33 Doubles Observing Projects: Struve 2417

Struve 2417 (Theta 1 Serpentis)

Tim Leese

TimJLeese@ukgateway.net

Star: Struve 2417 (Theta 1 Serpentis)
Date & Time: 11 May 2003. 01:15UT.
Seeing: 5/6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>.
Transparency: <1 worst - 10 best>
Location of site: Northwich, Cheshire. UK.
53° 15' N -2º 33' W
Site classification: Suburban
Temperature:
Sky darkness: 3.0 UMi <Limiting magnitude>
Conditions: Moon, quite bright in a clear, if unsteady, sky.
Telescope: 200mm f/6 Newtonian reflector.
Mount: Vixen GP.
Eyepieces: 18mm, 9mm, 6mm Orthoscopics
Magnification: X67, X133, X200

Star: Struve 2417 (Theta 1 Serpentis)
Date & Time: 13 June 2003 (00:40 UT)
Seeing: -- <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>.
Transparency: <1 worst - 10 best>
Location of site: Northwich, Cheshire. UK.
53° 15' N -2º 33' W
Site classification: Suburban
Temperature:
Sky darkness: -- <Limiting magnitude>
Conditions: nice and bright Moon.
Binoculars: 20X60 ( Russian ), 3 degree fov, hand held
Magnification: 20x

9mmOr + apodising screen-----------Even using the apodising screen, this double was very unsteady and the two white stars appeared mushy. The best estimate for PA was between 90-100deg. 18mmOr + apodising screen---------A much better view, but still very unsteady. With the nice and bright-white stars in the centre of view, twin sets of diffraction spikes could be seen surrounding the two stars. A lovely pair set in a nice fov.

I was very impressed observing this double using a refractor earlier so I searched for it using binoculars. A splendid view using binoculars, showing a close pair of bright white stars. This pair seems to jump out at you like a pair of sparking diamonds in the sky. An excellent double to observe through any telescope or binoculars.

Ambience:
This observation was taken during a very rare moment of complete silence, a moment to be relished in these parts.

William L. Schart				wschart@hot.rr.com
Star: Struve 2417 (Theta 1 Serpentis) Date & Time: June 25, 2003 Seeing: 8 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Transparency: --- <1 worst - 10 best> Location of site: Killeen, TX Site classification: Suburban Sky darkness: 3 -> 1 <Limiting magnitude> Conditions: Clear sky Telescope: Celestar 8" SCT Eyepieces: 25mm and 10 mm eyepieces Magnification: 80x, 200x				Wide and bright, truly a pair of headlights, especially since they were yellow, and oriented more or less E/W and thus more or less horizontal in the EP. As I was observing this pair, a satellite passed through the FOV to the south. Compared to others I have viewed tonight, it is a somewhat busy FOV, however I see no obvious asterism.