A Sextuple

[Scooot]

I found out after sketching it, that Castor has a lot more to it than meets the eye. Namely there are 6 components. I tried all my eyepieces and the Barlow but settled on the 8mm as this gave me a good split and a fantastic view of the A & B components. The defraction spikes were striking and enhanced the scene so I wanted to try and portray this in the sketch. Despite a lot of reading I'm still not sure whether or not the star slightly above is the C component although I think it must be as its meant to be a reasonably easy triple to see.

[chiltonstar]

Castor C is magnitude 9.82, so is unlikely to be the star above AB if your brightness reproduction is correct IMO.

Chris

[Daniel-K]

no sign of the 16? 

i like this area of sky good sketch 

[Scooot]

Castor C is magnitude 9.82, so is unlikely to be the star above AB if your brightness reproduction is correct IMO.

Chris

Thanks Chris,

No my brightness reproduction isn't any good. I tend to use a light grey for faint and a white pencil for brighter stars. I draw them with a pencil on white paper at the eyepiece and transfer them onto the sketch pad afterwards. The downside to this is I don't draw the magnitudes correctly, I spend more time concentrating on their position. You're probably right, I originally thought that star was coloured and changed my mind when transferring it into the sketchbook. I've still got a lot to learn with this sketching.

[Scooot]

no sign of the 16? 

i like this area of sky good sketch

Cheers Dan,

I think it's imminent, I had an email update saying the optics arrived last week.

[Scooot]

Just come in from having another look at this. More nearby stars were visible tonight without the moonlight so it was easier to identify everything.

The star above isn't the C component it is struve 1110. This is a double which I can't split, but looked a fairly deep crimson colour. It's mag 9.82 & 10.06, about the same as Castor C. The top star in my sketch is another one that's missing from Sky Safari Pro.

So I can only see the two main A&B components of Castor, I presume the others are lost in its glare. I'd be curious to know if it's possible to see them with a scope and what's required?

[Pete Presland]

very nice sketch.

[Moonshane]

As far as I recall the c star is a brick red colour so maybe you had it?

[Scooot]

As far as I recall the c star is a brick red colour so maybe you had it?

I've been wondering that since my last post, Sky Safari describes Castor as Struve 1110 as well as that one. It's all a bit confusing, I'm quite surprised I can't seem to work it out with the help of Google. I've been hoping someone would put me straight.

[Moonshane]

Just checked (cambridge doubles) and c is described as dim orange and 71" (cf 4") split from main pair. I think you had it. Will check next time out.

[Moonshane]

Ps I am pretty certain only a-c can be split.

[Scooot]

Just checked (cambridge doubles) and c is described as dim orange and 71" (cf 4") split from main pair. I think you had it. Will check next time out.

According to Sky Safari the one in my sketch they describe as Struve 1110 is 01° 10.5" from Castor. That's now, I don't know if it changes much.

I found this diagram which seems to indicate all the components are quite close.

[Moonshane]

Pps alpha gem is also known as Struve 1110

[Scooot]

I've redrawn the star in question to how I had it originally.

I'll be interested to see what star you the no it is Shane after you've had another look yourself

[Moonshane]

yep, that's spot on. the brick red one is C. had a look last night.