Mircea's "Lockyer's List"

[badhex]

Hello all,

On another thread here in the doubles section, I was introduced by @Mircea to this great little list of Orion doubles representing a wide variety of observing challenges:

Delta Ori / Mintaka/ STFA 14 AC
Beta Ori / Rigel / STF 668 A,BC
Zeta Ori / Alnitak / STF 774 AB,AC
Sigma Ori / STF 762 AB, C,D,E + STF 761 AB, AC
Lambda Ori / Meissa / STF 738 AB,AC
52 Ori/ STF 795

Not only did I immediately decide this to be my next set of targets when the clouds clear, but I realised I had already had observed some of the list, albeit over a couple of different nights last year.

I'll note my observations here, starting with the (somewhat basic) notes from previous sessions, and make sure in future observations to be more descriptive in my note taking! Of course all credit goes to @Mircea for this great list and fun challenge.

12/02/2022
I followed with Sigma Ori and as expected could only make out the A/B as one object. I read initially that it is a quadruple system, and fairly sure I could only make out three total objects, but have since read that it is in fact 5, with A/B being the tightest. Impressive to view nonetheless, but I will try again and confirm how many objects I did see! 

Whilst here I also centred on Struve 761 - a lovely triangular triple, or as I wrote in my notes, an "arrowhead". 

Next up was Zeta Ori / Alnitak, which I could not split. I tried various powers but couldn't even make out an elongated shape. I did do a sense check to make sure I was definitely looking at Zeta, and moved over to Delta Ori /Mintaka which was an easy split, so I will have to go back and try again another time. 

28/02/2022
Tried Zeta Ori again and succeeded this time at the limits of seeing around 238x - the secondary seemed very orange
Lambda Ori - a very easy split at 159x and a lovely view
Beta Ori - itself a bit wobbly but secondary a surprising pinpoint

Edited November 26, 2023 by badhex

[Zermelo]

13 minutes ago, badhex said:

Hello all,

On another thread here in the doubles section, I was introduced by @Mircea to this great little list of Orion doubles representing a wide variety of observing challenges:

Delta Ori / Mintaka/ STFA 14 AC
Beta Ori / Rigel / STF 668 A,BC
Zeta Ori / Alnitak / STF 774 AB,AC
Sigma Ori / STF 762 AB, C,D,E + STF 761 AB, AC
Lambda Ori / Meissa / STF 738 AB,AC
52 Ori/ STF 795

Not only did I immediately decide this to be my next set of targets when the clouds clear, but I realised I had already had observed some of the list, albeit over a couple of different nights last year.

I'll note my observations here, starting with the (somewhat basic) notes from previous sessions, and make sure in future observations to be more descriptive in my note taking! Of course all credit goes to @Mircea for this great list and fun challenge.

12/02/2022
I followed with Sigma Ori and as expected could only make out the A/B as one object. I read initially that it is a quadruple system, and fairly sure I could only make out three total objects, but have since read that it is in fact 5, with A/B being the tightest. Impressive to view nonetheless, but I will try again and confirm how many objects I did see! 

Whilst here I also centred on Struve 761 - a lovely triangular triple, or as I wrote in my notes, an "arrowhead". 

Next up was Zeta Ori / Alnitak, which I could not split. I tried various powers but couldn't even make out an elongated shape. I did do a sense check to make sure I was definitely looking at Zeta, and moved over to Delta Ori /Mintaka which was an easy split, so I will have to go back and try again another time. 

28/02/2022
Tried Zeta Ori again and succeeded this time at the limits of seeing around 238x - the secondary seemed very orange
Lambda Ori - a very easy split at 159x and a lovely view
Beta Ori - itself a bit wobbly but secondary a surprising pinpoint

Yes, Orion is a great hunting ground for doubles, and all of those are good. I've found 52 Ori at 1.0" to be very challenging unless the seeing is good, and I'll often go there first to check out the conditions. I would add 32 Ori/STF 728, which is a touch wider at 1.4", though with a greater mag difference than 52 Ori.

[Mircea]

Hey, I don't know why but I like very much this topic ! 😍😍😍

Thank you badhex and I wish you clear sky for good duble star observations !

Thank you for sharing your observation notes.

When using the 125mm reflector, the trick working well for me with companion C of Sigma Ori is to look at companion D, the first to the East of primary star. This way I activate my averted vision.

 

Zermelo

 

I fully agree with you, 52 Ori is difficult.

I like also 32 Ori and I agree also about these. In spite of larger separation, there were nights when 52 Ori was split but 32 Ori just resolved.

I remember once noticing another, much dimmer double star in the same field - or very close - to 52 Ori. But I can't find yet the report.

Mircea

 

[Zermelo]

7 minutes ago, Mircea said:

 

I remember once noticing another, much dimmer double star in the same field - or very close - to 52 Ori. But I can't find yet the report.

The nearest couple of doubles in the Cambridge Double Star Atlas are STF 797 and STF 816, both with a main component around +7 and companion dimmer than +9.

[lunator]

Hi Mircea, one way you can check what you have seen is using the Aladin/Simbad. You can zoom in and out on your target. It might show you the pair you saw. 

cheers

Ian

[lunator]

Hi Mircea,

Here is a screenshot of 52 Ori. It looks like there are 2 possible visual doubles. They are quite wide. You should be able to look them up on the WDS or Stella Doppie websites

cheers

Ian