What they don't tell you about double stars!

What they don't tell you about double stars!

If you do make a measurement of the separation and position angle the
chances are that you will be looking at a line-of-sight pair, of
little or no astronomical significance, rather than at true binary
system.

If you do manage to identify a true binary you need to be aware that
the vast majority of true binary stars that are measurable by most
amateurs only change very, very, slowly. Annual measurements are
usually more than enough so the chance are that your measurements will
be needlessly duplicating work already done elsewhere. Without a
reliable place to check recent results it is difficult for amateurs to
identify neglected systems worth studying.

You cannot submit your results directly to the professionals in
Washington. For some bizarre reason they refuse to discuss they don't
follow the lead set by variable star, asteroid or comet data
depositaries by allowing direct submission. Instead you need to resort
to publishing your results in an "approved magazine" followed, if you
are lucky, by inclusion in the catalogue.

You might need to wait for many weeks, or even months, for your
results to pass through the required refereeing process. You will then
certainly need to wait many more months for your results to be
published.

After publication you will not be told if or when your results will be
included in the Washington Double Star Catalogue (WDS).

If your results are included in WDS neither you nor anybody else will
be able to access them on-line. This is because the staff at the
Washington Observatory either cannot (unlikely) or will not (almost
certainly) make this facility available.

So my strong advice is to find a more user friendly part of the hobby
to occupy your time.

http://www.martin-nicholson.info/1/3cc.htm

Martin Nicholson, Daventry, England.
http://www.martin-nicholson.info/1/1a.htm

Visit the Astronomical Hall of Shame at http://www.geocities.com/queen5658/

"ukastronomy" wrote in message
...
: What they don't tell you about double stars!
:
Who are "they"?


: If you do make a measurement of the separation and position angle the
: chances are that you will be looking at a line-of-sight pair, of
: little or no astronomical significance, rather than at true binary
: system.

Of course. But "they" make money out of amateurs by selling catalogs,
don't "they"?


:
: If you do manage to identify a true binary you need to be aware that
: the vast majority of true binary stars that are measurable by most
: amateurs only change very, very, slowly. Annual measurements are
: usually more than enough so the chance are that your measurements will
: be needlessly duplicating work already done elsewhere. Without a
: reliable place to check recent results it is difficult for amateurs to
: identify neglected systems worth studying.


The majority of supposed binaries are spectroscopic.
Algol, the first "discovered", is not spectroscopic, merely
"eclipsing". It's not even that.
http://www.androcles01.pwp.blueyonde...lgol/Algol.htm

:
: You cannot submit your results directly to the professionals in
: Washington. For some bizarre reason they refuse to discuss they don't
: follow the lead set by variable star, asteroid or comet data
: depositaries by allowing direct submission.

Why is it bizarre to hoodwink money out of gullible amateurs
who talk too much and listen not enough?

: Instead you need to resort
: to publishing your results in an "approved magazine" followed, if you
: are lucky, by inclusion in the catalogue.

Welcome to the real world of science.

: You might need to wait for many weeks, or even months, for your
: results to pass through the required refereeing process. You will then
: certainly need to wait many more months for your results to be
: published.

Welcome to the real world of science.
:
: After publication you will not be told if or when your results will be
: included in the Washington Double Star Catalogue (WDS).
:
Welcome to the real world of science.


: If your results are included in WDS neither you nor anybody else will
: be able to access them on-line. This is because the staff at the
: Washington Observatory either cannot (unlikely) or will not (almost
: certainly) make this facility available.

Can't give it away free, have to make m.o.n.e.y out of it.
Welcome to the real world of science.

: If your results are included in WDS neither you nor anybody else will
: be able to access them on-line. This is because the staff at the
: Washington Observatory either cannot (unlikely) or will not (almost
: certainly) make this facility available.

Can't give it away free, have to make m.o.n.e.y out of it.
Welcome to the real world of science.

Apparently you both are unaware that the WDS is available on line.

http://ad.usno.navy.mil/wds/

On 15 Dec, 14:02, Greg Hennessy
wrote:
: If your results are included in WDS neither you nor anybody else will
: be able to access them on-line. This is because the staff at the
: Washington Observatory either cannot (unlikely) or will not (almost
: certainly) make this facility available.

Can't give it away free, have to make m.o.n.e.y out of it.
Welcome to the real world of science.

Apparently you both are unaware that the WDS is available on line.

http://ad.usno.navy.mil/wds/

Greg - you cannot access individual results on-line. You can access on
old version of WDS via Vizier and a more recent version via the WDS
website BUT but these are just summaries. The individual results that
have been submitted cannot be accessed.

"Greg Hennessy" wrote in message
omain...
:: If your results are included in WDS neither you nor anybody else will
: : be able to access them on-line. This is because the staff at the
: : Washington Observatory either cannot (unlikely) or will not (almost
: : certainly) make this facility available.
:
: Can't give it away free, have to make m.o.n.e.y out of it.
: Welcome to the real world of science.
:
: Apparently you both are unaware that the WDS is available on line.

Doesn't matter to me, I'm not interested in serendipity.
ALL stars are "close" to "some" line of sight, ALL stars are
therefore doubles, triples, quadruples, whatever you want to
call them. Big whoopee, so what?

Greg Hennessy wrote:
: If your results are included in WDS neither you nor anybody else will
: be able to access them on-line. This is because the staff at the
: Washington Observatory either cannot (unlikely) or will not (almost
: certainly) make this facility available.

Can't give it away free, have to make m.o.n.e.y out of it.
Welcome to the real world of science.

Apparently you both are unaware that the WDS is available on line.

http://ad.usno.navy.mil/wds/

Just downloaded it(a bit of a hassle,mainly copy/paste text)
Thanks.