20 march 2021

I think the lesson is to always go out.  Last night's forecast was for average seeing, which usually means crummy views.  And there was some wind, and there was some haze, which showed itself as a glow around the moon.  Nevertheless I had a pretty good couple of hours with some interesting, and even some short period, pair seen.

First I need to mention my great surprise at a Celestron zoom eyepiece I bought.  It was an old model, apparently never used, made in Japan.  I wasn't expecting much, but I wanted to try a zoom at the right magnification range I typically use for most of my double star observing.  This one ranges from 18mm to 6.5mm, or 148x, 222x, 296x, 410x.  I first looked at the moon and was shocked how crisp the view was, great contrast, and how even at the highest magnification it seemed to beat the seeing -- maybe because of the narrow field of view.  I didn't mind the more restrictive FOV.  I felt I was seeing more than what I would even in my Ethos, again maybe because the FOV made me concentrate -- but I think the qualities of the eyepiece are more suited to lunar.

Next I tried Mars, and I could see the polar ice caps and some dark markings -- and Mars was very close to a bright orange star, it looked like a much magnified view of a double star.

I then tried M42, and here is where my surprise really solidified.  Not only could I see E & F, and much ripple in the nebula, but also a string of five very faint stars embedded in the nebula -- not within the Trapezium but above it.  I had never seen that before.  On bright stars the flaring and diffraction is much smaller than in my Ethos.  I wonder why?  And the 18mm was enough to be a finder setting so long as the pointing is accurate.  In any case I'm shopping for a barlow to go with this since I think this eyepiece will be my go-to from now on.  It was very convenient not to switch between them while viewing.

COU 47 AB: 178; 410x: Elongated at lower magnifications, strongly notched at 410x, noticeable magnitude difference.  Same proper motions so likely physical.
08h 39m 42.78s +20° 05' 10.4" P.A. 141.00 sep 0.6 mag 7.93,9.58 Sp A7IV

BU 584 AB: 178; 410x: I can't believe I got this, very faint B about 1" separation, can just see it direct vision, brightens with averted, very faint.  This star the faintest of a prominent long triangle of stars.  Component of S 571, which has several other widely separated pairs.  In Praesepe, but I neglected to check my finderscope.

08h 39m 56.49s +19° 33' 10.7" P.A. 290.00 sep 0.9 mag 7.31,12.30 Sp Am

 

KU 32 AB: 178; 148x: Very fine, wow quite amazing, around 2", split nicely, 3 delta magnitude.  The faint B star disappears with increased magnification.
08h 41m 18.40s +19° 15' 39.6" P.A. 165.00 sep 2.2 mag 8.06,10.24 Sp A8V

STF1262 AB: 178; 148x: Well split, a bit less than 2 delta mag, white stars
08h 41m 58.04s +23° 47' 56.0" P.A. 203.00 sep 6.9 mag 8.54,10.09 Sp K0 dist. 645.16 pc (2104.51 l.y.)

J 1110 AB: 178; 148x: Well split white stars, about 1 delta.  Physical
08h 42m 06.27s +25° 00' 43.4" P.A. 42.00 sep 3.4 mag 9.92,10.24

STF1276 AB: 178; 148x: Wide, white, near equal stars, nice.
08h 47m 10.99s +11° 09' 34.2" P.A. 353.00 sep 12.7 mag 8.32,8.56 Sp A0 dist. 980.39 pc (3198.03 l.y.)

VDK 3 AB: 508; 410x: With apodising mask.  A surprise short period find.  Light orange stars -- they are carbon, HP Cnc.  About 1 delta mag, more than 1" separation.  Seeing is bloating the stars a bit, but can recorded the PA by drift, it follows a S-N line.  J. Vanderdonck, who has three discoveries to his name in the WDS.  Physical with a 223.9709-year period, it will make a quarter turn by 2040.

08h 50m 42.33s +07° 51' 52.4" P.A. 195.10 sep 1.1 mag 9.91,10.09 Sp K0V dist. 23.09 pc (75.32 l.y.)

PER 1 AB: 508; 410x: Quite a beautiful pair, light yellow stars, >1 delta mag, about 1", emerges to view with seeing, quite good.  One of two J. Perrotin discoveries.  Same proper motions so will likely prove to be physical.
08h 51m 13.71s +08° 20' 18.6" P.A. 350.00 sep 0.8 mag 8.30,9.59 Sp K0

STT 195 AB: 508; 148x: White stars, wide, one delta
08h 53m 57.80s +08° 25' 17.7" P.A. 138.00 sep 9.8 mag 7.73,8.33 Sp F8 dist. 1315.79 pc (4292.11 l.y.)

AG 338 AB: 508; 148x: IK Cnc. White stars, near equal, well split.  Physical with a 1790-year period.  A is TOK 196 0.2", not attempted, with just a 15-year period, need to go back!
08h 54m 41.52s +16° 36' 39.7" P.A. 166.30 sep 2.1 mag 9.01,9.22 Sp G5 dist. 40.14 pc (130.94 l.y.)

A 2968 AB: 508; 222x: Very fine pair of white stars, <1", split with 410x but then backed off magnification and could still split with lower.  

08h 57m 06.22s +10° 45' 29.1" P.A. 132.00 sep 1.2 mag 9.07,9.42 Sp F5 dist. 571.43 pc (1864 l.y.)

ALD 115 AB: 508; 222x: Fine pair, light orange stars, with seeing

09h 00m 12.88s +15° 49' 30.8" P.A. 270.00 sep 1.6 mag 10.60,11.20 Sp K7

STF1297 AB: 508; 148x: Nice easy wide Struve, 1 delta mag, physical
09h 00m 32.70s +22° 43' 36.7" P.A. 159.00 sep 5.1 mag 8.88,9.96 Sp G5 dist. 166.39 pc (542.76 l.y.)

HO 360 AB: 508; 222x: Faint B easily seen, widely separated from bright white A
09h 00m 29.99s +22° 28' 08.0" P.A. 156.00 sep 3.9 mag 8.41,12.10 Sp F7V dist. 80.26 pc (261.81 l.y.)

STF1300 AB: 508; 148x: Very light orange stars, one more white than the other, well separated, near equal.  Physical with 878-year period
09h 01m 17.48s +15° 15' 56.8" P.A. 178.50 sep 5.0 mag 9.47,9.73 Sp M0V:p dist. 15.97 pc (52.09 l.y.)

STF1327 AB: 508; 148x: White A star and much fainter B, with another further out wide (AC).  Not physical.
09h 15m 32.67s +27° 54' 53.4" P.A. 32.00 sep 5.3 mag 8.78,10.32 Sp F8 dist. 146.2 pc (476.9 l.y.)

HO 43 AB: 508; 410x:  Fine white stars, not quite 1 delta mag, very nice clean split.  Wow.  Physical with 358.6-year period, it will widen a couple tenths in the next 20 years

09h 18m 36.25s +20° 48' 49.4" P.A. 94.50 sep 0.6 mag 9.31,9.46 Sp F5 dist. 108.11 pc (352.65 l.y.)

12 march 2021

Many local observers headed out to various observing sites last night, it being probably the only remaining clear night the rest of this new moon period.  I decided to stay home to spend time with family, and besides I didn't like the looks of the satellite images which showed considerable amounts of moisture headed our way.  This was mostly correct, as transparency was on the poor side and marine clouds drifted in by 10:30pm.

Seeing was not very good either so I stayed at 7-inches the whole session.  Some nice pairs, as usual, including a short period pair!

STF1366 AB: 178; 205x: This one is a 2 delta magnitude pair, about 8", pretty wide.  Physical.  There is another wide near equal pair to the east about 30" away.
09h 35m 42.47s +53° 17' 40.4" P.A. 321.00 sep 7.8 mag 8.44,10.09 Sp F2 dist. 95.51 pc (311.55 l.y.)

STF1376 AB: 178; 205x: Clean white pair, near equal, wide about 5".  Physical.  14th mag BC not seen.

09h 45m 01.10s +43° 13' 39.8" P.A. 309.00 sep 5.4 mag 9.07,9.05 Sp F5V dist. 130.38 pc (425.3 l.y.)

HU 630 AB: 178; 205x: Very fine pair, difficult in poor seeing and transparency, slight magnitude difference, about 2".  Physcial
09h 47m 36.09s +50° 57' 17.3" P.A. 74.00 sep 2.2 mag 9.43,9.58 Sp G5 dist. 224.22 pc (731.41 l.y.)

STF1381 AB: 178; 205x: Finest split with seeing, very small scale at this magnification, light orange star, very significant magnitude difference.  Physical with a 1787.6479-year period, this is actually one to watch because it is rapidly nearing periastron and will tighten over the next couple of decades.
09h 51m 15.22s +60° 37' 00.1" P.A. 184.30 sep 0.8 mag 8.93,9.20 Sp G0 dist. 190.11 pc (620.14 l.y.)

STT 208 AB: 178; 333x: Tough in poor seeing and transparency.  Bright white A, significant delta magnitude, B's PA a little north of west.  There are three stars in a wide triangle in the field, B points to base line. Physical with 104.6-year period, it will widen slightly and will reach apastron by 2040.
09h 52m 06.36s +54° 03' 51.4" P.A. 313.70 sep 0.4 mag 5.28,5.39 Sp A2V dist. 156.01 pc (508.9 l.y.)

STT 209 AB: 178; 205x: Light yellow-orange A, B is very much fainter about 3 delta mag, wide about 5".  Physical. 
09h 53m 17.23s +50° 37' 16.3" P.A. 309.00 sep 4.9 mag 7.41,10.31 Sp G8IV dist. 196.85 pc (642.12 l.y.)

STF1394 AB: 178; 205x: White stars, >1 delta mag, wide about 5".  Physical. 
09h 57m 14.57s +45° 54' 10.1" P.A. 250.00 sep 4.5 mag 8.89,9.75 Sp G0 dist. 58.11 pc (189.55 l.y.)

STT 210 AB: 178; 205x: Excellent fine pair, with seeing, light yellow-orange, 1 delta mag, split but very close.  
10h 02m 35.64s +46° 21' 42.5" P.A. 257.00 sep 1.3 mag 8.52,9.07 Sp G5 dist. 228.83 pc (746.44 l.y.)

STF1425 AB: 178; 205x: Faint pair, about 1 delta, wide about 5".  Physical.
10h 21m 34.14s +46° 09' 07.6" P.A. 358.00 sep 4.8 mag 9.89,10.74 Sp F5 dist. 144.51 pc (471.39 l.y.)

STF1427 AB: 178; 205x: White stars, typical Struve, not quite 1 delta mag, wide
10h 22m 00.53s +43° 54' 19.3" P.A. 215.00 sep 9.3 mag 8.18,8.54 Sp F5V dist. 105.04 pc (342.64 l.y.)

STF1428 AB: 178; 205x: An attractive pair, clean white stars about 1 delta mag and 3".  Physical.
10h 25m 59.00s +52° 37' 18.3" P.A. 89.00 sep 2.8 mag 8.02,8.44 Sp F6V dist. 87.11 pc (284.15 l.y.)

STF1436 AB: 178; 205x: Slightly dimmer than a typical Struve, about 2 delta mag, very wide
10h 30m 22.86s +56° 21' 20.0" P.A. 254.00 sep 10.5 mag 8.78,10.39 Sp F5 dist. 99.6 pc (324.9 l.y.)

STF1460 AB: 178; 205x: Very pretty near equal pair of white stars, well separated about 5".  Not physical.
10h 40m 35.04s +42° 09' 11.6" P.A. 161.00 sep 3.9 mag 8.72,8.90 Sp F2 dist. 185.87 pc (606.31 l.y.)

STF1462 AB: 178; 205x: White A, very faint B, wide.
10h 42m 52.23s +50° 47' 57.3" P.A. 174.00 sep 8.3 mag 7.41,10.10 Sp A8IV dist. 129.2 pc (421.45 l.y.)

STF1463 AB: 178; 205x: Dim pair, significant magnitude difference, white, fairly wide.  Physical. 
10h 42m 54.25s +46° 41' 25.2" P.A. 258.00 sep 7.9 mag 9.30,10.42 Sp G5

STF1465 AB: 178; 205x: Faint pair, considerable magnitude difference, fairly wide
10h 43m 13.35s +44° 37' 41.6" P.A. 11.00 sep 2.2 mag 9.79,10.10 Sp K2

STF1467 AB: 178; 205x: Nice!  Very faint B, around 2 delta mag, pretty wide.  I can just see B with direct vision and hold it in poor transparency.  Physical.  
10h 45m 15.60s +44° 58' 11.2" P.A. 288.00 sep 3.9 mag 8.58,10.76 Sp K0III dist. 239.23 pc (780.37 l.y.)

STF1510 AB: 178; 205x: >1 delta mag, wide pair.  Physical with a 3156.3519-year period 
11h 08m 00.06s +52° 49' 17.9" P.A. 327.80 sep 5.6 mag 7.65,9.03 Sp F8V dist. 55.96 pc (182.54 l.y.)

HO 50 AB: 178; 205x: Cream white A and can see B nicely separated, about 3".  Used averted vision at first to see B, then could hold direct after foveal coaxing.
11h 13m 40.09s +41° 05' 19.8" P.A. 35.00 sep 3.0 mag 6.47,8.36 Sp K2III dist. 114.03 pc (371.97 l.y.)

STF1520 AB: 178; 205x: Wide 2 delta mag, light yellow A and a distinctly blue B.  Physical.
11h 16m 04.03s +52° 46' 23.4" P.A. 344.00 sep 12.4 mag 6.54,7.81 Sp F6V+F9V dist. 34.12 pc (111.3 l.y.)

STF1384 AB: 178; 205x: Faint pair, near equal, wide
09h 49m 56.91s +16° 19' 55.8" P.A. 182.00 sep 11.8 mag 9.76,10.02 Sp G0

STF1389 AB: 178; 205x: White stars, around 1 delta mag, well separated.  Physical with a 1454-year period

09h 52m 26.17s +26° 58' 53.8" P.A. 289.40 sep 2.5 mag 9.12,9.50 Sp K0 dist. 57.54 pc (187.7 l.y.)

panoche hills

 I decided last minute yesterday afternoon to go out observing.  The forecast, while far from perfect with "average" transparency -- which usually means thick haze -- was good enough compared to all of next week's, and it seems this was the only opportunity to observe this new moon.  I decided to go to Panoche Hills BLM, which I have not visited before.

I drove down 101 to 152 over to I-5 to access Panoche Hills from the east.  I should have just taken 205 to I-5, as the driving is all highway and a lot easier, if maybe a few minutes longer.  This is the way I took coming back.  I drove past the D.A.R.C. observatory a couple miles from the entrance, where there were a couple domes and a 50-inch reflector, but also a very private owner.  The road into the hills is dirt and a little washboarded but nothing I couldn't handle.  I arrived at 5:30pm with plenty of time to set-up.

Being BLM there were some people scattered further in the Hills doing some shooting, but most were in the process of leaving.  I parked at the visitor center which has a pit toilet and is at the end of the access road, which acts like a trunk to all the side roads in the hills.  This was a mistake, since most people leaving made a pit-stop on their way out, and their trucks and cars kicked up a lot of dust.  The site is windy, so the dust clouds didn't last long -- but the wind also made the air feel colder, and I had to fully layer up by dark.  Surprisingly there are a lot of lights visible in the central valley, which can be seen from the site.  There are light domes all through the east and north (from Hollister) up to 45-degrees.  So really only zenith and the south is really dark.  It's disappointing, and means the only truly dark area left is deep in the south west of Los Padres National Forest, which is closed now due to overuse.  It makes me wonder if a big scope is worth it any more, or should I invest in night vision equipment instead?

I brought my 10-inch, but in my haste I forgot to bring a red flashlight, which meant I could not see my chart, which meant I was left to scanning about without identifying anything new, and viewing things I have already seen before.  And no note taking.  Transparency was poor, and my SQML read 20.00 after astronomical dark.  But I still saw some things:

Zodiacal light rose up from the horizon after astronomical dark, long and rather thick, nearly reaching M45.

All of M45 fit in the FOV, and I could see the bright reflection nebula sprouting from Merope NGC 1435 and surrounding Maia NGC 1432.

M31 was really good, more than filling the FOV which also contained M32 and M110.  I traced M32's glow beyond the FOV on each side, and also to the SE of it which is an IFN shelf -- I was careful to make sure the fog followed the movement of the scope, set-off from darker sky.  This is my first IFN.

M36-38-37 were all very well resolved, I would say down to their last stars.  M35 too.  

M42 of course.  Lots of texture and cloud ripples.  I tried the HBeta filter and it showed a bright plume of nebulosity which doesn't show the same with UHC or other filters.  

NGC 2024 the flame was there but a bit weak.  IC 434 also there with HBeta but I did not have a clear sense of the Horsehead -- I probably should have used more magnification

I did see the fog and vague outline of NGC 1909, the Witch Head Nebula, but it was a bit weak.  The best view I've had of this was through Kevin Ritchel's 4-inch

I also brought my 2x54 binoculars, which I like better than the Vixens.  I scanned around and could pick out brighter objects, like M41, M46 & M47.  I also noticed there's some long, broken banners of dark nebulosity running between CMa and Mon, in the area of the Seagull Nebula and generally NW-SE.  Sweeping the same area with the 10-inch, and to the SW of CMi, I noticed the extreme richness of the star fields all through this area.

I did some low horizon sweeps in Puppis, land of the open cluster, and was really pleased to come upon NGC 2477 and NGC 2451 -- large, bright overlapping clusters.

While sweeping along the horizon I noticed a line of eight lights -- which I initially thought were stars -- but must be on someone's property on a distant hillside.

Finally a look at Leo -- The triplet M65, M66, and NGC 3628 -- which is bright enough Messier should have noticed it.  Then some NGCs in Leo's rump, and M95 & M96, and Hickson 44, where I could see two of the brighter galaxies but only smudges of the other two.  What a difference aperture would have made.

At around 9:30pm the clouds to the north, which seemed to only grow slowing through the earlier part of the evening, seemed to be advancing more quickly.  Jet vapor trails stretched across the sky and lingered.  I decided to head home rather than battle a deteriorating sky and sleep on the cold hilltop.

If I go back I'll drive further in to find a more isolated spot, away from dust and lights.  It's a good place for what skies you can get.

4 march 2021

Last night's transparency was predicted to be poor, but it wasn't too bad, so I'm glad I opened up.  Seeing was strangely variable.  I found myself switching between the 7-inch mask and full aperture, though I could not get magnification beyond 533x.  I ended up snagging a couple short period pairs, so it was a night well worth the effort.  It was cold, with some dew.  I seem to tap out all the doubles accessible to a 7-inch in Gemini, so I swung over to Ursa Major, though in this direction there were roof currents and even multiple jet aircraft on landing approach to Oakland airport which went near to or through my field of view, disturbing the air for minutes at a time. 

STF 830 AB: 178; 205x: Dim pair for a Struve, slightly red color near equal stars, wide, part of a neat triangle with a slightly fainter star making the third (AC).  Not physical
06h 03m 26.56s +27° 38' 32.7" P.A. 264.00 sep 11.4 mag 8.90,9.55 Sp F2

J 728 AB: 178; 205x: Dim pair, 1 delta mag, around 3".  Physical.
07h 06m 05.16s +19° 03' 11.7" P.A. 73.00 sep 3.0 mag 8.80,10.39 Sp G5

STF1017 AB: 178; 205x: White stars, near equal, wide.  Physical
07h 07m 10.44s +16° 50' 21.8" P.A. 255.00 sep 12.8 mag 9.32,10.25 Sp G+F8

STF1027 AB: 178; 205x: Near equal, pale white stars, wide.  Physical 
07h 08m 46.74s +16° 54' 31.8" P.A. 356.00 sep 6.9 mag 8.47,8.69 Sp K3III dist. 312.5 pc (1019.38 l.y.)

HO 518 AB: 508; 205x: Bright white and pale white, 2 delta mag, 3" separation.  A nice pair in a string of stars.

07h 10m 24.17s +30° 21' 31.7" P.A. 146.00 sep 3.3 mag 8.34,10.30 Sp A2

TDS4557 AB: 508; 533x: Very fine hairline split with seeing, dull white stars.
07h 10m 58.01s +27° 46' 52.3" P.A. 122.00 sep 0.5 mag 10.65,10.65

BU 1009 AB: 508; 205x: B is a very fine point on the edge of bright A' yellow-orange diffraction, subtle.  Burnham writes: "This fine and difficult pair was discovered at Mt. Hamilton with the 12-inch in 1881….The measures are sufficient to show from the common proper motion that this is a physical pair."  Discovered at 1.8" separation.
07h 11m 08.39s +30° 14' 43.0" P.A. 163.00 sep 1.8 mag 4.41,11.00 Sp K2III dist. 98.43 pc (321.08 l.y.)

STF1035 AB: 508; 205x: Very easy bright white equal pair.  Physical.
07h 12m 01.06s +22° 16' 44.5" P.A. 40.00 sep 8.7 mag 8.09,8.38 Sp F7IV dist. 163.67 pc (533.89 l.y.)

WEI 14 AB: 508; 205x: Very pretty white stars, 2 delta and about 3" separation, in a rich field
07h 12m 48.16s +15° 10' 41.9" P.A. 160.00 sep 2.1 mag 7.77,8.91 Sp B9.5IV dist. 1351.35 pc (4408.1 l.y.)

STF1037 AB: 178; 205x: Hairline split at 205x but went to 533 to get clear view of it to drift through the field to tell PA.  Slight magnitude difference.  Really nice looking pair, masked down to 7-inches to get clean disks.  Physical with a 118.35-year period, it will close rapidly and become undetectable during the 2030s, widening again in the 2040s.
07h 12m 49.08s +27° 13' 30.2" P.A. 302.40 sep 0.8 mag 7.24,7.27 Sp F8V dist. 42.48 pc (138.57 l.y.)

BU 22 AB: 178; 205x: Wide and uninteresting 2 delta mag.
07h 33m 14.80s +32° 51' 42.6" P.A. 151.00 sep 6.3 mag 8.56,10.90 Sp G5

STF1110 AB: 178; 205x: Castor.  A is a very pale yellow and B is yellow-green, 2 delta mag, very bright, pretty wide,  some fainter stars about.  Physical with a 459.8-year period.
07h 34m 35.86s +31° 53' 17.8" P.A. 52.10 sep 5.4 mag 1.93,2.97 Sp A1V+A4Vm dist. 15.6 pc (50.89 l.y.)

HJ 425 BC: 178; 205x:  A component of STF1113 AB. A is light yellow-orange, BC is widely separated from A, itself a pretty wide pair of blue stars.  Physical.

07h 34m 59.31s +24° 14' 23.5" P.A. 46.00 sep 8.5 mag 11.10,11.40

AG 142 AB: 178; 205x: Very fine close pair, 1 delta mag, B brightens with averted vision but can see it direct.
07h 41m 26.46s +23° 11' 40.7" P.A. 21.00 sep 1.7 mag 9.81,10.45 Sp A5

AG 144 AB: 178; 205x: Wide white stars, significant delta mag, B brightens with averted vision.  Not physical
07h 51m 54.12s +22° 15' 26.5" P.A. 334.00 sep 11.6 mag 9.73,11.14 Sp F5

A 2536 AB: 178; 333x: Very significant delta mag, very close, it's an elongated haze until seeing settles then can I can resolve and split the faint B from white A 
07h 54m 36.67s +25° 12' 48.4" P.A. 309.00 sep 0.9 mag 10.36,10.57 Sp G0 dist. 485.44 pc (1583.51 l.y.)

STF1158 AB: 178; 205x: Dim for a Struve, wide, one delta mag.  Not physical
07h 56m 31.40s +21° 52' 28.6" P.A. 334.00 sep 7.6 mag 9.30,9.30 Sp A5III

STF1242 AB: 178; 205x: Dim pair for Struve, half delta mag, well split about 4".
08h 36m 01.43s +47° 07' 29.6" P.A. 175.00 sep 2.7 mag 9.93,10.49 Sp F0

STF1258 AB: 178; 205x: White stars, wide, near equal.  Physical
08h 43m 25.41s +48° 51' 41.9" P.A. 331.00 sep 10.1 mag 7.72,7.87 Sp F0 dist. 143.47 pc (468 l.y.)

KR 30 AB: 178; 205x: Finely split equal white stars, need to wait for seeing to settle for the elongation to resolve to points, about 2", small scale.  
08h 46m 49.82s +57° 41' 55.7" P.A. 305.00 sep 1.9 mag 10.26,10.32 Sp G5

STF1271 AB: 178; 205x: Very close, barely split, around 1", more than 1 delta magnitude 
08h 50m 07.39s +56° 12' 23.7" P.A. 81.00 sep 0.9 mag 9.46,10.28 Sp F5 dist. 149.25 pc (486.85 l.y.)

STF1278 AB: 178; 205x: White A star and two delta mag, very wide B
08h 50m 42.68s +49° 20' 49.0" P.A. 128.00 sep 8.5 mag 8.54,10.50 Sp F5

STF1275 AB: 178; 205x: Neat near equal, nice split about 2", white
08h 51m 26.19s +57° 31' 38.1" P.A. 198.00 sep 1.9 mag 8.68,8.87 Sp F0 dist. 194.55 pc (634.62 l.y.)

A 1584 AB: 508; 333x: Tight white stars, seeing is not very good but can still split it.  It has a noticable magnitude difference, however I need to guess which one is A.  I am able to estimate PA by drifting it across the field.  [My PA is in the correct line but my A and B are reversed.]  70.89-year period, it is now at apastron and will make a very small turn in its arc by 2040.
08h 53m 08.05s +54° 57' 11.0" P.A. 97.20 sep 0.7 mag 8.99,7.72 Sp G0 dist. 52.11 pc (169.98 l.y.)

ARG 71 AB: 508; 205x: White and wide
08h 54m 39.34s +49° 54' 09.9" P.A. 339.00 sep 5.3 mag 10.24,10.36 Sp G5

BU 408 AB: 178; 205x: A fine pair, white bright A and faint B about 3", 3 delta mag 
08h 59m 00.62s +63° 25' 42.8" P.A. 345.00 sep 2.8 mag 7.35,9.59 Sp G5 dist. 196.46 pc (640.85 l.y.)

HU 720 AB: 178; 333x: Suspected at 205x, it is the finest hairline split at 333x, slight magnitude difference, with seeing.   
09h 03m 16.01s +47° 40' 18.1" P.A. 136.00 sep 0.8 mag 8.62,9.27 Sp F5 dist. 152.44 pc (497.26 l.y.)

STF1312 AB: 178; 205x: White stars, wide, 1 delta mag.  Not physical
09h 10m 18.19s +52° 23' 05.7" P.A. 147.00 sep 4.7 mag 8.35,8.80 Sp F2V dist. 952.38 pc (3106.66 l.y.)

STF1318 AB: 178; 205x: Very pretty and delicate pair, 2 delta mag and about 2" separation, white stars
09h 13m 38.79s +46° 59' 25.3" P.A. 227.00 sep 2.6 mag 7.85,9.51 Sp F8V dist. 52.44 pc (171.06 l.y.)

STT 199 AB: 178; 205x: An excellent pair, B is a very fine four delta point well separated from bright white A. 
09h 20m 43.76s +51° 15' 57.8" P.A. 142.00 sep 5.6 mag 6.19,10.00 Sp F5V dist. 27.45 pc (89.54 l.y.)

STF1331 AB: 205x: Fine hairline split with seeing at 205x, better split at 333x, almost 1 delta mag, a very fine pair.  Three other faint stars appear with averted vision, and can then barely hold them direct, all nearby and arranged in a right angle to A with two of them on one side.  These are C, D, and E.
09h 20m 46.02s +61° 20' 58.4" P.A. 153.00 sep 0.9 mag 8.54,8.74 Sp A8IV dist. 206.61 pc (673.96 l.y.)

STF1340 AB: 178; 205x: Very nice, 2 delta mag white stars, wide, makes an attractive scene
09h 22m 32.22s +49° 32' 41.4" P.A. 319.00 sep 6.3 mag 7.08,8.99 Sp B9.5V dist. 226.24 pc (737.99 l.y.)

STF1346 AB: 178; 205x: Easy 1 delta mag pair, pretty wide.  Physical
09h 25m 37.88s +54° 00' 57.5" P.A. 314.00 sep 5.8 mag 7.69,8.59 Sp A2V dist. 196.08 pc (639.61 l.y.)

STF1359 AB: 178; 205x: Dim for a Struve, 1 delta mag, pretty wide, white stars.  Not physical.

09h 32m 58.20s +56° 14' 59.1" P.A. 54.00 sep 7.5 mag 9.77,10.76 Sp G5

28 february 2021

Last night was forecast to be clear and transparent, but as seems typical there was a rather thick haze, likely just an accumulation of moisture in the bowl of the Bay Area, which hindered observation of fainter stars.  Seeing was highly variable -- at times I had quite good seeing and I was able to chase after some challenging short period pairs at full aperture, other periods the seeing was ruined and I had to mask down to 7-inches.  Though, even at full aperture, I kept my apodising mask on to steady the view.  Still, plenty of interesting pairs to look at.  I observed from 7:30pm until 11:30pm, when seeing seemed to take a turn for the worse, and I decided to pack it in, in spite of the forecast cloudiness over the next few days.  I washed my mirror so it was nice to have sparkling clean optics to view through.

BU 555 BC: 508; 1067x: So this is a controversial observation, since Bob Argyle has decided to relegate it to his "Myths and One-Offs" chapter in An Anthology of Visual Double Stars.  However I did observe a notched elongation with a reddish A and bluish B with PA to the NNE-NE, slight but noticeable magnitude difference.  This happens to come close to the current predicted PA of 55-degrees.  However, the red/blue stack of low-declination stars along a nearly N-S line could also indicate atmospheric dispersion.  So I hope to have the opportunity to observe this again when Rigel is in front of meridian to see whether the PA holds -- however the opportunity to do so will not be until next year since Rigel is past-meridian at sundown now.  Filing this for future reference!

FWIW this is what Burnham says about this pair: "In 1871, while examining Rigel with the 6-inch, I suspected an elongation of the companion, and called attention of observers with larger instruments to this star.  In 1878 I examined it very carefully with the 18.5-inch, and saw and measured what I felt certain was a real and measurable elongation of the small star.  The measured distances were noted at the time as being too large.  When on Mt. Hamilton with the 6-inch, in 1879, I again measured the position angle, and regarded the elongation as not due to atmospheric causes.  This star was scrutinized with the 18.5-inch at Chicago a number of times from 1880 to 1882, but at all times it appeared either round or very doubtful,  in 1880 and 1890 it was certainly single with the 36-inch with the highest powers under the very best conditions.  If the distance had been as much as 0.05", it would have been noticed on some of these occasions with the large refractor."  Appendix: "This pair may have a period less than that of any known binary....The measures can be represented by a period of about five years, but upon any assumption the elongation should have been seen at some of the times when it was noted as single by apertures large enough to show it.  If it is carefully watched with the largest telescopes, as it doubtless will be, the approximate period will be determined with a few years."

05h 14m 32.27s -08° 12' 05.9" P.A. 30.00 sep 0.1 mag 7.50,7.60 Sp B9 dist. 264.55 pc (862.96 l.y.)

BU 552 AB: 508; 533x: Light yellow A and light orange B, well separated when seeing stills and the stars form airy disks, short period pair with a 97.7 year period.  This will continue increasing to apastron in 2030 and beyond, though the PA will remain about the same -- I think in the future it will be splittable in lower magnifications, which is how I would notice any change. 

Burnham writes: "This pair was discovered with the 18.5-inch, but in looking over the old observing books used with the 6-inch, I find that on December 14, 1874, this star was noted as 'possibly a close pair'…There seems to be something singular about the appearance and difficulty of this pair at times with larger apertures.  It was not noted as difficult at the time of the observation in 1877.  in 1890 it was a hard star with the 36-inch and on two nights in 1892, under favorable conditions, I failed to see it double at all."  

04h 51m 49.92s +13° 39' 18.7" P.A. 274.00 sep 0.8 mag 6.41,8.89 Sp dF6 dist. 40.72 pc (132.83 l.y.) 

COU2031 AB: 508; 1067x: A badly misshaped star, elongated, SSE PA, but nothing really clear, very small scale.  Physical with a 20.58 year period, it will close to periastron rapidly in the next 5 years, and really not be detectible visually until it returns to apastron in the late 2030s.

04h 46m 26.92s +42° 20' 54.2" P.A. 150.00 sep 0.2 mag 6.90,7.80 Sp G0 dist. 67.07 pc (218.78 l.y.)

BU 1047 BC: 508; 667x: Component of STF 645.  Awesome flex on Struve.  Near equal BC stars suspected at 533x, hairline split at 667x.  A really fine little blue pair near bright white A.  Physical with a 32.1-year period, it is at apastron now and will get impossibly close in the 2030s, becoming visually detectible again in the later part of that decade.  Burnham discovered in 1889 with the Lick 36-inch, and recorded 0.4" separation.

05h 09m 45.44s +28° 02' 01.6" P.A. 73.60 sep 0.3 mag 9.11,9.71 Sp dG7 dist. 73.91 pc (241.09 l.y.)

COU 772 AB: 508; 667x: A most excellent, barest hairline split of white stars with significant magnitude.  Suspected with 333x, needed 667x for a clean view.  Very nice.
07h 47m 07.07s +18° 47' 19.2" P.A. 75.00 sep 0.3 mag 8.98,9.17 Sp A0 dist. 621.12 pc (2026.09 l.y.)

AGC 2 AB: 508; 533x: Light orange-yellow A, B is very fine, almost 3 delta mag, nearly 1", very nice pair
07h 47m 58.47s +28° 40' 02.7" P.A. 116.00 sep 1.0 mag 7.76,9.73 Sp G8III dist. 194.17 pc (633.38 l.y.)

WRH 15 AB: 508; 1067x:  82 Gem. I see an elongated misshape, PA to the NNE, but not firm.  Physical with a 580-year period.  R.H. Wilson, 

07h 48m 33.65s +23° 08' 27.5" P.A. 24.50 sep 0.3 mag 6.85,7.30 Sp G2III+A4V dist. 241.55 pc (787.94 l.y.)

STF1162 AB: 178; 205x: Seeing suddenly ruined so masked down to 7-inch.  Pretty light yellow A and blue B, wide, around 2 delta mag. 
07h 57m 22.66s +13° 12' 24.7" P.A. 327.00 sep 9.0 mag 8.00,10.17 Sp G5

STF1170 AB: 178; 205x: Lovely close split, white stars, near equal
07h 59m 45.52s +13° 41' 19.9" P.A. 108.00 sep 2.4 mag 8.74,9.09 Sp F5

A 2954 AB: 178; 205x: Hairline split with seeing, significant magnitude difference, white stars.
08h 00m 27.88s +09° 54' 49.0" P.A. 338.00 sep 0.6 mag 8.42,8.98 Sp F8

STF1171 AB: 178; 205x: Very tough for a Struve.  B is very faint and comes to view only with seeing as a very fine point, pretty well separated from A, but A needs to be a disk for B to resolve out of the diffraction.  Seen fleetingly, somewhat better with averted vision but averted vision often misses moments of best seeing.  Physical.
08h 01m 00.78s +23° 34' 59.2" P.A. 326.00 sep 2.0 mag 6.48,9.95 Sp K1III-IV dist. 87.95 pc (286.89 l.y.)

STT 186 AB: 178; 205x: Beautiful hairline split, white stars, around 1 delta mag and 1".  Great pair. 
08h 03m 18.52s +26° 16' 03.5" P.A. 75.00 sep 1.1 mag 7.71,7.93 Sp A4V dist. 188.32 pc (614.3 l.y.)

STF1177 AB: 178; 205x: Excellent, around 1 delta mag and wide, blue-white stars, nicely resolved.
08h 05m 37.06s +27° 31' 46.9" P.A. 350.00 sep 3.5 mag 6.69,7.41 Sp B9V dist. 294.12 pc (959.42 l.y.)

STF1186 AB: 178; 205x: Really nice, very large delta mag of about 3, about 3", white stars, large round disk for the A star and tiny point for B. 

08h 08m 49.61s +27° 28' 49.4" P.A. 212.00 sep 3.3 mag 7.06,10.08 Sp G8III-IV dist. 229.89 pc (749.9 l.y.)

STF1187 AB: 178; 205x: White stars, a little more than 1 delta mag, wide about 4".  Physical with a 1385.156-year period.
08h 09m 30.45s +32° 13' 18.8" P.A. 19.50 sep 3.0 mag 7.19,7.98 Sp F2 dist. 64.68 pc (210.99 l.y.)

STF1195 AB: 178; 205x: Both stars are faint, B seen well because it's widely separated about 8", about 2 delta mag.  Physical.
08h 12m 38.45s +30° 27' 33.3" P.A. 333.00 sep 9.2 mag 9.29,11.80 Sp G

STF1197 AB: 178; 205x: Fine pair of white stars, around 2" and 1 delta mag.
08h 12m 44.45s +29° 32' 30.9" P.A. 101.00 sep 1.8 mag 9.01,9.67 Sp A2 dist. 398.41 pc (1299.61 l.y.)

STF1212 AB: 178; 205x: 1 delta mag, fairly well split, nothing special but still a pretty pair.  Not physical.
08h 18m 03.47s +30° 49' 56.0" P.A. 241.00 sep 5.5 mag 8.63,10.10 Sp F2

A 2961 AB: 178; 205x: A is a light orange star, B is a very exceptionally fine point just a little more than 1" separation, sharp with seeing, 3 delta mag.
08h 23m 55.20s +10° 37' 55.4" P.A. 267.00 sep 1.3 mag 6.34,9.42 Sp M2III dist. 272.48 pc (888.83 l.y.)

A 1746 BC: 508; 1067x: Component of STF1224.  I see a very subtle notched elongation, PA SSW, noticeable mag difference.  Physical with a 21.78-year period, it is a nearly circular orbit and near periastron, it's apastron will be in 2029 at 0.16"
08h 26m 39.82s +24° 32' 03.7" P.A. 199.10 sep 0.1 mag 8.50,8.50 Sp F7V dist. 79.74 pc (260.11 l.y.)

STF1223 AB: 508; 205x: Bright white, equal, wide -- dramatic but not much.  Not physical
08h 26m 47.08s +26° 56' 07.8" P.A. 219.00 sep 5.2 mag 6.16,6.21 Sp A3V+A6V dist. 84.53 pc (275.74 l.y.)

STF1228 AB: 508; 205x: Bright white, 1 delta, wide
08h 27m 39.04s +27° 33' 42.5" P.A. 352.00 sep 9.0 mag 8.87,9.68 Sp F2 dist. 157.73 pc (514.52 l.y.)

HU 714 Ba-Bb: 508; 533x: Nicely split with seeing, 0.5-1.0 delta mag, 0.5" separation.  Short period of 195.5 years, it is at apastron now and will remain there the rest of my lifetime.
08h 26m 56.47s +32° 11' 47.3" P.A. 313.00 sep 0.8 mag 9.77,10.07 Sp K2 dist. 57.8 pc (188.54 l.y.)

HU 717 AB: 508; 533x: Exceptionally finely split with 333x, steady clean split with 533x, near equal white stars.
08h 32m 34.65s +32° 27' 25.1" P.A. 52.00 sep 0.5 mag 9.71,9.47 Sp G0