23 august 2019

Conditions last night were really poor, 2/5 transparency and 5/10 seeing in the 20", 6/10 with the 8" mask. A lot of faint close pairs were smudges, and I tried for more pairs than I actually logged, since I did not see them. I got a late start, and I was a bit tired, so it's a small harvest. I stayed in the area east of M13:

STT 322: AB: 20" 333x: For certain can see it with 20" at 333x, but the star images are bloated due to seeing. The 8" inch mask cleans the image up but the B star is considerably fainter. 3-4 delta mag 1.5" with 333x in 8 inch. B star looks blue.
16h 59m 46.42s +36° 55' 17.0" P.A. 205 sep 1.4 mag 7.90,10.17 Sp A2 dist. 174.83 pc (570.3 l.y.)

J 739 AB: 20" 333x: I sensed elongation with the 8 inch mask at 333x, but it was a haze only flashing elongation with averted vision. With the 20 inch the a star resolved, orange, and the B was noticed at 3" but was considerably fainter, I would guess 1.5 to 2 delta mag.17h 01m 41.52s +34° 59' 02.3" P.A. 159 sep 2.8 mag 9.10,10.50

J 740 AB 20" 333x: Well spilt, obvious at 20" 333x light orange and yellow stars.
17h 03m 14.59s +34° 58' 55.6" P.A. 224 sep 2.8 mag 10.20,10.90

ES 634 AB: 20" 333x: Half delta mag, well split white orange and light orange stars
17h 04m 00.87s +42° 11' 46.9" P.A. 93 sep 2.1 mag 10.80,11.62

STT 324: AB: 20" 333x: ! Very interesting. At 20 inch the a star was orange and bloated with the seeing, did not notice a pair. I used the 8 inch mask which tightened the A star up considerably, then with averted vision could discern a very faint small glow in one particular direction, but could not hold it direct. Back to the 20" and now in good moments I can see the B star quite well, 5 delta mag, bluish. 333x
17h 08m 00.70s +31° 12' 22.5" P.A. 222 sep 3.6 mag 6.00,10.70 Sp K3III dist. 458.72 pc (1496.34 l.y.)

SLE 79 AB, 20" 333x: 12th mag pair not so difficult when widely separated like this. Light orange near equal stars very widely split. Forms a triangle with two other stars. [not a physical pair]
17h 09m 09.66s +33° 41' 32.5" P.A. 219 sep 9 mag 12.10,12.30

TDT 236 AB: 20" 667x: One observation. At very best moments which last just a second, can see the hazy elongation resolve into hairline split. Unequal by a mag. I dare not try higher power. This was one of the triangle stars mentioned in the SLE 79 entry.
17h 09m 19.96s +33° 38' 32.2" P.A. 24 sep 0.7 mag 11.39,11.57

ALI 604 AB: 20" 333x: Orange and slight blue well separated, 2 delta mag.
17h 12m 57.15s +36° 56' 17.7" P.A. 176 sep 11.3 mag 9.71,11.90

TDS 857 AB VZ Her: 20" 667x: Tough, faint pair averted brightens the elongated haze, when seeing stills there are points very tight 1" 17h 13m 03.99s +35° 58' 43.0" P.A. 198 sep 1.1 mag 11.51,12.36 Sp kA2hA6 dist. 208.33 pc (679.57 l.y.)

STF 2161 AB Rho Her 8" 667x light yellow white stars 1 delta mag well separated.
17h 23m 40.97s +37° 08' 45.3" P.A. 321 sep 4.1 mag 4.50,5.40 Sp B9.5III dist. 120.63 pc (393.5 l.y.)