| Date/Time | : | 2003-05-20T02:34:00Z ± T01M --TO-- 2003-05-20T03:35:00Z ± T01M |
| Observer | : | Peter C. Chapin |
| Equipment | : | |
| Location | : |
My plan for the evening was to look at some double stars in CrB and Her.
| Object | M-13 |
| Type | cluster/globular |
| Constellation | Her |
NOTES
I observed this object with the 25mm eyepiece only. It was a surprisingly good view. It was very bright, of course, and I was even able to see what looked like a few member stars (or perhaps foreground stars). There were faint, sparkly points visible only with averted vision.
| Object | ADS-9737 |
| Name | ζ CrB |
| Type | star/multiple |
| Constellation | CrB |
NOTES
This was a nice double. It was easily resolved with the 25mm eyepiece although it was quite close at that low magnification. I found that the view was better with the 18mm. The magnitudes of the two components are similar. The brighter component has a yellow-orange tinge and the fainter component looks bluish in contrast. The effect is similar to that of β Cyg although the coloration is more subtle. The field of view is also interesting.
| Object | ADS-9979 |
| Name | σ CrB |
| Type | star/multiple |
| Constellation | CrB |
NOTES
This double was almost a clone of ζ CrB. The components were a bit fainter and they did not contrast in color as much. Nevertheless this was still a nice double.
| Object | ADS-10031 |
| Name | 23 Her |
| Type | star/multiple |
| Constellation | Her |
NOTES
This star is actually in CrB. It was wide and easily split in the 25mm. The secondary was quite a bit fainter than the primary and really required averted vision to see (it could just barely be seen with direct at low magnification). My references show that the magnitudes of this double are m1=6.2, m2=9.5. It is clear from this observation that it will be hard for me to see extremely faint companions. Overall this was an interesting double.
| Object | ADS-9933 |
| Name | κ Her |
| Type | star/multiple |
| Constellation | Her |
NOTES
This double was wide and easily split in the 25mm. The stars were about equal magnitude and fairly bright. This might be a good double to show novices. The field was quite rich and interesting.
| Object | ADS-9958 |
| Type | star/multiple |
| Position | RA=16h09.7m, DEC=+33d28m (B1950.0) |
| Magnitudes | A=6.4 B=10.7 |
| Separations | AB=5.8" |
NOTES
I was unable to see the secondary. I tried the 25mm, 18mm, and 12.5mm eyepieces.
| Object | ADS-9962 |
| Type | star/multiple |
| Position | RA=16h10.1m, DEC=+42d30m (B1950.0) |
| Magnitudes | A=6.0 B=10.5 |
| Separations | AB=23.5" |
NOTES
This is very similar to ADS-10031 that I observed above except that the secondary is just a bit fainter. In this case, however, I was unable to see the secondary. With the 12.5mm I was able to see "double fuzz" with averted vision. Alas, the view was not satisfactory enough for me to claim to have observed the secondary.
| Object | ADS-10105 |
| Type | star/multiple |
| Position | RA=16h30.3m, DEC=+45d42m (B1950.0) |
| Magnitudes | A=5.6 B=8.8 |
| Separations | AB=16.4" |
NOTES
This double was easily split with the 25mm. The secondary was visible with direct vision, but not obviously. It seemed rather faint. The secondary seemed blue-grey in contrast to the primary but it was probably too faint to get a true color. The primary was white. The field was quite pleasing; it contained enough stars to be interesting without being overwhelming. This was a nice double.
| Name | Jupiter |
| Type | planet |
NOTES
The giant planet was fairly low to the western horizon and only a few degrees up. Consequently the seeing conditions were not very good. I saw a lot of rolling and boiling of the image even at low magnification. I used the 12.5mm eyepiece for most of my observations.
All four of the large moons were on the preceding side of the planet. The NEB and SEB were both plainly visible and the EZ seemed well defined. I couldn't see any other features. I did not see the red spot.