I found a Double Star!

[DemonicOmelette]

I'm sure of it!

Last night, in the northern sky, right in the region of Cor Caroli, according to Stellarium... But I can't find it in any of my star charts!

Anyone know the one I'm talking about? It was quite exciting, as I was just browsing the sky with my 32mm EP, and saw this star that looked a little odd. Got my 6mm ep on it, and it looked kinda elongated, and then I threw in the 2x barlow, and it turned out to be two stars incredibly close together! First time I've found something "by accident"!

If nobody else has ever seen this, can I name it? Should I report it to the Royal Astronomical Society first, or straight to the Nobel Prize commitee?

[Viking]

Don't mess around. Go straight to the Nobel.

John

[Doc]

I like the name "Demon Star"

I would report it to the Royal Astronomical Society

[lunator]

Hi DO

I would check out the washington Double star catalogue to check this out.

Washington Double Star Catalog - Current Version

It lists over 100,000 doubles stars.

Good luck.

Cheers

Ian

[DemonicOmelette]

I had a quick look at that website, and that double star isn't on it. Well, by quick look, I saw the endless lists of numbers and decided to report my double and let the Nobel Committee sort it out...

[Cloudwatcher]

You don't say what scope you were using but a 32mm EP should give quite a wide FOV and if centred on Cor Caroli,HIP 63317 and HIP 63322 might fit the bill........ being to the South and West.

[DemonicOmelette]

I was using my Skywatcher 130pm. Looking at Starry Night 5 Pro, HIP63317 looks like it's just about exactly in the right spot. How far apart are these two stars? I mean in degrees, not in actual distance... They were quite tough to keep centred, even with my EQ mount. Saying that, I am pretty sure I wasn't lined up on Polaris..... Hmmm....

[lunator]

If it is the star HIP63317 that the pair STF1702.

Although that doesn't fit DO's observation as the pair are listed as being 36" apart. and would need a magnification of x200 to split.

Rgds

Ian

[Cloudwatcher]

The SW130p with a 6 mm EP & a x2 Barlow in place would provide something in excess of x216 mag' so it could be possible.

I was rather thinking that HIP63317 & HIP63322 might have been seen as an optical double.

[lunator]

CW

I agree with you about the possibilty of it being HIP63317/22 it ius just that being that wide should be splitable at less then x100 magnification.

DO

If it is clear tonight have another go and see if you can split this at lower mag.

If you get a chance try to draw a sketch.

Cheers

Ian

[DemonicOmelette]

A sketch? Easy. Here it is:

:

Looked something like that colon there. Like I said, with the 32 it looked a bit queer, with the 6mm it was definately more than just a star, and with the barlow it was two, just slightly closer together than the above pictured double. After I'd seen it with the barlow, and I went back to the 6mm on its own, I could just about make out that it was two...

[PhillyDee]

. Love it

[Johnboy]

A sketch? Easy. Here it is:

:

[Cloudwatcher]

Hehe!...... wonderful sketch........ best I've seen in ages...... so precise!

[DemonicOmelette]

That was only half in jest. How do you draw a double star, other than two points of light?

[PhillyDee]

Showing relative sizes and colour differences, as well as roughly the distance between then relative to the sizes of the points of light.

I would have thought

[ZOG]

That was only half in jest. How do you draw a double star, other than two points of light?

! collimation problem

** diffraction spiked

~~ coma

[rob453]

Congrats. Love your drawing of the double star. Now I REALLY want to go out, freeze my a** of and find one too. lol:grin: