Hi everyone.
At last here is my report for Monday 20th & 21st April 2020.
Once again I set up my William Optics 158 mm F/7 apochromatic refractor in my back garden for 2 successive nights. And what a sensational time I had!
1. 38 Lyncis was yet again very easily split at 112X. Magnitudes: A = 3.9. B = 6.1. Sep = 2.5". PA = 229 degrees.
2. 19 Lyncis truly is a magnificent sight and a true triple. Magnitudes: A = 5.8. B = 6.7, D = 7.6. C is not visible. Sep's = 14.8" and 215.3". PA = 316 degrees and 6 degrees. Sissy Haas says that 19 Lyn is quite similar to Mizar and Alcor. I would have to agree with her. It truly is very familiar and magical. My scope easily split all 3 stars split at 40X. To check out the colours in more detail I used powers 112X, 140X and 167X. The spectral classes are: A = B8V. B = B9V. I found B and C blue-white. (I don't have a spectral class for C). But A was always pure white at all powers.
3. Directly below 19 Lyn, I accidentally saw another fine double: Stf 1050. I checked it out when I came inside and went to
www.stelledoppie.it
. It is a true binary. Magnitudes: A = 8.1. B = 8.8. Sep: 19.3". PA = 21 degrees. How stunning to see a triple and a double in the same field of view!
4. On the second night I observed 12 Lyncis. This quadruple is even better than 19 Lyn in my opinion. Magnitudes: A = 5.4. B = 6. C = 7.1. D = 10.5. Sep's = 1.9", 8.8", 171.9". PA's = 65, 310 and 259 degrees. To see all 4 stars with black spaces in between I required a mere 112X. Utterly magnificent - especially A and B! It is glorious at powers 140X and 167X also.
5. Directly below 12 Lyn, we have again (!) another double, but it is an uncertain one. Stf 946 has magnitudes: A = 7.3. B = 9.1. Sep = 4". PA = 129 degrees. Easily split at 112X. Both 12 Lyn and Stf 1050 are in the same FOV at 112X. Wow!
6. Finally: over on
www.cloudynights.com
a true gentleman called DHEB from Sweden gave me a list of 9 carbon stars in Lynx. Having successfully observed T and BD Lyn, I set out to find a 3rd carbon: ES Lyncis.
Thankfully this carbon is very close to a magnitude 6 star which has the designation HIP 38325 - the latter is easily visible at 11X in my WO 70 mm F/6 small apo.
At 40X in the main scope there is no sign of ES Lyncis of course.
But at 112X a marvellous transformation has taken place.
There are 2 tiny stars to the right of HIP 38325. They are a mere 2.5 arc minutes apart.
The bottom one has the designation TYC 3783 129 and its magnitude is 11.4.
The top star is ES Lyncis.
I would estimate that its magnitude is about 11.7. Spot on, Finbarr!
This is strange, because Simbad says it ought to be 11.1.
It is fainter than TYC 3783 129 for sure.
Over on
www.aavso.org
they only give a variable mag of between 10.1 and 10.4; that's with a CR Passband.
CR stands for a wide band R mag.
Perhaps someone can explain to me the term "CR Passband". Thank you in anticipation.
www.aavso.org
also informs that ES Lyn is most likely a slow irregular variable giant star.
A giant star? That's remarkable - as it is so faint.
ES Lyn's spectral class is simply C (Simbad).
And it most definitely has an orange hue that is only associated with a carbon star.
I used further magnifications 140X and 167X.
At that last power, despite its faintness, it became intensely orange - a true gem!
Therefore I do strongly recommend ES Lyncis to you all.
It's a real tiny treasure.
I have now observed 3 carbon stars in Lynx. And 87 carbon stars overall.
Sadly, Lynx is becoming more and more difficult to observe.
A tree I don't own is beginning to block my view.
I do have the great desire to observe 12 Lyncis one last time before I go for another constellation.
There are more carbon stars within its boundaries. So I will return to this almost invisible but fascinating constellation sometime at the end of 2020.
Thank you for reading this report.
Comments are most welcome.
Clear skies from Aubrey.
  