Observations - 15th March 2020

Hello, everyone.

As my church is closed for the next 3 weeks (at least), it was an easy decision for me to set up my William Optics 158 mm F/7 apochromatic refractor with its William Optics 70 mm F/6 small apo attached on the Berlebach Planet alt-az mount. Mirror diagonals are fitted to both scopes. Sunset occurred at 18.30 UT precisely. Winds were very light. Temperatures dropped from 8 to 2 degrees during this Sunday evening. I observed from 17.10 UT to 19.30. After dinner I continued from 20.30 to 23.15 UT. Better than any movie. Thankfully I recorded the snooker final. Watched that today Monday. It was a brilliant match! Anyway here is my report with 6 warm layers of clothing on yours truly.

1. At 17.13 I found Venus at 11X in the 70 mm small apo as a bright star. That's 1 hour 17 mins before sunset. I then proceeded to see her with my own eyes almost immediately. At a later stage, I could observe 27 Arietis (6.2 magnitude) 25 arc minutes to Venus' north. The star's spectral class is G5. And it did have a very nice strong yellow hue. Why can't all yellow stars look this good? But that's a rhetorical question. The shimmering sky conditions were not too bad as I increased my magnifications from 40X, 112X, 140X, 167X, 225X and 280X. Venus' angular diameter was 21.4". Its phase was less than 56% lit. Its distance was 116.474.000 kms from Earth. How I do look forward to seeing a half phased Venus sometime soon.

2. Now that sunset had happened, I thought I ought to look for those 2 famous bright stars in Gemini: Castor and Pollux. Pollux is definitely brighter despite its Beta Geminorum designation. I was delighted to find it in my small 70 mm apo at a mere 11X with its orange colour. Its magnitude is +1.2. Castor is a little under 6 degrees above and I found it at 18.37 UT - which is just 7 minutes after sunset; i.e. the star is still invisible. But not in my scopes! Now comes the real headline: Could I split it at a lower magnification than my usual 112X? Indeed I could! 40X was perfectly good to split A and B. The C star appeared at 18.45 UT. Again that was seen at 40X. The magnitudes are: A = 1.9. B = 3. C = 9.8. D is an optical 4th companion with a magnitude 10.1. But A, B and C are a true triple with separations 5.4", 69.8". PA's = 52 and 163 degrees. Magnificent!

The rest of these celestial objects are in Cancer.
All figures come from www.stelledoppie.it  

3. I had to start off with Zeta Cancri (Tegmine) yet again. My simple reason is it was such a calm evening. And my favourite triple star I relatively easy to find some 7 degrees west of M44 the Beehive Cluster. Split all 3 stars once again successfully at 167X and 225X.

4. Gamma Cancri (Asellus Borealis) is an optical double star. Magnitudes: A = 4.7. B = 10.2. Sep = 115.9". PA = 67 degrees. A is white. B is yellow. Both stars easily seen at 40X and 112X.

5. SLE 339 is an uncertain double star near M44. Magnitudes: A = 10.2. B = 10.2. Sep = 6.7". PA = 121 degrees. I could just about see the 2 stars split at 40X. But 112X was very good indeed. Can anyone tell me what SLE stands for? Thank you.

6. STF (Struve) 1269 is a true binary. Magnitudes: A = 10.5. B = 11.3. Sep = 11.4". PA = 309 degrees. Split at 112X.

7. Stf 1311 is a true binary and it is a real gem. Magnitudes: A = 6.9. B = 7.1. Sep = 7.8". PA = 199 degrees. I have observed it before some years ago. It's delightfully tight at 40X. And even nicer at 112X. Both stars are yellow - white.

8. BUP 127 is a true binary. Magnitudes: A = 8.1. B = 11.9. Sep = 60". PA = 171 degrees. Observed at 112X. A is yellow. That secondary is seriously faint. Can anyone find out for me what BUP stands for? Thank you.

9. STT 570 is an optical double. The A component is the same star as the bright component of BUP 127. Magnitudes: A = 8.1. B = 9.6. Sep = 75.1". PA = 78 degrees. STT stands for Otto Struve (1897 - 1963). Easily split at 40X and 112X.

10. STF 1332 is a true binary. Magnitudes: A = 7.9. B = 8.1. Sep = 5.9". PA = 29 degrees. Brilliantly tight at 40X. It is one I did observe in the past. 112X is very good also. Both stars are yellow - white. It's another true gem in Cancer.

11. AG 163 may be an optical double. Magnitudes: A = 10.2. B = 10.7. Sep = 5.1". PA = 320 degrees. Very nice at 112X with a decent amount of black space between them. It can be found quite near STF 1332. AG stands for Astronomische Gesellschaft.

12. HO 364 is an optical double. Magnitudes: A = 8.8. B = 11.8. Sep = 4.1". PA = 336 degrees. It's difficult to see B at 112X. But I got it nonetheless at that power. 140X and 167X were better. HO stands for George Washington Hough (1836 to 1909).

13. HDS 1318 Is a true binary. Magnitudes: A = 7.5. B = 10.6. Sep = 3.6". PA = 347 degrees. What a stubborn double this proved to be. You would think with that separation my scope would have no problem in splitting A and B. But I could not see B at 225X. I required 280X to catch the slightest glimpse of it. Seeing conditions must have deteriorated over the course of the night. 320X improved the observation of B. Check out HDS 1318 if you dare. Patience is needed for it. HDS stands for Hipparcos Catalog.

14. HJL 1052 is a true binary. Magnitudes: A = 8.5. B = 9.7. Sep = 64.3". PA = 326 degrees. Easily split at 40X and 112X. HJL stands for Jean Louis Halbwachs. I don't have any further information about the gentleman. Perhaps someone can fill us in. (?)

15. BRT 2391 is an optical double. Magnitudes: A = 9.7. B = 11.5. Sep = 7.6". PA = 45 degrees. The A component is the same B star as HJL 1052. Observed at 112X. As a triple star HJL 1052 and BRT 2391 are nothing special. They are just nice and close to M44. BRT stands for S. G Barton. Can anyone tell me anything more about this gentleman?

16 And so finally, I do have a carbon star for you. HD 78278 is my 4th observed carbon in Cancer - otherwise known as TYC 1407 294. It is easy to find very near Xi and 79 Cancri. Its magnitude is 10.7. Its spectral class is a simple C. I could see an orange coloured star alright; but it was not all that intense in my 6.2" refractor. Still happy to tick it off. It's my 82nd observed carbon star.

Thank you for reading.
Comments are always most welcome.

Clear skies,

Aubrey.

Hi Aubrey,

You put a great big smile on my face - your report was a fantastic read! Plenty of detail, and I completely agree with you when you say that a night out under the stars is better than any movie. I've yet to observe Venus this year. It tends to be in the front of my house come evening time, and I'm not sure what the neighbours might think of me sitting in an open driveway with my telescope! Then again, it might be a nice way to meet some of the neighbours. You never know they may even take to the hobby. But you've made a good case for me to view it regardless of what others think.

Well done on splitting splitting Castor on lower power - that's a great scope you have!

In terms of the abbreviation 'SLE', I think I may have found it. I did a little bit of searching and came up with Guy. Soulie (see  books.google.ie/books?id=BSiMBxcNs4cC&pg...20discoverer&f=false )

And here's some further information on the man himself: sirius-floirac.fr/category/histoire-du-site/ Doing a quick control and 'f' on your keyboard and entering 'soulie' in the search field will bring you to the info on Guy Soulie.  

I've yet to look-up 'BUP', but I will give it go for you. Likewise, I'll see what I can find on the other two gentlemen.

HDS 1318 seems like a real challenge, so well done on catching a glimpse of it.

And nice to finish up on another carbon star; they really are beautiful objects.

Take care and kindest regards,

Darren.

I just discovered that BUP stands for Burnham's 1913 proper motion catalog (see page 3 of  books.google.ie/books?id=3nKo-rxUArwC&pg...designations&f=false )

Well, you're definitely putting some real excitement into me, Darren.
If SLE stands for Guy Soulié it turns out he may be still living even though he was born in 1920. That's 100 years ago!

Seemingly there is an asteroid named after Monsieur Soulié

It's okay regarding BUP.
That stands for Burnham Proper Motion Catalogue.

Brilliant! Thank you very much.

Clear skies from Aubrey.

You were a step ahead of me there with BUP Aubrey : )

I'll say goodnight for now, and very many thanks for sharing that information on G. Soulie.

Chat soon,

Darren.

Good call Darren, it is indeed Guy Soulie. He died in 2015 Aubrey, still a good innings.

Finbarr.

Oh! What a pity Guy Soulié has passed away in 2015.
The website I was looking at seemed to suggest he was alive.
He discovered 2 asteroids.
Another one was given his good name.

Thank you for finding out a little bit about him, Finbarr.

I'm going over to Cloudy Nights now.

Kind regards,

Aubrey.