| William L. Schart | ||||
| Star:
4 Vulpecula
(h2871)
Date & Time: 9/15/00, 11:28 pm CDT Seeing: 8 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Location of site: Killeen, TX (Lat 31 N, Elev 600 ft) Site classification: Suburban Sky darkness: 4, Full Moon <Limiting magnitude> Telescope: Orion 6" Dob. Magnification: Star: 4 Vulpecula (h2871) Date & Time: 9/16/00 9:08 pm CDT Seeing: 8 <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, 72x, 98x |
Details: Interestingly enough, I had some trouble at first finding
this. I think it was because I am used to observing this part of the sky
when it is in the east and now that it is somewhat to the west, I was disoriented.
I got the binocs and did a bit of scouting. Once I got my bearings, it
was easy. This pair forms the top of the "hook" of the coathanger asterism.
This is also known as Brocchi's cluster, however data from Hyparchos indicates
that they are unrelated stars.
(see Skiff, S&T Jan 1998, p 65-7). Once found, I did not think I was going to be able to split this tonight.
The problem is not in the separation (18" - otherwise an easy split) but
the faintness of the secondary (mag 10). The moon all but washed this out.
However, I studied it for some time and was able to detect, with averted
vision and tube jiggling, the secondary. Much to faint to measures, it
was in the ball park for separation.
The primary was a brilliant yellow - similar in color to the yellow component of beta Cygnii. Ambience: The weather here is cooling down - only 93 (that's 32 to you
SI guys) today, and almost comfortable tonight. Towards sunset there were
some clouds to the south, but none in this part of the sky. While setting
up, one of my dogs came out to do his thing, and then went back in. The
cat stayed out to watch the goings-on, but disdainfully declined to observe.
I don't think she approves. But
|
|||
| Richard Harshaw | ||||
| Star: 4
Vulpecula (h2871)
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): UT: 02:15 of Sept. 16, 2000 Site classification: suburban Sky conditions: seeing-- 4/10 up to 8/10, in short spans of time transparency-- 8 out of 10 limiting visual magnitude-- 5.0 mag Telescope: Celestron C-8 Eyepiece: 10mm (207x) |
Position: 1926+1948
Magnitudes: 5.2, 9.9, 11.6 Sep/PA's: AB = 19 - / 100 -. AC = 53 / 204 +. Year of last measurement: 1957 Distance (light years): 237 Luminosity (in suns): 38 Eyepiece and magnification: 10mm (207x) Colors noted: Y and W?. Stars B and C are hard to see due to the difference in magnitude and poor seeing (at times). The primary is an infra-red source. I rated this pair a 4. |
|||
| Eddy O'Connor | ||||
| Star: 4
Vulpecula (h2871)
Date & Time: 9 p.m local; UT +11. Saturday, September 16th 2000. Seeing: 6/10 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Transparency: 6/10 Location of Site: Terara, New South Wales, Australia, Long.150.38 degrees; South 34.52. Site Classification: Suburban Sky darkness: 4.5 <Limiting magnitude> Instrument: 8" F9 Dobsonian Magnification: 72X (25mm K) |
This rich mag. 5.16 orange star is the brightest
star in the 'hook' of the Coathanger, a cluster easily found and recognised
by binocular hunters. Starlist 2000 gives this giant lamp the luminosity
of 65 suns. Its faint mag 10 companion I observed with difficulty in reduced
seeing . After some moments, a second wider companion was spotted
with the three forming a right-angle triangle.
Comments: Too dim to observe colours of the companions, The Night Sky Observer's Guide lists the magnitudes of this triple as 5.2,9,9 and 11.6 , the separations as 18.9" and 52.6" and PA as 100 and 204. The colour of the primary and the contrasting brightness of the companions make this triple a worthy Olympic group. |
|||
| Ilario Melandri | ||||
| Star:
4 Vulpecula
(h2871)
Date & Time: 22/09/2000 – 19.45 UT Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Location of site: Italy, Ravenna, San Romualdo, Lat 44 32’N Lon 12 08’E Elevation: 0 m Site classification: Rural Sky darkness: 4.5 <Limiting magnitude> Temperature: +15C Telescope: 150 mm f/15 achromatic refractor (lens by Romano Zen, Venice). Magnification: 140x (Plossl 16mm) |
The sep. of 18.9” at a distance of 319 light years, gives the distance
of about 1,850 Astronomical Units, about 11 Light Days. |
|||
| Patrick J. Anway | ||||
| Star: 4
Vulpecula (h2871)
Date & Time: Sept. 24, 2000, 11pm EDT (03:00 UT) Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Location of Site: Munising Michigan USA Site Classification: Rural Sky darkness: 6 <limiting magnitude> Sky condition: a few high clouds, no moon Temperature: 34deg F (2deg C) Telescope: Vixen 102mm f/9.8 Eyepieces: 6mm, 9mm, 18mm orthos
|
Using the 9mm for 111X, coupled with averted vision I
was able to pick the comes out from the darkness. The primary seemed white
and the companion was too dim to say. What I liked about this double was
the location. "Top" the hook of the famous "coathanger" asterism and a
favorite of most stargazers, including me.
|
|||