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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.
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.
Scopes: Reflectors, refractors, and 1 catadioptric. Ranging in aperture from 50mm to 150mm.
John Baars wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:12 pm
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/.
terrynak wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:20 pm
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.
A very nice night out at the telescope Dave, congratulations
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110) The only culture I have is from yogurt