My 51st observing session of 2014

Hello, all. Last night, I set up my 6.2" apochromatic refractor in my backyard, and started observing from 8.15 until 11pm. After 3.5 weeks of no observing, I was starving to do some. It turns out that this is my 51st observing evening -a record I have never achieved in my entire life!
At the last Full Harvest Moon, Valerie and I paid a visit to Armagh Planetarium. We saw a quote from the Bible on a plaque while we were there, which simply said "The heavens declare the glory of God". Well last night, they certainly were!
I wanted to observe as many objects as I could, and it turned I observed 23! Here are some of them. By the way, my north is up and my east is right with diagonals fitted.

1. Pi Aquilae: wonderfully tight double star split at 140X and 167X. White and white. PA: 4 o'clock. A: 6.3, B: 6.8.
2. Rukh (Delta Cygni). It took extra magnification to split him this time -225X. PA; 10 o'clock. A:2.9, B: 6.3.
3. NGC 6709: Open star cluster in Aquila about 30 stars at 40X.
4. NGC 6633: big open star cluster in Ophiuchus -over 100 stars in the field of view.
5. 70 Ophiuchi: splendid double star split at 40X and 112X. Orange and orange. PA: 1 o'clock. A: 4.2, B: 6.2.
6. NGC 869 and NGC 884: famous double star cluster in Perseus. At last, I got the scope on these. There was no need to go higher than 40X.
7. Delphinus double -double: Gamma Delphini (A: 4.4, B: 5.0), and Struve 2725(A: 7.5, B: 8.2). Both doubles fitted in perfectly at 112X. Orange and orange, yellow and white components.
8. M15 Globular star in Pegasus. I was resolving all the stars from 225X. And then I thought, it is such a clear night, why not push the magnification all the way? There were no problems at 374X; and so once again, this scope could take more power when the situation arises! All the stars of M15 were very distinct at this power.
9. Zeta Aquarii: bright double star split at 140X. Yellow and yellow. PA: 12 o'clock. This is a real favourite of mine. A: 4.3, B: 4.5.
10, And finally, Lambda Cygni, my tightest double star -0.9" separation. This time I split it at 280X. I must be able to split tighter doubles than it. Well split at 320X and 374X. PA: 10 o'clock.

Thank you for reading this report.

Aubrey.

Nice report Aubrey.

I was out observing on Wednesday night myself, I must do up a report.

Paul

Please do, Paul. We can compare. I wonder has anyone done even more observing than either of us?

Aubrey.

Good report Aubrey, I was out last night as well with my 150mm reflector looking at a few doubles in
Cygnus , I have split Lambda before but had no luck last night . Another tight double is Tau Cygni
mags. 3.8 6.4 and sep. 0.7 a few weeks ago I thought I saw something at the right PA but was not
sure, and have not had a proper try since. Have a look if you get a chance.

Pat.

Hello, Pat. Yes, Tau Cygni is a tight double alright. In Burnham's Celestial Handbook, it had a separation of 0.9". However, on stelledoppie.goaction.it , it has widened slightly to 1 arc second. I have never split it, but I must try for it next time. You probably did see the B component in the 10 o'clock position. It seems to require high magnification as does Lambda Cygni. Do you have a 300X eyepiece, Pat?

Aubrey.

Hello Aubrey, you are right Tau Cygni has widened to 1.0'' I was using the CDSA to get the
seperation its a bit out of date. I use a 6mm zeiss ortho. which gives me 275x in my reflector,
if I need more power I use a Televue 2x barlow with a 10mm zeiss ortho. which gives me 330x.
I find most nights 275x is as much as the seeing will allow.

Pat.