How To Observe Sirius B

Let's see your reports!
User avatar
Greenman Great Britain
Local Group Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 2296
Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:39 pm
4
Location: Nether Heyford, UK
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#21

Post by Greenman »


Oh, that's done it! Now I just have to see the pup. My Everest moment ”because it's there!” Mind you clear skies are rare here.
Cheers,

Tony.

Image

Smart Scope: Dwarf II - Club and outreach work.

AP Refractor: Altair 72EDF Deluxe F6;1x & 0.8 Flatteners; Antares Versascope 60mm finder. ASIAir Pro.Li battery pack for grab & go.

Celestron AVX Mount; X-cel LX eyepieces & Barlows 2x 3x, ZWO 2” Filter holder,

Cameras: main DSO ASI533MC; DSO guide ASI120MM; Planetary ASI224MC; DSLR Canon EOS100 stock.

Filters: Astronomik IR cut; Optolong L-Pro; Optolong L-Enhance.

Binoculars: Celestron 15 x 70.

Latitude: 52.219853
Longitude: -1.034471
Accuracy: 5 m
Bortle 4 site. https://maps.google.com/?q=52.21985,-1.03447

Image
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9860
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#22

Post by Lady Fraktor »


My ability to post images is not working currently but here is a position image of Sirius B
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhzf3p00xsfou ... b.jpg?dl=0
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
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, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
dagadget United States of America
Mars Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:21 pm
4
Location: Avon Park, Florida
Status:
Offline

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#23

Post by dagadget »


It is at the best point in it's orbit for the next few years so seeing it will not be as tough. I have already seen the pup using my Celestron C11 already but it is still a treat every time I can get to see it.
Astro-Tech AT 152EDT Ioptron GEM 45 Mount AKA FracZilla
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
AT 92 on IEQ 30 Pro AKA ClusterZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.


David
User avatar
John Fitzgerald United States of America
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 211
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 12:04 am
4
Location: Arkansas
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#24

Post by John Fitzgerald »


I have tried to see Sirius B since the elongation before this, without success. Used a 6" reflector in the late 70's and 8" reflector in the early 1980's. In this apparition, I have tried several times with a 6" apo. It's always the bad seeing. Maybe this year or early next......
Double and multiple star observer. Over 3,500 unique pairs logged.

No good deed goes unpunished.
User avatar
helicon United States of America
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 585
Offline
Posts: 12279
Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
4
Location: Washington
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#25

Post by helicon »


Well I tried for it last January but was unable to resolve it in the glare. Granted I was using my 6" achro at only 40x. Probably need to ramp it up over 150x or so.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
User avatar
Arctic
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 208
Joined: Fri May 17, 2019 1:30 pm
4
Location: Northeastern Minnesota, USA
Status:
Offline

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#26

Post by Arctic »


That will be a fun challenge. Worth a try. Although my skies are dark, and often very transparent, the seeing usually is not great. And from my latitude above 47N Sirius always twinkles.
Gordon
Scopes: Meade LX10 8" SCT, Explore Scientific AR102 Refractor on ES Twilight 1 Mount, Oberwerks 15X70 Binos, Nikon Action Extreme 10X50 Binos.
Eyepieces: ES 68* 24mm, ES 68* 20mm, ES 82* 11mm, ES 82* 8.8mm
Observing: Messier Objects--110/110, H1 Objects-- 400/400. Hundreds of additional NGC Objects. Significant Comets: Kohoutek, West, Halley, Hyakatake, Hale-Bopp, McNair, Neowise. Transits of Mercury and Venus.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse
Shabadoo
Orion Spur Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 825
Joined: Wed May 15, 2019 4:27 am
4
Location: Mount Pocono, Pa, Usa
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#27

Post by Shabadoo »


I have a question?
Its ENE? (Upper left)
In a reflector it’s WSW? (Lower right)
And of course really close to main star.
Jeff
Dad Joke King (ask my kids); Cereal killer
Orion Skyview pro 8 f5.
Binos: Polaris/wingspan 8x42 Ed/HD
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9860
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#28

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Arctic wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:39 pm from my latitude above 47N Sirius always twinkles.
I am at 48.25N and can see it, give a try :)
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
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, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
John Baars Netherlands
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 5
Offline
Posts: 2724
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 9:00 am
4
Location: Schiedam, Netherlands
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#29

Post by John Baars »


Shabadoo wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:14 pm I have a question?
Its ENE? (Upper left)
In a reflector it’s WSW? (Lower right)
And of course really close to main star.
Yes, look at #8 and #22, where it is sketched and mapped in the right position.
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
User avatar
John Baars Netherlands
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 5
Offline
Posts: 2724
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 9:00 am
4
Location: Schiedam, Netherlands
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#30

Post by John Baars »


Arctic wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:39 pm That will be a fun challenge. Worth a try. Although my skies are dark, and often very transparent, the seeing usually is not great. And from my latitude above 47N Sirius always twinkles.
I am afraid that just a single try won't be enough. A persistent pursuit is more likely to be succesfull. :smile: At least in my case it was.
From my 52N location I have seen it only several times in 9 years time. But I always kept remembering myself I did it for fun, though.
Maybe you are more lucky!
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
Refractordude
Interdicted
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1493
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
4
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#31

Post by Refractordude »


Tried last night with no luck. I have a 150mm f/8 achromatic. Should I reduce the aperture? The pup may be hidden very close inside the star's brightness.
Refractordude
Interdicted
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1493
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
4
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#32

Post by Refractordude »


Tried last night with no luck. I have a 150mm f/8 achromatic. Should I reduce the aperture? I have tried 100mm, and 90mm apertures. The pup may be hidden very close inside the star's brightness.
User avatar
notFritzArgelander
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 14925
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
4
Location: Idaho US
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#33

Post by notFritzArgelander »


If you are having trouble, try this trick, an occulting bar eyepiece.

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/c ... in-200708/
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
Shabadoo
Orion Spur Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 825
Joined: Wed May 15, 2019 4:27 am
4
Location: Mount Pocono, Pa, Usa
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#34

Post by Shabadoo »


notFritzArgelander wrote: Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:32 pm If you are having trouble, try this trick, an occulting bar eyepiece.

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/c ... in-200708/
Very, very interesting...
Jeff
Dad Joke King (ask my kids); Cereal killer
Orion Skyview pro 8 f5.
Binos: Polaris/wingspan 8x42 Ed/HD
User avatar
notFritzArgelander
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 14925
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
4
Location: Idaho US
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#35

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Shabadoo wrote: Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:29 pm
notFritzArgelander wrote: Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:32 pm If you are having trouble, try this trick, an occulting bar eyepiece.

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/c ... in-200708/
Very, very interesting...
The only time I saw Sirius B was about 50 years ago using an occulting bar eyepiece and on the instrument that discovered it, an 18.5” Clark refractor. I’m likely to try again ASAP.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
User avatar
notFritzArgelander
In Memory
In Memory
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 14925
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
4
Location: Idaho US
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#36

Post by notFritzArgelander »


notFritzArgelander wrote: Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:32 pm If you are having trouble, try this trick, an occulting bar eyepiece.

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/c ... in-200708/
PS The main tricks are 1) centering the occulting bar 2) making sure the bar is smaller than the separation and 3) rotate the bar.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
User avatar
dagadget United States of America
Mars Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:21 pm
4
Location: Avon Park, Florida
Status:
Offline

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#37

Post by dagadget »


When I found it in my C11 I had a very high power eyepiece in the scope made the field of view very small and I had a moon filter in. I could see it just a bit. Centered it in the eyepiece and took off the moon filter. I could see it just fine then and Sirius was just on the edge of the FOV. You really have to work hard for it and seeing and clarity both have to be high, If any seeing condition is off you won't get it. I try 10 times and might get it once out of 10. But keep trying it really lifts you when you see it for the first time.
Astro-Tech AT 152EDT Ioptron GEM 45 Mount AKA FracZilla
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
AT 92 on IEQ 30 Pro AKA ClusterZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.


David
User avatar
John Baars Netherlands
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 5
Offline
Posts: 2724
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 9:00 am
4
Location: Schiedam, Netherlands
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: How To Observe Sirius B

#38

Post by John Baars »


Like already mentioned above one needs very clean optics. All the tricks one can possibly try come in very handy.
Furthermore excellent seeing, excellent transparency, which means extreme much luck.
And excellent patience :D
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Astronomy Reports”