Alpha Librae

 
Luis.Balanzino
Star: Alpha Librae
Date & Time: June 2003
Seeing:  variable
Transparency:  variable
Location of site: Cordoba, Argentina 
(31.400S, 64.183W)
Site classification: Urban area with
considerable light pollution 
Conditions: Temperatures between 10-15º C 
Sky darkness: 4 limited by twilight <Limiting magnitude> 
Telescope: TAL-1 eq. reflector (110mm f/7.3) 
Eyepieces: TAL and 18mm Celestron Ultima Plossl, 15mm TAL Kellner
Magnification: 32x, 45x, 54x
   		 Yet split in the finder (6x30), very wide and easy, but nice. Both components look white or slightly greenish, the best effect is at the lowest power (32x)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Steve Bodin 
Star: Alpha Librae
Date & Time: 15 July 2003 10:30pm to midnight
Seeing: 3-4  <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>. 
Transparency: fair, passing clouds
Location of site: Silverdale WA, USA
47N 123W
Site classification: suburb-rural
Conditions: temp 50F, damp
Sky darkness: mag 4.0 due  moon <Limiting magnitude> 
Telescope: Celestron C8
Eyepieces: not used
Additional: DX-8263SL video camera at prime focus
Magnification: app. 333x		 Very wide pair, easy in the finder. Just fits in the C8 prime focus FOV. Both stars are basically white and the WDS lists them as A3 and F4 spectral types. Also, the WDS has 3 very faint wide companions listed, 13-14th mag. These were not chased down. Measurement AB, 233.7 sec at 314.0 deg PA

 

 
Eddy O'connor 
Star: Alpha Librae
Date & Time: Saturday, July 26th 2003
9 -10p.m local; UT +10
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>. 
Transparency: 10 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>. 
Location of site: Terara, New South Wales,
Australia.
Long.150.38 ; Lat 34.52S
Site classification: 
Conditions: Temp 7° No Moon
Sky darkness:  <Limiting magnitude> 
Telescope: 8" F9 Newtonian
Eyepieces: 16mm and 12mm Ortho
Magnification: 
HS Scale: 1 <1-5, 1 best>		 First to Alpha, the pivotal part of the scales and already I am in trouble. The wind has returned in menacing gusts and I am working with loose maps spread out with my notes, binoculars and red light. I head for the shed - as one does- and grabbed a pair of 8" shifting spanners, perfect map holders and the problem is nearly solved. I retrieve a page gleaming in the broccoli and start again. I am ashamed to admit that I keep two pairs of reading glasses on my map 
table - one that will inevitable fall into the grass and remain outdoors all night and the other to assist the eyes.

In the finderscope this star's 2.7 mag. companion appears as a deep blue contrasting gem. At low power the primary is Whitish yellow and the 230" wide companion is a pale Blue. A third 
and fainter star forms a neat triangle with the pair.  An excellent binocular double.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
William L. Schart
Star: Alpha Librae
Date & Time: July 29, 2003
Seeing: 7 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Transparency: --- <1 worst - 10 best>
Location of site: Killeen, TX
Site classification: Suburban
Sky darkness: 4 <Limiting magnitude>
Telescope: Celestron C8
Eyepieces: 25mm 
Magnification: 
 

 

 I could just barely make it out with the un-aided (except for eyeglasses) eyeball. When looking to the south, I am looking over a business section of Killeen, with much attendant lighting. 

Very wide pair, split even in the finder. The primary is white, while the secondary appears yellow. While observing, a meteorite flashed through the FOV. To the west of this pair, in the low power FOV is a third star, about 3 times the separation, and dimmer than the secondary. Astroplanner shows this as a third member of the system.
 
 

 
 
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