Pegasus Doubles - More Progress

[cloudsweeper]

Started by showing big sister some lunar detail - more for her to enjoy for the first time after Mars and Saturn a few days ago.

Anyway - five doubles close to Scheat, all within about 3 degrees.  (Well three doubles, since I reported on Sigma 2978 and h5532 a few days ago.)

I aligned the 8SE on Deneb, and checked it by going to the bright orange Scheat, at the north of the Great Square.  One-star alignment is not great however, so it was a bit out, but easily spotted, and I used it to hop to:

Sigma 2974 - 2.7", matched - just split at x102, better x145.

Then another hop to:

Beta 78 - 19", companion faint - an easy, clear split x56, helped by AV, clearer x68, very pleasing.

Combined hopping and GoTo isn't very sensible, so I re-aligned on Scheat and Markab, and went - using SAO numbers as usual - for:

Sigma 2968 - 3.2", faint companion - spot on!  Split at x145, with AV.

So that's the five I wanted now achieved.

A bit further south lies 61 Peg, a binary, 31". I had a go at this recently when it wasn't very dark, and could not spot the companion.  Now, I thought, it would surrender to my probing, but again, No, at a range of mags, then after 1.25 hours cloud brought further attempts to a close.  But I'll be back there alright!

An enjoyable session, taking advantage of even short windows of opportunity!

Doug.

(Piazzi's Flying Star - see Gus's reply - this is actually 61 Cyg, not 61 Peg as I originally stated.  Sorry!)

 

 

[Knighty2112]

21 minutes ago, cloudsweeper said:

Started by showing big sister some lunar detail - more for her to enjoy for the first time after Mars and Saturn a few days ago.

Anyway - five doubles close to Scheat, all within about 3 degrees.  (Well three doubles, since I reported on Sigma 2978 and h5532 a few days ago.)

I aligned on Deneb, and checked it by going to the bright orange Scheat, at the north of the Great Square.  One-star alignment is not great however, so it was a bit out, but easily spotted, and I used it to hop to:

Sigma 2974 - 2.7", matched - just split at x102, better x145.

Then another hop to:

Beta 78 - 19", companion faint - an easy, clear split x56, helped by AV, clearer x68, very pleasing.

Combined hopping and GoTo isn't very sensible, so I re-aligned on Scheat and Markab, and went - using SAO numbers as usual - for:

Sigma 2968 - 3.2", faint companion - spot on!  Split at x145, with AV.

So that's the five I wanted now achieved.

A bit further south lies 61 Peg, a binary, 31", called Bessel's Star, or Piazzi's Flying Star - "flying" because it has a very large proper motion (relative to the solar system), so changes position noticeably over the years.  I had a go at this recently when it wasn't very dark, and could not spot the companion.  Now, I thought, it would surrender to my probing, but again, No, at a range of mags, then after 1.25 hours cloud brought further attempts to a close.  But I'll be back there alright!

An enjoyable session, taking advantage of even short windows of opportunity!

Doug.

 

 

Nice work Doug. Looks like your sister might get the bug too!  Was hoping to do a little observing tonight as earlier it was quite clear, but now clouded up, so no doubles or anything for me tonight! 

[cloudsweeper]

Thought I'd resurrect this just to confirm I was getting mixed up with 61 Cyg.  61 Peg is actually not  double, but - according to Stellarium - has a close neighbour.  But the five doubles near Scheat were all good viewing.

Doug.

[Kn4fty]

Great report and thanks for posting! Reminded me I've been neglecting doubles lately. Will plan for some the next session.

Rob