Short Doubles Session

[cloudsweeper]

Weds., 9.05pm.  I used the little ED80 Apo for a change, placing it on the Celestron GoTo mount.  Aligned onAltair (only).

Sigma 2391 Scutum - 6th and 9th mags, 38".  At x20, I couldn't see the secondary, perhaps contrast was poor.  At x27 (and lower exit pupil) it sprang into view (albeit very faint) at 11 o'clock, well separated.

Sigma 2373 Scutum - 7th and 8th mags, a tighter 4.4" separation.  It sits at the bottom of head of Taurus-like "V" of stars.  Got the split at x80, very close, 11 o'clock.

Sigma 2793 Equuleus - a (2)+1 triple (visual double), 7th and 9th mags, 27".  Got the split at x20, sec very close, 9 o'clock.

The Wild Duck Open Cluster M11 was in the same FOV as the first target, showing as a pair of faint stars and a third nearby with fuzziness around it.  It is a very dense cluster, and I have previously resolved some of the stars in the fuzz, but not this time at low magnification (x27).

An enjoyable hour!

Doug.

[wookie1965]

Nice one Doug some nice doubles there I am going to copy them thanks for posting.

 

[Mr Spock]

Short but sweet - a nice selection.

[cloudsweeper]

Thanks Paul & Michael.  I enjoyed the widefield view of the ED80, but for faint stars and the high mags needed for many doubles it is not the best 'scope to use.  I'll use the 8" Cat or 10" Dob next time!

Doug.

Edited September 1, 2022 by cloudsweeper

[wookie1965]

I want a big dob now sell one of my refractors so I have the best of both worlds.

[Knighty2112]

Nice wee session Doug. Mine was even less last night with a very brief spell with my 80ED looking at Jupiter, Saturn and double Eta Cassiopeiae which was a first viewing for me of this double, then back indoors. Tonight is supposed to be clear till about 1am so may try for more targets later on tonight, so may get the large 102mm ED f11 ‘frac out to hunt down more doubles on the Heq5 Pro goto mount.  

[cloudsweeper]

1 hour ago, wookie1965 said:

I want a big dob now sell one of my refractors so I have the best of both worlds.

Good idea Paul.  My 10" Bresser is just about manageable for me.  Another big advantage of Dobs is that they are easier to use for high altitude objects.

Doug.

[cloudsweeper]

1 hour ago, Knighty2112 said:

Nice wee session Doug. Mine was even less last night with a very brief spell with my 80ED looking at Jupiter, Saturn and double Eta Cassiopeiae which was a first viewing for me of this double, then back indoors. Tonight is supposed to be clear till about 1am so may try for more targets later on tonight, so may get the large 102mm ED f11 ‘frac out to hunt down more doubles on the Heq5 Pro goto mount.  

Yikes Gus, that's almost the length of my 127 f/9.45!  Nice 'scope, I'll bet.  How do you get on with that mount and a long frac?  (I have had only scant experience with an eq mount, not GoTo either.)

Doug.