Otto Struve 254 (WZ Cassiopeiae)

 
Carol Lakomiak
Star: Otto Struve 254 (WZ Cassiopeiae)
Date & Time: July 8-9 2003
Seeing: 6 [see
http://www.backyard-astro.com/Logs/logsreport.html
Transparency: 3/10 
Location of site: 45°N // Tomahawk
WI, USA
Site classification: Rural
Temperature: 65°F dropping to 50°F
Sky darkness:  4/10 (Thompson Scale)
Conditions: surprisingly minimal dew;
slight breeze from the North
Telescope: Meade 8" f/10 LX-10 (Snoopy )
Eyepieces: 32mm, 13.8mm, 9mm, 5mm
Magnification: 63x, 147x, 226x, 406x
A gorgeous little gem with other doubles in the 63x fov.

The 'A' star was 1/2 way between baby blue and robins' egg blue, and the 'B' 
star looked like a softly illuminated amber pumpkin.
 
 


 


 
Mike Sutherland
Star: Otto Struve 254 (WZ Cassiopeiae)
Date & Time: 11 July 2003, 11:54 PDT
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>. 
Transparency:  so-so
Location of site: Beaverton, OR, USA
45d 29' N, 122d 48' W
Site classification: Suburban
Temperature: Warm, mid-70's (F)
Sky darkness: 4 <Limiting magnitude> 
Moon:
Telescope: Takahashi FC-60
Eyepieces: 5mm Takahashi LE
Magnification: app. 100x
The primary is a brilliant red while the secondary is a soft blue, (but larger). It felt like the primary was in sharp focus and the secondary was slightly out of focus. Beautiful pair. I'll be coming back to this one!
 
 
Tim Leese
Star: Otto Struve 254 (WZ Cassiopeiae)
Date: 13 July 2003, 01: 40hrs UT
Location of Site: Northwich, Cheshire. UK
(53° 15' N -2º 33' W)
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing scale (10 best)>
Transparency:  <1-10 scale (10 best)>
Conditions: Clear sky with drifting high haze later. Moon bright.
Site classification: Suburban
Sky darkness: 3.0 ( UMi ) <Limiting magnitude>.
Telescope: 4inch f/15 Vixen achromat.
Mount: EQ5
Eyepieces: 9mm Orthoscopic
Magnifications: X167
A nice and wide double star, easily split at this magnification The primary appeared as a pale orange, almost see through, with a nice blue companion. The companion was estimated( visual ) to be at PA 90degrees, exactly following.  HS rating 1. This one is a showpiece worthy of inclusion on any star party list.
 

 


 
Luis Argüelles
Star: Otto Struve 254 (WZ Cassiopeiae)
Date: 29, July, 2003 , 23:45 -> 2:45 local time
Location of Site: Sena de Luna, Spain
42.55N, 05.57W
Seeing: 8->7 <1-10 Seeing scale (10 best)>
Transparency: 8->7 <1-10 scale (10 best)>
Other conditions: No Moon. 
Temperature:18ºC
Altitude: 1,200 mts (3,940 ft)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: about 5.5
Telescope: Takahashi FS-102
Mount: Vixen GP + Skysensor 2000
Eyepieces: 9mm Nagler, 5mm and 3.8mm Eudiascopics
Diagonal: Zeiss prism diagonal
Magnifications: 91x, 164x, 215x
 
Main component appears as orange and the secondary is white-blue. Another wonderful double from the listing that deserves a "5 stars" mark.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


 
Bob Hogeveen
Star: Otto Struve 254 (WZ Cassiopeiae)
Date: 9, August, 2003 , 00:00 -> 02:30
Location of Site: Eext, The Netherlands
(53N, 06E)
Seeing: 4 <1-10 Seeing scale (10 best)>
Transparency: 7 <1-10 scale (10 best)>
Other conditions: No Moon.
Temperature: 20ºC
Altitude: 1,200 mts (3,940 ft)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: about 5.5
Telescope: Celestron C11
Mount: Losmandy G11
Eyepieces: 40mm Pentax SMC XL,
20mm TV Plossl, 10mm plossl, 5mm LV. 
Magnifications: 70x, 140x, 280x, 560x
 
A pair which is already on my list of favourites. The primary shows the typical beautiful orange color of a variable (= WZ Cas). With a separation of 58" it is rather wide but also very suitable for small scopes. This time I observed it with my 80mm finderscope @ 19x and with the C11 @ 70x. Both views are wonderful and show the pair in a very rich starfield.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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