Struve 40 

Richard Harshaw
Star: Struve 40 
Location of site: Northern Kansas City, Missouri (USA) 
94d 30m west longitude, 39d 15m north latitude 
980 ft above Mean Sea Level 
Date of observations (UT): 03:30, Oct 17, 2000 
Site classification: suburban 
Sky conditions
seeing-- 8 out of 10 
transparency-- 7 out of 10 
limiting visual magnitude-- 4.5 mag 
Telescope: Celestron C-8 
Eyepiece: 10mm (104x) 
 
 
Sep/PA's:  AB = 11.7" / 312; AC = 24.9" / 123 
Year of last measurement:  1991 
Distance (light years):  680 
Luminosity (in suns):  90 
Eyepiece and magnification:  10mm (104x) 
Colors noted:  dD!!, dB, and W?? 

This is a stunning pair and worthy of a "1"!  It reminded me a little of Beta Cygni, but not as brilliant.  The primary has an almost coppery hue. 

Webb saw them as Y and W. Hipparchos/Tycho data show different distances for these stars; they may be an optical system. 
First measure:  11.6' @ 312. 
 

 
 
Thad Robosson
Star: Struve 40 
Date & Time: 21, October, 2000 
Seeing: 7-8 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>. 
Location of site: Phoenix, USA 
Site classification: Decidedly Urban 
Sky darkness: 4 <Limiting magnitude> 
Temperature: about 70ºF 
Telescope 90mm ETX MakCas 
Magnification: 39x 
  
 
Split right away. Est PA 310°.  Primary is slightly yellow w/ fainter slight blue comp. 
 
 

 

 
 
William L. Schart
Star: Struve 40 
Date & Time: 11/19/00, 7:20 pm CST 
Seeing: 7 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> 
Location of site: Killeen, TX (Lat 31 N, Elev 600 ft) 
Site classification: Suburban 
Sky darkness: 4 <Limiting magnitude> 
Telescope: Orion 6" Dob 
Magnification: 32x, 48x, 72x, 120x, 98x (Microguide) 
 
 
Star: Struve 40 
Date & Time: 11/25/00, 7:39 pm CST 
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> 
Location of site: Killeen, TX (Lat 31 N, Elev 600 ft) 
Site classification: Suburban 
Sky darkness: 4 <Limiting magnitude> 
Telescope: Orion 6" Dob 
Magnification: 32x, 48x, 98x 
 
Took a while to find this, but eventually by hopping from the line epsilon-delta-pi. the primary is a nice gold but the secondary is too faint to tell. Separation is 13”, PA 310d. 
 
Rating: 2. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Follow the line of epsilon, delta, pi to this pair. Not split at 32x, but cleanly split at 48X. Primary was Y, the secondary ?? 
Separation measured at 12”, PA (average of 3 measures) 309d. 
Rating: 3 
 
 
 
Tim Leese
Star: Struve 40 
Date & Time: 2nd December 2000 ( 19:20 UT ) 
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>  
Location of site: Cheshire. UK 
53° 15' N –2º 33' W  
Site classification: Suburban  
Sky darkness: 3 <Limiting magnitude>  
Telescope: 200mm f/6  Newtonian scope  mounted over a Vixen GP mount (manual slow motion). 
Magnification: X120, X96, X324 
  

 

Using a magnification of X120 the primary star of this system seemed to be a pale golden colour with the secondary a pale purple. 

Using the microguide at X96 an average of 3 measures (Toms drift method) gave a PA for the secondary star of 313deg. 
The separation of the secondary was determined using the microguide at X324 and an average of 3 measures gave 12.9sec. 

Interestingly the colour contrast of the system seemed to be better using the microguide (off) a delicate gold for the primary and blue for the secondary. 
 
A clear spell of sky caught me out tonight so had to quickly set up the scope for an impromptu observing session. 

In addition to some doubles for the Andromeda files I got some good views of Jupiter and Saturn and revisited some old favourite doubles from past excursions. 

Ambience: All quiet, at the moment, but with a recent spate of thefts from properties in the area any rustling from the bushes is treated with suspicion. Its been such a long time since last observing session that the stray cat seems to have abandoned ship. Must have got hungry, I guess. 
 

 
 
Bob Hogeveen
Star: Struve 40 
Date & Time: December 30, 2000  21.00->23.30 UTC+1  
Seeing: -- <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>. 
Location of site: Annen, The Netherlands (53 N, 6 E) 
Site classification: Village-backyard  
Sky darkness: 4.5 <Limiting magnitude> 
Conditions: Now and then some clouds
Temperature: -2ºC
Telescope: Meade LX10 (8" SCT)
Eyepieces: TV 40mm, Meade 25mm, TV 20mm, Vixen LV 7mm
 
A very fine pair, wide but nice color of A : light-orange. B seems to be a bit blueish but it could be a contrast-effect, I'm not sure.
Rating : 2