An Evening with the Binoculars

[Graeme1858]

Not yet a report but my plans for the evening! The builders are finished and we have moved back into the house again. The telescope is still in the loft but I'm planning on a session tonight with the binoculars, inspired by an Awesome Astronomy podcast. First target will be a go at Brett's first September Carbon Star (HD 198269) (viewtopic.php?f=109&t=20228) At magnitude 8 I'm in with a chance!

Then, after sorting out the garage in preparation for setting up the imaging computer, I came across a stack of Sky at Night magazines. They used to have a regular monthly Binocular Tour which I was a fan of. The July 2020 edition had a list of six targets in and around Cepheus.

Here they are:

1. Delta Cephi - Yellow and white double star. Henretta Levett's first Cephid Variable.

2. Kurhah Star Field - A group of 5th and 6th magnitude stars in a range of reds and blues. Probably worth getting the bins out just for this one!

3. NGC 7160 - Small cluster of stars containing a contact binary.

4. U Cephei - Eclipsing variable star. Varies from 6.8 to 9.2 with a period of 2.5 days. The magazine actually labelled this one incorrectly! They put a u in the right place but the 4 was right next to μ Cep, Erakis, the Garnet Star. That's worth a look too!

5. Iris Nebula - The famous reflection nebula. I've still not imaged this one!

6. Ux Draconis - Start the evening with a Carbon star and end on one too! Varies from 5.9 to 7.1 with a period of 6 months.

(click the image)


So if your sky is clear and if your binoculars need an airing, why don't you look North East and join me?

Regards

Graeme

[Graeme1858]

Clouds came up earlier than predicted!

But Cepheus is circumpolar from here so this won't go away!

I would be interested to know what others can see too. The Iris is surely a challenge with binoculars. After having a go at Alan's DSO challenge with my binoculars and mostly failing, I would like to know if I'm expecting too much of my bins or if they need retiring and replacing.

Regards

Graeme

[MistrBadgr]

Can't do any of that yet, but it sure sounds like fun!

[Thefatkitty]

Nice to hear the work is all finished and you're back home Funny, I think it was Tuesday morning when I went off to work, and I looked up and saw Cepheus, Orion, the Pleiades, Jupiter, Saturn, even the crescent Moon...

So tempting to call in sick and grab a scope

Good luck, if it clears here I'll join you!

All the best,

[Ylem]

I plan on the same tonight! The humidity is gone!

[starfield]

Hi Graeme. I'm heading out to the desert tonight and was looking for some targets for my binos. Thanks for this.

[Graeme1858]

Can't do any of that yet, but it sure sounds like fun!

Cepheus will be there when you can Bill! You could always post back then!

Nice to hear the work is all finished and you're back home Funny, I think it was Tuesday morning when I went off to work, and I looked up and saw Cepheus, Orion, the Pleiades, Jupiter, Saturn, even the crescent Moon...

So tempting to call in sick and grab a scope

Good luck, if it clears here I'll join you!

All the best,

I hope it clears for you Mark. I hope it clears for me too!

I plan on the same tonight! The humidity is gone!

Brilliant! Post back with how these targets look and what binoculars you have. I'm interested in having something to compare mine with.

Hi Graeme. I'm heading out to the desert tonight and was looking for some targets for my binos. Thanks for this.

Nice one. And again, please post back with how you get on.

Regards

Graeme

[Graeme1858]

Finally, a clear night. Humidity is already in the high 80s according to Clear Outside and according to the wet on my chair! At 2100 it was dark enough to start looking. I started with number 3 on the list. There were some interesting loose clusters but not the range of reds and blues I was hoping for. The V to the west of Kurhah looked just like the V on the face of Taurus the Bull. Number 3 is just above the V but not visible in my binoculars. Erakis, the Garnet Star was easily visible and vary striking as a deep red star.

I found number 1 on the list, positively identified by its position with respect to ζ Cep and ε Cep. No double star evident but quite pleasing to think this was Henrietta's first Cephid variable. I had a go at number 5, the Iris Nebula and again confirmed where I was looking. I would like to think I caught a glimpse of a smudge where the two stars are at the centre of the nebula but definitely no nebula.

I skipped number 6 and had a go at Brett's Carbon star instead. That one is here: viewtopic.php?p=168209#p168209

Time to replace my binoculars I would say. It would be nice to be able to see more than magnitude 7!

Regards

Graeme

[Lady Fraktor]

Good to hear you made it out for a view

[Makuser]

Hello Graeme. This is a splendid binoculars observing report from you. It looks like your persistence paid off with another visit on Sunday. It is still hot, humid, and overcast here in Florida to do much of anything, but with autumn coming soon, things should greatly improve. Thanks for your well written report Graeme, I hope that you can get that scope out of the loft soon.

[pakarinen]

Woke up too close to dawn today, so I stepped out with my 15x70s. Finally noticed the "snake" or S asterism around Alnilam. Funny - all the times I've observed Orion's belt, I never really noticed it before.

[Graeme1858]

Hello Graeme. This is a splendid binoculars observing report from you. It looks like your persistence paid off with another visit on Sunday. It is still hot, humid, and overcast here in Florida to do much of anything, but with autumn coming soon, things should greatly improve. Thanks for your well written report Graeme, I hope that you can get that scope out of the loft soon.

Cheers Marshall

I haven't used the bins so much for years! It was good to find out what magnitude I could go to with them. I'm sure mag 7 isn't very impressive so I've been looking for replacements. I might have to go through some more S@N magazine Binocular challenges!

I hope your Florida skies clear up soon.

Regards

Graeme

[pakarinen]

I think it was the September S@N Bino Challenge that made me aware of the snake in Orion.