Antares

You need about 200-225x and steady skies in a 4 inch apo. 150x is too low.
I've tried filters, they dim the image too much, as does very high
magnification. The companion does fall on the first diffraction ring. Turn
off the drive and watch the direction of drift. The companion will appear
as a small blue disk leading the primary. The best nights are usually hazy,
even slightly murky, with very steady seeing. Antares should be nearly due
south to get some altitude.

It's much easier for me in a 5" apo or 7" Maksutov at 250-300x. On a good
night, I've also done it with a very well-collimated 6 inch newtonian.

Ralph K.

"Volker Kasten" wrote in message
...
Hi,
Some weeks ago I tried to split Antares with my Vixen 114/600 ED
Refractor at 150x, with blue filter, but I'm not sure it was successful.
It seemed to me that the 5,4 mag companion was positioned on the first
diffraction ring of the primary. Also, the air was not very steady.
I'd like to learn if anyone managed to split Antares, and with which
equipment ?

Clear skies,
Volker

It's also a bit easier to split during dusk rather than in a really dark
sky. At least, for smaller apertures.

Best regards,
Bill
"Rod Mollise" wrote in message
...
Also, the air was not very steady.
I'd like to learn if anyone managed to split Antares, and with which
equipment ?

Hi:

I've never tried it in a refractor of this aperture, but it can be fairly
easy
in a 6 inch Newtonian at high magnification. _When the seeind is good_;
that's
the key.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

"R. Kantrowitz" wrote in
:

You need about 200-225x and steady skies in a 4 inch apo. 150x is too
low. I've tried filters, they dim the image too much, as does very
high magnification. The companion does fall on the first diffraction
ring. Turn off the drive and watch the direction of drift. The
companion will appear as a small blue disk leading the primary. The
best nights are usually hazy, even slightly murky, with very steady
seeing. Antares should be nearly due south to get some altitude.

Some would say (I would say) green. g. I saw it last year in 8" SCT with
an off axis mask, and this year in a 6" Newt.

On 31 Aug 2004 04:44:32 -0700, (Dennis) wrote:

Hello, Rod

For an image of Antares and (blue) companion taken with a Vixen 4"
refractor, please visit the Vixen North America website, User Images
at http://www.vixenamerica.com/Products...p?Extra=Images and
scroll down unitl you see the link to Antares adjacent the name Dennis
Simmons.

Regards

Dennis

I think about an 8" scope would do a better job, get the diffraction
image size down a bit.
-Rich