Two doubles in Cancer

Hi lovers of double stars. I have just come in after observing for 1 hour 30 minutes.
I first checked up on Algieba (Gamma Leonis) -and split it cleanly at 112X.
Then I swung over to M44 (Beehive cluster) -very nice at 40X.

Split Zeta Cancri at an easy 40X.
Starhopped then to two new doubles for me in Cancer: stf 1162 and stf 1167.
Stf 1162 was surprisingly easy at 40X: Components A and B, magnitudes 8 and 10. 9 seconds separation.
Stf 1167 is nearby. A and B magnitudes 10 and 12. 12 seconds separation. I could just about see both at 40X (very faint B component), but both were easy at 112X.
Both doubles are easy to find in eastern Cancer in my 6.2" apochromatic refractor.

Aubrey.

Here's the list of doubles in Cancer that I took a look at in the favourable conditions last night. In the interests of brevity, only the names and comments are included (all observations using a C11 on a CG5 mount).


Zeta Cnc, Tegmine
Three yellow suns, all of similar brightness, one well separated at 350x, the other two almost touching. Excellent triple.

STF1171
Deep orange star, with a faint speck close beside it, well separated using 350x.

STT186
Identical pale yellow stars, almost touching with 350x.

STF1177
Slightly unequal pair of very pale yellow stars, nicely separated using 350x.

STF1187
Slightly unequal pair of yellow stars, nicely split using 350x.

STF1202
Very unequal pair, both golden, well separated using 350x.

LEP30
Yellow star, with a fainter, red-orange companion, widely separated even using 117x.

21 Cnc
Bright primary, beautiful deep orange colour. Could not spot the secondary.

Nυ Cnc, 24 Cnc
Slightly unequal white - yellowish pair, very pretty using 117x.

Phi-2 Cnc, STF1223
Splendid pair of identical bright white stars, attractively close using 175x.

STF1245
Mildly unequal pair of pale yellow stars, in the middle of the hypotenuse of a right angle triangle - interesting asterism. Nicely separated using 140x.

STF1283
Pale yellow primary with a slightly fainter greenish secondary, well separated using 117x.

STT195
Mildly unequal pair of yellow stars, well separated using 117x.

STF1291
Matching pair of bright stars, rich gold in colour, barely split using 350x. Excellent. Faint, distant companion.

66 Cnc, STF1298
Unequal pair of white stars, well separated using 175x

STF1311
Binary of almost identical white stars, nicely separated using 117x, and alone except for one bright golden star.

STF1332
Matching pair of pale yellow stars, attractively close using 117x, in an almost empty field.

STTA96
Pretty yellow -bluish binary, making a tiny right angle triangle with a much fainter third component. The colours are
golden, white and blue. Best using 74x.

S571
Very wide pair of matching white stars with a nice orange star close by. Overwhelmed by the other Praesepe cluster stars.

STTA94
Mildly unequal pair of white stars, wide even at 74x.

STT191
Unequal pale yellow - white pair, widely separated at 74x.

Iota Cnc, STF1268
Gorgeous, bright, orange - blue pair, widely separated. Another Albireo lookalike.


I'm looking forward to comparing with the observations made by Paul and Aubrey and any others who were crab fishing last night.

Thanks for reading,
Mike

Well done on another enormous list, Mike -all in Cancer.I have observed most of them, but not all.
1. Can you give another designation for Lep30?
2. I must give 21 Cnc a real try -it's 1 arc second separation.
3. I loved Iota Cancri last year.

I have observed stf 1171, stf 1177, 24 Cancri, Phi 2 Cancri, stf 1245, 66 Cancri, and Stt 191 only last night -like you too.

Aubrey.

Thanks Aubrey. It was the first time I observed any of those targets and I was delighted to find so many fine doubles in Cancer. I'm much more impressed by the number of targets that you and Paul observe using 'manual' techniques, that the list I can compile with a motorised mount controlled by a PC. All I do is push buttons.

21 Cnc is very difficult because of the small separation and the large difference in brightness (6.3 & 9.4). I was unable to pick out the secondary even though the software showed me exactly where it should be.

The name LEP30 is taken from the WDS catalogue, which does not give any other names. The data are as follows:
WDS08156+1126, RA 08:15:33, Dec +11:25:51, Mag1 7.7, Mag2 9.8, Sep 31.9, PA 238

Mike

Thank you, Mike, for that. I shall put in those co-ordinates on Guide 8 for Lep 30. If we can get the shopping done early, I shall set up the scope.

Aubrey.

and any others who were crab fishing last night

Don't talk to me about terrible subject titles. :laugh:

That's a great list Mike, I'll definitely take note of those I don't have listed and go 'crab fishing'.

Paul