Observations - 2/11/21

Hello everyone here on IFAS.

I had my William Optics 158mm apochromatic refractor out in the back garden on Tuesday 2nd November 2021 to seek out some double stars and a very beautiful and very unusual carbon star. Each of these objects are in Cassiopeia the Queen. My north is to the right. My east is straight down.

There was a light 10 to 13 km/h northerly breeze which was coming from the direction of Polaris. The breeze most certainly helped to keep any dew at bay. 
Sunset occurred at 16.50UT. I started observing at 17.07 to 19.45UT and I found Vega very close to my zenith at 17.07UT. 
Arcturus and Izar were next. The latter split at 112X, 140X and 167X. 
Before I got to Cassiopeia, I split Polaris at 40X and 112X. Its companion was found in the 10 o’clock position at precisely 6pm. 

The following doubles and triples can be checked out on www.stelledoppie.it – if you so desire. 

1. The cloud had thickened for about an hour as I started to look for Alpha Cassiopeiae (Schedar). But eventually the star with its companion appeared at 40X. The sky was then clear.

I know I have observed these next 2 triple stars many times. 

2. Moving the scope further afield I arrived at Epsilon Cassiopeiae (Segin). The triple star Iota Cassiopeiae is reasonably close by. A & B are a true binary, but C is optical. Magnitudes: A = 4.6. B = 6.9. C = 9.1. Sep’s from A = 3” & 6.7”. PA’s = 228˚ & 117˚. Stunning split at 112X. All stars were white. Although C might be a bit blue.   

3. Psi Cassiopeiae is another triple star less than 6˚ from Iota. B is too faint for my scope. C & D are a true binary. But A, which is yellow –orange, must be a different distance to us when compared to the dimmer pair. My refractor splits all 3 stars at 112X. However I must state I find the 2 dimmer stars most delightfully tight at this low magnification. The separation from A to C = 20.3”. The dim pair (STF 117) has a separation of 2.9”. PA from A to C is 128˚. The PA from C to D is 253˚.  

4. ENG 2 is an optical double which is of little interest to yours truly. However I find it necessary to tick it off my list as it leads me to a most memorable carbon star. Magnitudes: A = 7.8. B = 10.5. Sep = 94.2”. Split at 40X. The primary is a little bit orange – but not much. 

5. HJ 1999 is in the same fov at 112X and is an uncertain double. Magnitudes: A = 9.4. B = 11.4. Sep = 25.3”. PA = 16˚. The 2 white stars have plenty of space between at 112X. 

After dinner, my wife joined me from 21h until 22.30UT. 

6. I have observed STF 48 recently. Its magnitudes are: A = 7.8. B = 8.1. Sep = 5.4”. PA = 333˚. It still takes my breath away somewhat. Beautiful tight split at 40X. It also looks even better at 112X. 

7. Just before my carbon star, there is a very difficult optical double in the same fov called MLR 287. Magnitudes: A = 10.4. B = 11.7. Sep = 2.9”. PA = 95˚. It lies less than 2.5’ west from a yellow-white 8.3 magnitude F8 star called SAO 4159. I required 225X to catch a glimpse of the secondary. But I did have good seeing and at 280X I had no hassle seeing both stars fully separated. However I do have a question: who is MLR? I have come across one name: Muller. But I honestly haven’t got a clue in regards to whose designation this is at all. Could someone help out me out please? Thank you. 

8. And so I arrive to the carbon star which is very close to a very charming 3 star asterism. These 3 stars from left to right are: TYC 4299 1460 (mag = 10., SAO 4159 (mag= 8.3) and TYC 4299 1398 (mag = 10.4). This latter star is the brighter star of the double MLR 287. CP Cassiopeiae varies from 9.4 to 10.3 in magnitude. It has 2 other designations: GSC 04299-01685 and TYC 4299-1685-1. On www.aavso.org they give it their own designation: 000-BCV-174. The Right Ascension is: 00h 35’ 40.91”. The declination is +70˚ 31’ 08.41”. I have recorded CP Cassiopeiae’s current magnitude as +10.3 on AAVSO and it clearly is at its minimum magnitude. But what a beautiful shade of orange it is! My wife Valerie is very interested in art. We have been checking on Google images what shade of orange this star is, and we both agree that CP Cas is a burnt sienna ochre coloured star. Neither of us can begin to imagine such a colour for any other star anywhere else in the heavens. I believe my Heavenly Father created CP Cas just for us carbon star admirers.  Please do go and check it out, fans of carbon stars. I’m delighted to say that CP Cas is my 23rd observed carbon star in Cassiopeiae and my 109th overall. 

9. Lastly there is one more uncertain double star west of CP Cassiopeiae. LDS 1510 has magnitudes: A = 9.9. B = 11.3. Sep = 31.1”. PA = 292˚. Nice split at 112X. I have been successful in finding out who LDS is. I have never seen such a strange designation before. The man's name is Willem Jacob Luyten who was born in Java which is an island in the Indian Ocean and lived from 1899 to 1994. He died at the age of 95 and eventually became a Dutch-American astronomer and worked in the famous Lick Observatory. He observed Halley’s Comet at the tender age of 11.  

Thank you for reading my latest report. 

Comments, corrections and questions are very welcome. 

Images of CP Cas are especially welcome (!)

Clear skies from Aubrey.       

I do have a question: who is MLR? I have come across one name: Muller.

You are right Aubrey; Paul Muller (1910-2000) of the Strasbourg Astronomical Observatory.

Finbarr.

Thank you, Finbarr. 

Monsieur Paul Muller had the use of a 19 inch refractor. Wow!
So even the French loved double stars. 

Very best regards from Aubrey. 

Hi Aubrey,

What a report, and what a session - over four hours - WOW 

I was delighted to read that you and Valerie managed to observe another carbon star. And it sounds like it's a real beaut! And speaking of nice stars, I recall observing Psi Cas recently. You had suggested we take a look at HIP3045, so as I was star-hopping to it I had a look at Psi Cas - great call!

So I must follow your advice and take a look at STF 48 next night out.

Clear skies,

Darren.