A serious double star challenge

Not at all, Dave. There is complete freedom of speech on this website. I wonder who will be the 1st amateur to see Sirius B? I get the feeling it won't be me -but whatever will be, will be.

Aubrey.

Aubrey, The sky cleared for awhile last night but Aries was hidden by
a tree so I had a look at Orion instead. Rigel I managed to split at
275x or at least it took that to be sure what I was seeing was the
companion, I then moved to Eta Orion magnitude 3.56 & 4.87 sep. 1.8
at 165x there was definite elongation and at 275x it was well split a
bit fuzzey round the edges, both stars looked white to me maybe just
a hint of colour in the companion not sure. Just before the clouds rolled
in again I had a look at Meissa in northern Orion a lovely quadruple star
A & B sep. 4.3" magnitudes 3.5 5.5 C and D 10.7 9.6.

Pat.

Great to hear you are observing double stars again, Pat. Let me share with you that I normally split Rigel at a mere 112X. Eta Orionis is a major challenge. Its components are a mere 1.8" separation -you are correct. I could well believe it would take over 200X to split that one. I did split it a number of years ago with another telescope.
Meissa is a beautiful double, but I must congratulate you on seeing its other components. When I observed it earlier this year, I didn't take note of the 3rd, 4th and 5th components. But I am ready now with a drawing of the system. stelle doppie goaction. it is the perfect website for any details.

Aubrey.

Hi Aubrey, I have split Rigel with less power as well its just that night
Rigel was still pretty low and maybe the scope had not settled down, it was a
bit later when I observed Eta Orion and Meissa. I think the reason I was
aware of the other components of Meissa is because last year I was observing it
with a Telementor and I was having a discussion on the Telementor yahoo group
about how many components I could see,which turned out to be 4 one missing
I think it was C at 10.7 mag. I agree with you on stelle dobbie goaction its
the best website for information. I am going to try 36 Andromeda when I next
get a chance, it will be very difficult at 1.0" sep. magnitudes of 6.1 6.5
might be easier in your refractor than my reflector but you never know.

Pat.

Hey Pat, guess what? I have just come in from a 3 hour observing session and saw all 5 components of Meissa at a mere 112X in the 6.2" apo. It is funny that the C component does not show up on my Guide 8 disc, (perhaps John O'Neill might comment, but as you say stelle doppie goaction specifies all 5 stars. The C star is definately the faintest at 10.7, whereas D and E are 9.6 and 9.2. Surely C, D and E are optical companions, but A and B are a binary.
I also split Rigel for sure at 112X, Alnitak at 112X and Mintaka at 40X.
I'll back to you when I split Eta Orionis -neighbour's got in the way.
I split Castor in to 3 components at 112X.

I find it hard to believe I have had 46 observing sessions in 2012! I don't think I will match that in 2013.

Aubrey.

Hi Aubrey,

I'm not a visual observers of double stars, however, I was intrigued by the possibility of splitting the Sirius A & B by using a webcam/video cam. Has anybody done this in Ireland yet?

Eamonn

www.kingslandobservatory.com