Omicron Capricornius 

Richard Harshaw
Star: Omicron Capricornius (SH 324) 
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: 20mm  (104x) 
 
 
Position:  2030-1835 
Magnitudes:  5.9, 6.7 
Sep/PA's:  22 = / 239 - 
Year of last measurement:  1968 
Distance (light years):  239 
Luminosity (in suns):  29 
Eyepiece and magnification:  20mm  (104x) 
Colors noted:  Both W, and in a faint field.  (But Webb saw them as W and B.) 
The primary whirls around at 301 kps. 
Hipparchos/Tycho mission data show different distances for these stars; they may be an optical system. 
First measure:  21.8" @ 240 (Wilson). 
I rated the pair 2.  Nice choice, Mary (but very difficult for me to pick out of the sky glow of Kansas City). 
 
 
 
Eddy O'Connor
Star: Omicron Capricornius (SH 324) 
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 much-loved  double is described in the Observer's Guide as a 4/6 inch telescope special of Bluish-white and Blue. It lies in the easily spotted triangle of 10,11 and 12 , with 12 the most Southern of the three and recently visited by Neptune earlier in the year. 

Comments: On this viewing night I noted this a striking equal-looking pair as a Pearl White forming an interesting group with a wide fainter star to the south. This show-piece glowing double makes it a worthwhile Olympic candidate. 

Ambience: In this special night, while sky clarity was poor, the mild Spring night air was heavy with the mingling  aromas of Banksia-rose, Jasmine and clusters of Fresias which always spring up each year in unexpected spots. The rising Moon glowed in the East and the neighbour's dog  howled for human company. Unable to give these special doubles my full attention ,I eventually pacified him by using the old Sherlock Holmes trick, but instead of tossing him pieces of meat  he was quite content with a couple of healthy breakfast biscuits. After this magic trip through these well chosen Olympic Doubles, when I came indoors my wife informed me with glee that Australia's favourite swimmer had just won two gold medals in the pool. It was truly a great doubles night. 
 

 
 
William L. Schart
Star: Omicron Capricornius (SH 324) 
Date & Time: 9/18/00 8:30 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, 98x 
  
 
Easy to find, a short hop down from alpha and beta. Easily split at 32x. One of 3 relatively bright stars in a triangular asterism. The brighter seemed to me to blue and the other yellow. 
 
Separation  20", PA 58. 
 

 

 
 
Patrick J. Anway 
Star: Omicron Capricornius (SH 324) 
Date & Time: Sept. 17, 2000, 11pm EDT (0300 UT) 
Seeing: 7 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> 
Location of Site: Munising Michigan USA 
Site Classification: Rural 
Sky darkness: 5.5 (in the holes) <limiting magnitude> 
Sky condition: high clouds, moon rising 
Temperature: 42º F (5º C) 
Telescope: Zeiss 63mm/840mm f/13.3 
Eyepieces: 7mm, 10mm, 16mm, 18mm orthos 

 
 

Using 18mm for 46X, a nice pair emerged with both primary and secondary white. Olcott saw a "bluish" secondary while Smyth gives both as "bluish" and states that "It may be assumed, upon the evidence before us, that o' Carpricorni is an optical object." 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Ilario Melandri
Star: Omicron Capricornius (SH 324)  
Date & Time: 22/09/2000 – 18.17 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: 2.5 <Limiting magnitude> 
Temperature: +16C
Telescope: 150 mm f/15 achromatic refractor (lens by Romano Zen, Venice). 
Magnification: 140x (Plossl 16mm)
The sep. of 21.9” at a distance of 196 light years, corresponds to 1317 Astronomical Units, more than 16 times the diameter of the Pluto’s orbit
around the Sun.
 
 
 
 
 
Mary Flanagan
Star: Omicron Capricornius (SH 324) 
Date & Time: 26 Sep 2000 03:02; CDT 25 Sep 22:02 
Seeing: From 4 to 7 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> 
Transparency: around 8  (1-10)  
Location of site: Apple Valley MN, USA 
 93d 14m 25s W; 44d 45m 17s N 
Site classification: Suburban   
Sky darkness: ~4 <Limiting magnitude>  
Telescope: 8" f/6 Dobsonian 
Magnification: 37x, 80x (32mm, 15mm TV Plossls) 
 
 
I like this one for the setting; at 37x, it's part of a triangle with rho, a 
wide pretty yellow/orange pair, and blue pi, too close (3") to split while 
keeping them all in the same field.  Omicron looked pale blue-white with a 
more intense blue in the secondary; 80x washed out the color to me. 

Olympic commentary:  An easy tumbling run across the mat . . . 

 
 

 

 
 
Tim Leese
Star: Omicron Capricornius (SH 324) 
Date & Time: 26-September-2000(19:10 UT) 
Seeing: 5 <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: 80mm f /5  Refractor. 
Any Quoted PA or SEP using microguide 
Magnification: X40, X64 
  

 

No setting circles required to find Omicron Cap as it is the Southern star of a neat triangle of stars.  It was just below this star I first observed Uranus through 
a telescope for the first time a couple of years ago. 
 
Using a magnification of X40 a beautiful pair of white stars could be seen against the darkening sky. Using the microguide and X2 barlow lens (X64) the PA between the two was estimated to be 235deg.