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Pi Aquilae - split

Stu

By Stu
in Observing - Reports

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Stu

Stu

Posted
Posted

I've not tried for this one before, but had a go tonight with the 150ED.

It was relatively low and over houses so I wasn't expecting much. I couldn't find it in the database of the Goto (probably my error), but found it easily enough hopping from Altair to Tarezed then found it as the brighter of a wide pair of stars.

I had the 6mm BGO in, and it split straight away. The seeing was not great, but it was clear enough at x225.

I tried the 3.7 Ethos, but didn't like it in that, maybe a bit too much at x365, so I settled on a 4mm Radian giving x338. I have to say, for a 1.4" separation double it was embarrassingly easy :-). Always clear black space between the components and beautiful crisp stars when the seeing cleared.

I reckon a sub arc second split is do able with this scope under the right conditions, will give it a go when I get a chance.

This has been on my list to try for a while so I'm pleased to have cracked it finally.

Cheers,

Stu

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Stu

Stu

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Thanks Nick, will give those a go. Was expecting it to be harder given the lower altitude and tighter separation vs the Double Double for instance. I guess just being able to use higher magnifications and the extra resolution helps?

Stu

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Stu

Stu

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Think so, gets rid of the light pollution interference. Have you had a shot at the double double yet in the scope ? Looked pin ace sharp with the aperture closed to 4". This is a lovely area for doubles,

Nick.

Yes, I had a quick look the other night. It split well but have had better views in the 4" when it has been higher up. Will keep at them. Any good sub arc second ones which are well positioned at the moment?

Stu

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cotterless45

cotterless45

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Yep,

Bootes....ST 1816 (.6") ,zeta Bootis (.7"), STT 288 (1.1"), STT 298, stunning triple AB is .8".

Cancer.....57 Cancri (1.5"), ST 3121 (.8")

CVn....25 CVn (1.8")

Gemini...ST 1037 (1.1")

Leo....2 Leonis (.6"), STT 215 (1.4"), ST 1426( AB is .9"), STT 217 (.7"), ST 1517 (.6"), ST 1555(.7") which I make much wider.

Lynx...4 Lyncis (.7), ST 1033 (1.5")

Orion...14 Orionis(.7"), STT 517(.7")

UMa.....STT 200 (1.3"), STT 235(.7"), 78 UMa (1.2")

UMi......ST 2034 (1.1")

I've thrown in the wider ones to give you a fighting chance ! Bet you can't wait for Sissy Haas !

Nick.

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cotterless45

cotterless45

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Some, but not others ! Will let you know when you've had a fighting chance. There's some devilish wide ones with magnitude differences that are quite hard, list somewhere !

Try alpha Cancri , then delta Cancri, some good stuff in Leo, including another double double,

Nick.post-6974-0-28930800-1395756256_thumb.jppost-6974-0-91374700-1395756275_thumb.jp

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John

John

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Nice split Stu  :smiley:

I've managed Pi Aquilae with my ED120 and once with my ED102 - it's a challenging but satisfying one  :smiley:

I've managed a couple of sub-arc second splits with my ED120 (can't recall which right now) and with 6" refractors in the past so they are certainly possible under the right conditions.

A really good test of another sort would be to see if you can pick up the rille that runs up the Lunar Alpine Valley with your 150 Vixen. My 12" dob wil show it but, so far, the ED120 hasn't. 

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Stu

Stu

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Nice split Stu :smiley:

A really good test of another sort would be to see if you can pick up the rille that runs up the Lunar Alpine Valley with your 150 Vixen. My 12" dob wil show it but, so far, the ED120 hasn't.

Will give that one a go, thanks John. Any idea about the best phase to get it?

Stu

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John

John

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Will give that one a go, thanks John. Any idea about the best phase to get it?

Stu

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Something like 22 days / 60% or just a touch more phase would be good

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alan potts

alan potts

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Nice split Stu, I did this one last year with the 180mm Mak ( your name sake). I never really say I am a one interest astronomer but if I had to pick one topic I think it would be doubles, I have spent what seems half of the last 8 years looking at Sirius and Antares, there is something about them I cant put a finger on.

I hope this thread is open to people who do not have a 6 inch refractor

Alan.

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Stu

Stu

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Thanks Alan, all welcome on this thread, of course :-)

It's the first time I've tried anything below 2" so I don't really have anything to compare it with. The Double Double and Izar have been the tightest prior to that. Must try Izar in it so I have a direct comparison.

Sirius needs to be properly attempted too. It's a matter of timing though, catching it between the houses so the seeing is not so bad.

Stu

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alan potts

alan potts

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Without going too far off topic both Sirius and Antares are never going to be easy meat from anywhere in England, I have problems later in April with, not houses but walnut trees, but as I own them I guess I could cut them down.

I think when you get below 2" apart from good scope you need conditions a bit on your side.

Alan.

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John

John

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My view of Sirius is between buildings too Stu  :undecided:

I think it's pretty much overhead for Alan though so easy peasy for him (walnut trees aside)   :p

I find hunting these challenging stellar pairings rewarding as well. Unequal brightness makes the splits a lot harder and if there is a nice colour contrast as well then thats the icing on the cake :smiley:

It's fascinating to think that a couple of hundred years ago or so, these pairs were being split for the first time by keen astronomers. I suspect they would have been amazed at the scopes we have available as amateurs today. 

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philj

philj

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Well done Stu 1.4" double with your scope will definitely be a doddle. Just looked on my list  and I split this last year with my 5 inch Meade at 260x but with good seeing, you should be able to drive a bus through the gap with the 150

I really must get Sissys book, very remiss of me.

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Stu

Stu

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Well done Stu 1.4" double with your scope will definitely be a doddle. Just looked on my list and I split this last year with my 5 inch Meade at 260x but with good seeing, you should be able to drive a bus through the gap with the 150

I really must get Sissys book, very remiss of me.

Thanks Phil, yes, I guess I need to get used to the performance. As I said at x335 it was very clear, very nearly wide enough for that bus ;-).

Izar will be a useful comparison for me though as I've observed it many times with both 76 and 106 so will be interesting to see how much clearer it is.

I don't think the constant vapour trails over my house help much! Need to get away to some clear skies with it to see what it can do.

Stu

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John

John

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.....I don't think the constant vapour trails over my house help much! Need to get away to some clear skies with it to see what it can do.....

What we need is a nice big Icelandic volcano. The SGL star party coincided with the big Icelandic eruption a couple of years back - result = no vapour trails.

A couple of nice challenging doubles I like to observe are Eta Orionis and Iota Leonis. Both easy to find too !

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Stu

Stu

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What we need is a nice big Icelandic volcano. The SGL star party coincided with the big Icelandic eruption a couple of years back - result = no vapour trails.

A couple of nice challenging doubles I like to observe are Eta Orionis and Iota Leonis. Both easy to find too !

Yes, I really enjoyed that time, clear blue skies, lovely.

Will give those two a go.

Cheers,

Stu

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chiltonstar

chiltonstar

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What we need is a nice big Icelandic volcano. The SGL star party coincided with the big Icelandic eruption a couple of years back - result = no vapour trails.

A couple of nice challenging doubles I like to observe are Eta Orionis and Iota Leonis. Both easy to find too !

....er. I'm not so sure about all the dust that fell out of the sky though, particularly abrasive to optics!

Chris

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John

John

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....er. I'm not so sure about all the dust that fell out of the sky though, particularly abrasive to optics!

Chris

Were there any reported incidents of damage to optics Chris ?. I know there were some fears expressed but I can't recall if there was any actual damage caused. 

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chiltonstar

chiltonstar

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Were there any reported incidents of damage to optics Chris ?. I know there were some fears expressed but I can't recall if there was any actual damage caused. 

I don't know about anyone else, but when I shone my green laser in reverse through the optics of my Mak after a session with volcanic dust abounding, I could see quite a bit on the front corrector plate. As I often clean this with solvent and dust-free wipes, I didn't fancy scoring the surface with the very abrasive dust, so I removed it first with a filtered compressed air line at work. 

An aside, when you shine your green laser upwards during a dustfall, you see a myriad of little sparkles going upwards....very pretty.

Chris

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