Hello, all.
I have just been cleaning both my refractors after a short stint of observing Mars on Friday night 6th November 2020. The wind had died down completely after 9 pm and the temperatures had fallen to -1 degree Celsius as Valerie and I were figuring out what was on the Red Planet.
Earlier I had been having a great time observing from 5.15 to 6.15 pm some recent doubles which were new to me. The sky was pristine then when the temperatures were 4 degrees with a gentle breeze.
1. STF 3057 and STF 3062 are a stunning double - double. The former which is an uncertain double has magnitudes: A = 6.7. B = 9.3. Sep = 3.9". PA = 298 degrees. Both stars are white. The latter is a true double with magnitudes: A = 6.4. B = 7.3. Sep = 1.5". PA = 7 degrees. A is G3 yellow. I was able to place both doubles in magnifications 112X, 140X and 167X in the same FOV. Fabulous!
2. I also revisited the delightful KR 1 which is an uncertain double. Magnitudes: A = 9.4. B = 10. Sep = 2.1". PA = 192 degrees. Fine tight split at 112X and 140X.
3. And so I come to my 17th observed carbon star in Cassiopeia. Kiso C1-63 is relatively easy to find as it is quite close to Caph (Beta Cassiopeiae) and some other reasonably bright stars. There is a delightful and gentle curve of 3 stars and Kiso C1-63 is at the true north end. Its spectral class is simply C and its magnitude is +12.2. It does have 2 other designations which might prove fruitful to know: NSV 107 and GSC 04014-0296. The right Ascension is 00 hours 15 minutes and 53.67 seconds. The Declination is +60 degrees 53 minutes and 28.68 seconds. I found this carbon star at a mere 112X. But as I increased my magnifications up to 280X its orange colour became quite a bit more intense - but not too intense as MSB 75 proved to be which I did observe very recently. Kiso C1-63 is the first carbon star I have observed with that unusual designation. And I have found out what the abbreviation stands for: Kiso International Student Organisation. Kiso C1-63 is the 94th carbon star I have observed.
4. Lastly I came to Mars. At 112X I could see the very famous Syrtis Major. At 167X Mare Tyrrhenum was observed. At 225X the tiny South Polar Cap was plain to see. And at 280X I was seeing Mare Serpentis beginning to come into view. But at that final magnification Mars was a bit blurred some of the time.
Thank you for reading, one and all.
Comments, correction, sketches and even images are all very welcome!
Clear skies from Aubrey.
