Here Rover, Here Boy!

Hi all

The Great Dog was barking and I came running, no, I wasn't chasing a stick.

Here's the list.

ADS 5266: A pair of faint 9th mag. stars consisting of a yellow-white primary and white companion. With a separation of 4.1, and far from ideal seeing initially, this was a tricky split, requiring X147 to complete the job.
Mu CMa: Very tight with a separation of just 3 arcminutes and the difference in magnitudes, 4.5 & 8 proved a very stern test for my 110mm refractor. The primary is yellow in colour with a white secondary. I needed the maximum magnification I possess, X232, to make the separation.
STF 990: A tight white pair, separation 3.3, faint at 8.5 & 9.5 and required X147.
HD 54515: Tight and white, separated by a mere 3.7, 8.5 & 9 being the magnitudes they required high magnification.
BU 328: At last,a wide pair, 18", the 6th mag. white primary is accompanied by a 9th mag. companion. The primary is located in a busy field, therefore knowing the PA was essential in finding the correct star for the secondary.
STF 969: A white pair of 7th & 10th mag. companions, wide at 7.2" and easily split at X93.
S 518: 8 & 10th mags, the primary is white, to me the secondary has a blue tint, very wide at 17" and easily split at X93.
STT 3116: A white primary with blue companion at close in the sky at 4.2", I could make the split at X93, 6th & 10th mags with a nice orange star very close by.
Nu CMa: A very nice yellow and orange pair consisting of 6.5 & 8th mag stars. Very wide at 17", easily separated at X59.
HJ 2321: A pale yellow primary with a white companion, separated by a mere 5.6" and requiring X93.
17 CMa: Very wide at 44", they are a white pair that sit in a very pretty field of 4 stars, magnitudes 6 & 9 make up the pair, easily viewed at X59, the best sight of the night.
S 534: 6.5 & 8th mag stars, pale yellow and white, wide at 18", I could split them at X29, got the best view at X59, they sit in a nice star field.

17 Canis Majoris was the 500th double that I have observed, I'm glad that this delightful sight marked this minor milestone.

All the stars I observed were in northern Canis Major, there are many fine doubles to be seen in the southern portion of the constellation that will require another night, and most likely a better location.

Thanks for your time.

Paul

A better location?

Like the Canary islands maybe.

Great report Paul

Hi Paul.
What on embarrassment! The only 3 objects I have ever observed in Canis Major are: Nu1 Canis Majoris with my current scope, Mu Canis Majoris with a previous scope and M41 the open cluster below Sirius.

And also I have never seen Sirius B.
Great list, Paul. And Big Congratulations on splitting your 500th double star!!

Aubrey.

Hi Paul, I have been looking at Canis Major recently as well mostly to see if I could
catch a glimpse of the elusive pup, up to date not a sight of it . So I was just thinking
has anyone seen Sirius B from Ireland and what scope did they use. Some nice doubles
there Paul.

Pat

I tried to split Sirius last night , and on one occasion I thought I had it, I really got excited, until I realised that it was merely an internal reflection in the eyepiece, serious disappointment.

Paul

Rumour has it we should look at Sirius when it is not truly dark, i.e., at dusk.

Then the glare from the primary is not as strong.

Let's try again as Spring approaches.

Aubrey.