Zeta Lyrae (Struve 38)

Observation Notes:

This double was fairly wide–about 60 arc seconds by my estimate. The WDS value from 1835 is 43.7 arc seconds. PA appeared to be about 155° which compares to 150° from the WDS. Color was a bit elusive, but if anything, the primary appeared light yellow with a light blue secondary. According to CSSC/Skiff, the primary is A3 and the secondary is F0V. So the combo is actually light blue and white.

Subject Zeta Lyrae (STF 38)
Classification Double Star
Position (J2000) [RA: 18:44:46.3 / Dec: +37:36:18]*
Position Angle* 150° (1835)
Separation* 43.7″ (1835)
Magnitudes* 4.36/5.73
Spectral Types* A3/F0V
Date/Time SEP 04, 2006 – 1:10 AM MST (SEP 04, 2006 – 08:10 UT)
Observing Loc. Flagstaff, AZ – Home
Instrument Orion SVP 6LT Reflector (150 mm dia./1200 mm F/L)
Eyepieces/Mag. 10 mm + 2X Barlow (240X)
Conditions Clear, calm

Seeing 5/10
Transparency NELM Mag ~4.0
References The Washington Visual Double Star Catalog, 1996.0 (Worley+, 1996) and Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2005) via VizieR

*Based on published data.