Observing report 17/02/2006

[lunator]

Hey Ian,

I think I struck gold again last night, I decided to have a go at splitting Regulus, couldn't do it with the 4mm on its own, so I added the 2x barlow, still couldn't do it....>sighs<...but then, I remembered what you told me about pulling the ep further out to get a even higher mag, and BINGO!!!!.... :shock: I could just about make out the 2 stars....

Perhaps on a steadier night, I will be able to see a definite split....

Caz

Regulus is a wide double 175" 1st & 8th magnitude.

It sounds like you saw a closer star.

Cheers

Ian

Ahhhh shucks.... Oh well, I'm totally gutted, you could have let me down gently.... :laugh:

Caz.... :clown:

Caz

I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you feel down.

You did split Regulus as I am sure you saw both the stars when you were observing as your scope will spot an 8th mag star with ease. The wide distance of 175" makes the stars seem unconnected.

Your scope is able to 'see' down to Mag 13 so you could have spotted a star closer to Regulus and harder to see due to it being faint.

I'll check my info and see which one it could be.

The next clear night (whenever that might be ) look at Regulus with a lowish power eyepice (25mm ish) this should put the 2 stars quite close together.

Ian

[lunator]

OK guys

Here is the inital list of 25 stars.

They are all visible at this time of year.

Cheers

Ian

Name RA DEC MAG Sep Spectral Comments

Gamma Aries 0154 +1918 4.8, 4.8 8" B9V,A1 Both white stars. Hint of Blue

Theta Auriga 0600 +3713 2.6, 7.1 4" A0II, G2V Secondary is similar too the Sun

Zeta Cancer 0812 +1739 5.6, 6.0, 6.2 0.9", 6" F8V, F9V, G5V Larger apertures & good seeing needed to see the close companion

i-1 Cancer 0847 +2846 4.2, 6.6 30" G8III, A3V Orange & blue 'spring albireo'

Alpha Canes V 1256 +3819 2.9, 5.5 20" B9-A0p, F0V Blue-white double easy to split

Eta Cass. 0049 +5749 3.4, 7.9 13" G0V, M0V Beautiful yellow & red colour combination

Beta Cephus 2129 +7034 3.2, 7.9 13" B2III, A2V Colourful pair green-white, blue-purple

Alpha Gem 0735 +3153 1.9, 2.9, 8.9 4", 72" A1V, A2V, M0V Brilliant blue-white pair, faint 3rd star is a variable 8.9-9.6 (period 20 hours)

Delta Gem 0720 +2159 3.5, 8.2 6" F0IV, K3V Yellow & red

20 Gem 0632 +1747 6.3. 6.9 20" F8III Yellow and blue

38 Gem 0655 +1311 4.4, 7.7 7" F0V, G4V White, pale yellow pair

Alpha Leo 1008 +1158 1.4,7.7 177" B7V, K1V Wide CPM (share same space motion) pair

Gamma Leo 1020 +1951 2.2, 3.5 4" K0III, G7III Fine orange pair

54 Leo 1056 +2445 4.5, 6.3 6" A1V, A2V Lovely white pair, hints of blue & green

Beta Mon. 0629 -0702 4.7, 5.4, 5.6 3", 10" B3V, B3, B3 White triple

Beta Orion 0514 -0812 0.1, 6.8 10" B8I, B5V White pair

Delta Orion 0532 -0018 1.9-2.1, 6.3 53" O9II, B2V White & pale blue.

Zeta Orion 0541 -0157 1.9, 4 2.5" O9I, B0III Tight blue white pair. Can be difficult.

Sigma Orion 0535 -0236 4,10.3. 7.7, 6.5 11", 13", 43" O9V, B2V, B2V Blue white triple with E761 triple in same view!!

Eta Perseus 0251 +5554 3.8, 8.5 28" K3I, B? Orange , blue strong colour contrast

theta 1/2 Tau 0429 +1552 3.4, 3.8 337" A7III, G7III Naked eye pair

Zeta Uma 1334 +5456 2.3, 4, 4 14", 709" A2V, A1, A5V Mizar, Alcor. Naked eye & telescopic pair

Xi Uma 1118 +3132 4.3, 4.8 1.8" G0V, G0V Tight pair, 1st stars to have their orbit determined

Alpha Umi 0232 +8916 1.9-2.1, 9 18" F7I, F1 Polaris white pair

Gamma Virgo 1241 -0127 3.5, 3.5 <1" F0V, F0V Unsplitable in most scopes (0.4" in 2005 & early 2006) Will appear egg shaped with a change of orientation over a matter of months. May be splitable at the end of 2006.