An absolutely gorgeous pair of stars, with colors much like Alberiro in the summer sky. The magnitude 4th primary is deep gold, and the 6th magnitude secondary is powder blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 74348
(Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:59:16?PM
Comment: Struve 1166
23"
A 9th magnitude primary and an even fainter 10th magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2301
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:07:02?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, 6th magnitude open cluster of about 30 stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
SAO 114308
(Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:09:45?PM
Comment: Nice triple star, but the third component is challenging at 11.5 magnitude especially on a nearly full moon night?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Trapezium - Theta1 Ori
(Variable Double Star in Orion)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:12:07?PM
Comment: I was able to see the fifth Trapezium easily. The sixth was more challenging, but I was able to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Sirius - Alpha CMa
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:23:44?PM
Comment: After multiple tries, I finally saw The Pup. The only way I was able to see it was using the 12.5mm Edmund RKE occulting bar eyepiece and a Tele Vue 5x Powermate Barlow at 350x. Since I don¡¯t have a motor drive, I let Sirius drift towards the coating bar. When I failed to see it, I¡¯d let it drift again, and then again, and then again. Finally I split it. The pair have been closing for the past few years, so it¡¯s even more difficult now than just a few years ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Phact - Alpha Col
(Variable Double Star in Columba)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:31:44?PM
Comment: There is nothing special about this star, except it might be one of the furthest south I¡¯ve seen from my backyard.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 40864
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:33:38?PM
Comment: Struve 832
23"
An easy pair to split but the secondary is faint at magnitude 10.6
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 41532
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:36:07?PM
Comment: Struve 843
23"
Easy pair to split but the primary is 8.3 magnitude and the secondary is 11.2. I was able to see the secondary with averted vision?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 49546
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:38:29?PM
Comment: Nice pair of equally bright blue stars. The primary has another 1.2" component which I was able to see. Fortunately, they were equal in brightness as well?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:47:53?PM
Comment: M 47 never fails to impress, especially in a refractor with sharp, crisp star images?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
2 Puppis
(Double Star in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:50:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1138
16.7"
Blue-white primary and a pale blue secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:51:40?PM
Comment: It's amazing how faint M 46 looks in a 5" refractor compared to the 25". I could barely see the open cluster, much less the embedded planetary nebula. Of course, on this night the moon was nearly full.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HR 2883
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:55:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1112
24"
An easily split pair but the secondary is 9.5 magnitude, so a bit challenging on a full moon night. SkySafari shows the secondary as 8.7 magnitude, but it looks more like 10.5 to me.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8Transparency: 9
?
HR 2859
(Variable Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:00:29?PM
Comment: A pretty gold star with a blue secondary. The primary has a 0.7" companion, but I could not see it. The pair lies next to the open cluster NGC 2396.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 61275
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:13:55?PM
Comment: Otto Struve 176
1.6"
This is one of Agnes Clarke's picks. It's hardly a show object but I was able to split the pair?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 59538
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:16:04?PM
Comment: Struve 1103
3.9"
A pretty pair of close stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
|
Even appearing green I¡¯m told ¨C the combination of blue and yellow starlight.
On 02/11/2025 2:06 PM EST jimcoble2000 via groups.io <jimcoble2000@...> wrote:
?
?
?
Good point Roy. Not only does the eye perceive color (when it can) in a highly individualistic way, add in the physical variation in many cooler variable stars. Then mix in different glass characteristics and designs and you get almost infinite stellar possibilities, except maybe green which is impossible no matter what Kent sees in planetary nebula ![Emoji]() .
?
Having done a bit of public astronomy at the late planetarium, one thing I have noted is how well children, untrained and refreshingly free of indoctrination, nail colors with no prompting effortlessly. Adults a lot less so. Many have to be prompted to see it. The tick of defocussing the star image can help sometimes. Like all tricks results may vary by user.
?
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 12:03:25 PM EST, Roy Diffrient <mail@...> wrote:
?
?
Very nice list, Kent ¨C thanks. ?I¡¯d just like to add that the wonderful colors seen visually in double stars can vary with conditions and the observer¡¯s eye, at least. ?The variation adds to the attraction ¨C what colors will you see? ?For example, the last time I was out I also observed Iota Cancri, also with a 5¡± refractor. ?For me that night, the primary star was yellowish and the secondary a beautiful deep blue, rather than your observed deep gold and powder blue. ?Either way a marvelously colored double. ?I look forward to seeing it again.
On 02/11/2025 9:12 AM EST Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
?
?
Clouds prevailed all day Monday but by nightfall the skies cleared. I haven't used my 5" refractor in a while, so I thought I'd chase down some double stars. Without a doubt the most challenging was Sirius. The only way I could see the companion was using my occulting bar-modified Edmund RKE 12.5mm and a Tele Vue 5X Barlow lens.?
?
List: 25/02/10 Takahashi TSA-120?
Venus
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:34:11?PM
Comment: Now at 30% illuminated, Venus exhibited quite a bit thinner crescent than a week ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
?
35 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:38:09?PM
Comment: Struve 12
11.5"?
Pretty pair of stars. The primary is blue-white, and the secondary is deep blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
34 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:39:27?PM
Comment: Struve 5
7"?
Close pair with magnitude contrast. The primary is 5.4 magnitude and the secondary 9.5.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 79%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
42 Piscium
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:40:42?PM
Comment: Struve 27
30"
Although widely separated I was not able to see the 11.5 magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 2714
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:43:22?PM
Comment: Struve 32
29"
Although a wide pair, the primary is 6.8 magnitude, and the secondary is a faint 10.6 magnitude.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Iota Cancri
(Variable Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:56:14?PM
Comment: Struve 1268
30"
An absolutely gorgeous pair of stars, with colors much like Alberiro in the summer sky. The magnitude 4th primary is deep gold, and the 6th magnitude secondary is powder blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 74348
(Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:59:16?PM
Comment: Struve 1166
23"
A 9th magnitude primary and an even fainter 10th magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2301
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:07:02?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, 6th magnitude open cluster of about 30 stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
SAO 114308
(Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:09:45?PM
Comment: Nice triple star, but the third component is challenging at 11.5 magnitude especially on a nearly full moon night?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
Trapezium - Theta1 Ori
(Variable Double Star in Orion)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:12:07?PM
Comment: I was able to see the fifth Trapezium easily. The sixth was more challenging, but I was able to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Sirius - Alpha CMa
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:23:44?PM
Comment: After multiple tries, I finally saw The Pup. The only way I was able to see it was using the 12.5mm Edmund RKE occulting bar eyepiece and a Tele Vue 5x Powermate Barlow at 350x. Since I don¡¯t have a motor drive, I let Sirius drift towards the coating bar. When I failed to see it, I¡¯d let it drift again, and then again, and then again. Finally I split it. The pair have been closing for the past few years, so it¡¯s even more difficult now than just a few years ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Phact - Alpha Col
(Variable Double Star in Columba)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:31:44?PM
Comment: There is nothing special about this star, except it might be one of the furthest south I¡¯ve seen from my backyard.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 40864
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:33:38?PM
Comment: Struve 832
23"
An easy pair to split but the secondary is faint at magnitude 10.6
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 41532
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:36:07?PM
Comment: Struve 843
23"
Easy pair to split but the primary is 8.3 magnitude and the secondary is 11.2. I was able to see the secondary with averted vision?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 49546
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:38:29?PM
Comment: Nice pair of equally bright blue stars. The primary has another 1.2" component which I was able to see. Fortunately, they were equal in brightness as well?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:47:53?PM
Comment: M 47 never fails to impress, especially in a refractor with sharp, crisp star images?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
2 Puppis
(Double Star in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:50:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1138
16.7"
Blue-white primary and a pale blue secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:51:40?PM
Comment: It's amazing how faint M 46 looks in a 5" refractor compared to the 25". I could barely see the open cluster, much less the embedded planetary nebula. Of course, on this night the moon was nearly full.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HR 2883
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:55:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1112
24"
An easily split pair but the secondary is 9.5 magnitude, so a bit challenging on a full moon night. SkySafari shows the secondary as 8.7 magnitude, but it looks more like 10.5 to me.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8Transparency: 9
?
HR 2859
(Variable Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:00:29?PM
Comment: A pretty gold star with a blue secondary. The primary has a 0.7" companion, but I could not see it. The pair lies next to the open cluster NGC 2396.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
?
HD 61275
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:13:55?PM
Comment: Otto Struve 176
1.6"
This is one of Agnes Clarke's picks. It's hardly a show object but I was able to split the pair?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
HD 59538
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:16:04?PM
Comment: Struve 1103
3.9"
A pretty pair of close stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
?
?
|
It is in the wording of the problem. I meant that green stellar color is intrinsically impossible but the perceptive illusion is possible. The trick is how you perceive color. No star has any color as they emit across the spectrum. Color is not an intrinsic property of stars but how the brain interprets what it "sees". The peak emission is what the brain filters the information as.? Some multiple stars can be "perceived" as green due to close proximity but any single star itself cannot be green due to physics and how the eye works.
Antares is a good example as the companion can be seen as green appearing, I have seen it that way myself. But it can't be green, or any other color physically. All an illusion or product of our perception systems. If a star could be green it could not be seen as such green peak emission lies at 4000K in the black body diagram. Outside of visible range. It would just look white. Red orange yellow and light blue perceptions are possible though.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 03:29:32 PM EST, Roy Diffrient <mail@...> wrote:
Even appearing green I¡¯m told ¨C the combination of blue and yellow starlight.
On 02/11/2025 2:06 PM EST jimcoble2000 via groups.io <jimcoble2000@...> wrote:
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Good point Roy. Not only does the eye perceive color (when it can) in a highly individualistic way, add in the physical variation in many cooler variable stars. Then mix in different glass characteristics and designs and you get almost infinite stellar possibilities, except maybe green which is impossible no matter what Kent sees in planetary nebula ![Emoji]() .
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Having done a bit of public astronomy at the late planetarium, one thing I have noted is how well children, untrained and refreshingly free of indoctrination, nail colors with no prompting effortlessly. Adults a lot less so. Many have to be prompted to see it. The tick of defocussing the star image can help sometimes. Like all tricks results may vary by user.
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On Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 12:03:25 PM EST, Roy Diffrient <mail@...> wrote:
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Very nice list, Kent ¨C thanks. ?I¡¯d just like to add that the wonderful colors seen visually in double stars can vary with conditions and the observer¡¯s eye, at least. ?The variation adds to the attraction ¨C what colors will you see? ?For example, the last time I was out I also observed Iota Cancri, also with a 5¡± refractor. ?For me that night, the primary star was yellowish and the secondary a beautiful deep blue, rather than your observed deep gold and powder blue. ?Either way a marvelously colored double. ?I look forward to seeing it again.
On 02/11/2025 9:12 AM EST Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:
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Clouds prevailed all day Monday but by nightfall the skies cleared. I haven't used my 5" refractor in a while, so I thought I'd chase down some double stars. Without a doubt the most challenging was Sirius. The only way I could see the companion was using my occulting bar-modified Edmund RKE 12.5mm and a Tele Vue 5X Barlow lens.?
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List: 25/02/10 Takahashi TSA-120?
Venus
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:34:11?PM
Comment: Now at 30% illuminated, Venus exhibited quite a bit thinner crescent than a week ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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35 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:38:09?PM
Comment: Struve 12
11.5"?
Pretty pair of stars. The primary is blue-white, and the secondary is deep blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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34 Piscium
(Variable Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:39:27?PM
Comment: Struve 5
7"?
Close pair with magnitude contrast. The primary is 5.4 magnitude and the secondary 9.5.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 79%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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42 Piscium
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:40:42?PM
Comment: Struve 27
30"
Although widely separated I was not able to see the 11.5 magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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HD 2714
(Double Star in Pisces)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:43:22?PM
Comment: Struve 32
29"
Although a wide pair, the primary is 6.8 magnitude, and the secondary is a faint 10.6 magnitude.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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Iota Cancri
(Variable Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:56:14?PM
Comment: Struve 1268
30"
An absolutely gorgeous pair of stars, with colors much like Alberiro in the summer sky. The magnitude 4th primary is deep gold, and the 6th magnitude secondary is powder blue?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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HD 74348
(Double Star in Cancer)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 7:59:16?PM
Comment: Struve 1166
23"
A 9th magnitude primary and an even fainter 10th magnitude secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2301
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:07:02?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, 6th magnitude open cluster of about 30 stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
SAO 114308
(Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:09:45?PM
Comment: Nice triple star, but the third component is challenging at 11.5 magnitude especially on a nearly full moon night?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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Trapezium - Theta1 Ori
(Variable Double Star in Orion)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:12:07?PM
Comment: I was able to see the fifth Trapezium easily. The sixth was more challenging, but I was able to see it.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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Sirius - Alpha CMa
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:23:44?PM
Comment: After multiple tries, I finally saw The Pup. The only way I was able to see it was using the 12.5mm Edmund RKE occulting bar eyepiece and a Tele Vue 5x Powermate Barlow at 350x. Since I don¡¯t have a motor drive, I let Sirius drift towards the coating bar. When I failed to see it, I¡¯d let it drift again, and then again, and then again. Finally I split it. The pair have been closing for the past few years, so it¡¯s even more difficult now than just a few years ago.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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Phact - Alpha Col
(Variable Double Star in Columba)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:31:44?PM
Comment: There is nothing special about this star, except it might be one of the furthest south I¡¯ve seen from my backyard.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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HD 40864
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:33:38?PM
Comment: Struve 832
23"
An easy pair to split but the secondary is faint at magnitude 10.6
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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HD 41532
(Double Star in Lepus)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:36:07?PM
Comment: Struve 843
23"
Easy pair to split but the primary is 8.3 magnitude and the secondary is 11.2. I was able to see the secondary with averted vision?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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HD 49546
(Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:38:29?PM
Comment: Nice pair of equally bright blue stars. The primary has another 1.2" component which I was able to see. Fortunately, they were equal in brightness as well?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:47:53?PM
Comment: M 47 never fails to impress, especially in a refractor with sharp, crisp star images?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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2 Puppis
(Double Star in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:50:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1138
16.7"
Blue-white primary and a pale blue secondary?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:51:40?PM
Comment: It's amazing how faint M 46 looks in a 5" refractor compared to the 25". I could barely see the open cluster, much less the embedded planetary nebula. Of course, on this night the moon was nearly full.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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HR 2883
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 8:55:07?PM
Comment: Struve 1112
24"
An easily split pair but the secondary is 9.5 magnitude, so a bit challenging on a full moon night. SkySafari shows the secondary as 8.7 magnitude, but it looks more like 10.5 to me.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 53¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8Transparency: 9
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HR 2859
(Variable Double Star in Canis Major)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:00:29?PM
Comment: A pretty gold star with a blue secondary. The primary has a 0.7" companion, but I could not see it. The pair lies next to the open cluster NGC 2396.
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 8
Transparency: 9
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HD 61275
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:13:55?PM
Comment: Otto Struve 176
1.6"
This is one of Agnes Clarke's picks. It's hardly a show object but I was able to split the pair?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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HD 59538
(Double Star in Canis Minor)
Observed: Feb 10, 2025 at 9:16:04?PM
Comment: Struve 1103
3.9"
A pretty pair of close stars?
Location: Virginia Beach Moon 97% SQML 17.6 35¡ã H 70%
Equipment: 120mm F/7.5 Takahashi, 5mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
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Kent Blackwell
