#1
|
|||
|
|||
Antares, again
It's been awhile since I've done it, but whats
the minimum scope/aperture/magnification you've used to split it? If I were to rate three pairs that increase in difficulty in terms of splitting them, I'd pick: Rigel Antares Sirius -Rich |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Richard wrote:
It's been awhile since I've done it, but whats the minimum scope/aperture/magnification you've used to split it? If I were to rate three pairs that increase in difficulty in terms of splitting them, I'd pick: Rigel Antares Sirius You can probably stick Procyon near the end, there, too. Ahh, have I split Antares? I can't say that I have. I've only tried on two or three occasions, though, all with Antares near the horizon. Brian Tung The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/ Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/ The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/ My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Wed, 1 Sep 2004 00:17:27 +0000 (UTC), Brian Tung wrote:
Richard wrote: It's been awhile since I've done it, but whats the minimum scope/aperture/magnification you've used to split it? If I were to rate three pairs that increase in difficulty in terms of splitting them, I'd pick: Rigel Antares Sirius You can probably stick Procyon near the end, there, too. Ahh, have I split Antares? I can't say that I have. I've only tried on two or three occasions, though, all with Antares near the horizon. Brian Tung The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/ Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/ The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/ My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt I have also been taking advantage of the clear (for now) skies up here in the northwest to attempt to split this tough double. Going out to try it around 8:45 to 9:00 p.m. when the sky just dark enough to reveal the star which is slightly to the west of the meridian, I am not having much luck. I suppose the main reason for this is less than ideal seeing conditions and fairly low proximity of Antares to the horizon. I am not sure exactly how high it is but it seems to me that it is less than 30 degrees. I'd say maybe 20 to 25 degees maximum. . .if that high. Also, I am using a 114 mm with a focal length of 910 mm coupled with a 6 mm eyepiece. I realize that the obtained 150x is probably insufficient for the job but I keep hoping to see something at the anticipated position in the first diffraction ring's zone. Perhaps my 12.5 inch dobsonian could do the trick but I am hesitant to set it up on nights around the full moon since DSO's after the attempt at Antares would be out of the question. Do you think the 12.5 would have any chance at splitting the double star given its low position off of the southern horizon? |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Brian Tung" wrote in message ... Richard wrote: It's been awhile since I've done it, but whats the minimum scope/aperture/magnification you've used to split it? If I were to rate three pairs that increase in difficulty in terms of splitting them, I'd pick: Rigel Antares Sirius You can probably stick Procyon near the end, there, too. Ahh, have I split Antares? I can't say that I have. I've only tried on two or three occasions, though, all with Antares near the horizon. Brian Tung The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/ Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/ The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/ My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.txt I was going to suggest that as well. ;^) Just wondering if anyone in saa has managed a split of Procyon. I mean, a 9 magnitude difference has got to be difficult to overcome. Occulting bar? Best regards, Bill |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Rich posted:
It's been awhile since I've done it, but whats the minimum scope/aperture/magnification you've used to split it? If I were to rate three pairs that increase in difficulty in terms of splitting them, I'd pick: Rigel Antares Sirius I don't know exactly how much power I used when I last attempted it, but it was probably in the 150x to 250x range. I recall observing Antares during twilight a number of years ago at the Nebraska Star Party, and with the 10 inch, it was not terribly difficult when the seeing was good. I then stopped the scope down to only 94mm (3.7 inches) and still managed to just barely resolve the double, although the companion was faint and nearly right on a diffraction ring. Clear skies to you. -- David W. Knisely Prairie Astronomy Club: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org Hyde Memorial Observatory: http://www.hydeobservatory.info/ ********************************************** * Attend the 11th Annual NEBRASKA STAR PARTY * * July 18-23, 2004, Merritt Reservoir * * http://www.NebraskaStarParty.org * ********************************************** |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
In article , Richard wrote:
It's been awhile since I've done it, but whats the minimum scope/aperture/magnification you've used to split it? I've split it several times with my 8" SCT which has mediocre optical quality. Mostly I can't split Antares at all though; it depends mostly on the seeing at its (usually low) altitude. I think T. W. Webb's classic "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes" mentions Antares as being splittable in a 3" refractor -- but again mainly as a test of seeing (i.e. turbulence, not darkness nor transparency). If I were to rate three pairs that increase in difficulty in terms of splitting them, I'd pick: Rigel Antares Sirius One star I'd really like to see split again is Zeta Herculis. It's a rather short-period binary -- 34 years -- with 2.5-magnitude difference. Once, just once, in the mid-1990s when the separation was about 1.5 arc seconds, I managed to split it with my 8" SCT. It looked like a miniature eta Bootis, with lovely bright gold and bluish components. It was a hot, extremely still summer night. It's closer now, about 1 arc second and widening. It might be within reach of a *good* 8" in very steady skies in the next year or two. I don't know whether Zeta Her deserves to be considered easier than Sirius or harder... Stuart in steamy Champaign, IL |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
...difficulty
in terms of splitting ... Rigel? john |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
John, I agree. Rigel is a very easy split in just about any decent
telescope. Maybe Zeta Orionis? Rigel is way too easy. My 15 year old son likes nu scorpii (all 4) and delta cygnii for a bit of a challenge with a homemade 6" f/8 dob. However, I know that we have never split Antares, though I think I have read of others finding success with good 4" refractors and 120x. My younger son (12) recently completed a very nice 5" f/11.4 mirror, and he is hopeful that it will prove a great splitter. Dennis |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Rich
I have split Antares several times this summer with my 140mm refractor. I used between 163X and 196X...also used 245X once. If the air is unstable, then I don't have a chance due to flaring. I have not split Sirius in years and years. About 1980 or so I did it with 200X and a 155mm f9 refractor. Never tried Procyon yet. Now I will. Couple of years ago I split Antares with my 100mm f8 refractor, but it was very difficult. It was much easier at that time in a 128mm f8 refractor. Good Luck, Wes Richard wrote in message . .. It's been awhile since I've done it, but whats the minimum scope/aperture/magnification you've used to split it? If I were to rate three pairs that increase in difficulty in terms of splitting them, I'd pick: Rigel Antares Sirius -Rich |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Splitting Antares with apo? | Rank Amateur | Amateur Astronomy | 10 | July 29th 04 12:24 AM |
Saturn is spectacular, and so are Antares Plossl eyepieces | Lawrence Sayre | Amateur Astronomy | 37 | December 31st 03 02:27 AM |
Antares W70 eyepiece NOT as claimed | Pete Rasmussen | Amateur Astronomy | 14 | November 7th 03 03:40 PM |
Protostar / Antares Secondary? | Joseph O'Neil | Amateur Astronomy | 1 | August 26th 03 05:11 PM |