Two Classics...Burnham and Unitron...and a comet bust!

[Unitron48]

When preparing for a night of double/multiple star hunting I normally turn to the WDS and/or Sissy Haas' book. Yesterday I pulled out the appropriate volume of Burnham's Celestial Handbook for targets in Cygnus and Lyra...about 30 in total. I also dressed up my late model (1989 vintage) 4 inch Unitron for the first of two sessions. I used a 25mm Unitron Plossl and a 10mm TV Radian. I started the evening off with two of my favorites: Albireo and 61 Cygnus followed by an additional 15 in that constellation. Of note were Struve 2534, 2663, 2747 and 2802...all equal magnitude pairs. Struve 2741 at 1.8 arcsec was the closest pair of the night.

Before exploring Lyra I took a quick peek at Jupiter and Saturn, both still pretty low but providing excellent views through the 4 inch, f/15 archromat. Once in Lyra I checked out the usual suspects: the Double Double and the "Other Double Double"(Struve 2470 and 2474). In all I split 13 doubles in Lyra with the closest being Struve 2430: an equal magnitude pair at 1.9 arcsec.

I wrapped up the first session at about midnight and set the body clock for 4 am...to hopefully check out the comet. Unfortunately I need to seek out a better location if I am going to track it down.

Regards,
Dave

[John Baars]

Great observations with the classic Unitron!
Thanks!

[terrynak]

Very nice double star report with the 4" Dave! I looked at STF 2470 and 2474 back in May with a 2.4" F/13.3 - didn't know they are referred to as the "Other Double Double". On a night of good seeing was able to just split the Double Double with the same scope in June.

[Unitron48]

Great observations with the classic Unitron!
Thanks!

Thanks, John! I have two 4 inch Unitron's: one is early 1960's vintage and the other is the 1989 vintage that I purchased while in Japan serving with the USAF. This later one has a green tinted coating on the objective lens and is a great performer! Some additional information on the rarer green tinted objective lenses here: http://www.unitronhistory.com/user-stor ... es-lenses/.

Regards,
Dave

[Unitron48]

Very nice double star report with the 4" Dave! I looked at STF 2470 and 2474 back in May with a 2.4" F/13.3 - didn't know they are referred to as the "Other Double Double". On a night of good seeing was able to just split the Double Double with the same scope in June.

Thanks, Terry! I've seen "Other Double Double" referenced on a number of sites such as Star Splitters: https://bestdoubles.wordpress.com/2010/ ... e-in-lyra/.

Dave

[Lady Fraktor]

A very nice night out at the telescope Dave, congratulations

[Bigzmey]

Nice binary session Dave! The comet should be easier to spot once it moves to the evening slot.

[terrynak]

Thanks, Terry! I've seen "Other Double Double" referenced on a number of sites such as Star Splitters: https://bestdoubles.wordpress.com/2010/ ... e-in-lyra/.

Dave

Thanks for the link Dave - a valuable resource! I'm new at double star observing, having only started this year...

[Unitron48]

Nice binary session Dave! The comet should be easier to spot once it moves to the evening slot.

Caught the comet in my Unitron 10x50 Binos this morning...a little after 4 a.m. Very bright core and long visible tail!

Dave

[Bigzmey]

Nice binary session Dave! The comet should be easier to spot once it moves to the evening slot.

Caught the comet in my Unitron 10x50 Binos this morning...a little after 4 a.m. Very bright core and long visible tail!

Dave

Congrats! You must have very clear horizon to the east.