Coster’s Catalogue of 2000 Visual Double Stars

[FLO]

Ian Coster (aka @lunator) has released his new hardback catalogue of visual double stars 🙂 

I met Ian at one of the first SGL star parties (a wet, soggy field in Wales), where he introduced people to some visual double stars. His passion and enthusiasm is infectious. 

Steve 

The book includes: 

• A brief overview of double star observing.
• A catalogue of 2000+ doubles listed by constellation and then Right Ascension.
• Inclusion of all WDS-noted companions.
• J2000 co-ordinates for handsets.
• Precise coordinates for all pairs.
• Latest WDS Position Angle & Separation (Theta & Rho).
• Brief descriptions to aid identification.
• SAO, Bayer, Flamsteed identifiers.
• Spectral classes (if known).
• Telescope aperture and magnification used.
• A toughness grading helps you decide which pairs to observe in the prevailing conditions.

Coster’s Catalogue of 2000 Visual Double Stars

[Knighty2112]

Just ordered a copy. 👍🏻

[IB20]

Nice! Is that how all the doubles in the book are presented? I really like that style.

[paulastro]

The same question really, is the pic the front cover or a typical page?

If the former, it would helpful to have an example of the latter.  

Many thanks.

[lunator]

The doubles listed in the book are data entries. 

I only have a few dozen images. 

The core of the book is the 2000+ data entries with accurate information from the WDS including additional components.

Many books list a main component and completely miss out another one that might be closer or fainter. 

I would love to produce a book with all my photos and sketches but that would run to several volumes 😁.

 

[paulastro]

Many thanks. Can you post a page of data entries so we can see how it's set out?

[lunator]

Here are a couple of pics of the inside of the book. 

I hope they are clear enough.

Cheers

Ian

[paulastro]

1 hour ago, lunator said:

Here are a couple of pics of the inside of the book. 

I hope they are clear enough.

Cheers

Ian

Ian, many thanks.  To be honest I couldn't read anything of the first pages 😊.

Still, as they appear to be listed by SAO and HD numbers they will be a breeze to find using Starsense Explorer.   Looks like they all have descriptions as well which is great.  I'm in and have ordered a copy.

I can see this volume getting a lot of use.

Thanks again, Paul

[Xilman]

Just bought a copy.

[Knighty2112]

Just received my copy this morning. Not had chance to browse it much as yet, but layout looks similar to Sissy Hass book on double stars with lists of stars in each constellation. See image below;

Edited September 1, 2023 by Knighty2112

[lunator]

Yep, the book is inspired by the Sissy Haas book.🙂

I own it and have used it. My only frustration was the labelling of the pairs selective and so I sought to standardize on SAO/HD numbers where possible.

[paulastro]

4 hours ago, lunator said:

Yep, the book is inspired by the Sissy Haas book.🙂

I own it and have used it. My only frustration was the labelling of the pairs selective and so I sought to standardize on SAO/HD numbers where possible.

Ian, it makes a huge difference using the SAO designations.  It will make it so much easier to find stars using my 10 inch Starsense Explorer Dob. 

My copy arrived today and am delighted with it. I love your descriptions and in addition to the scope aperture, mags used and the difficulty of observing each star it will be a wonderful tool for planning observing sessions.

Thank you!