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Observation Notes:
The fussy seeing provided a beautiful view of this brilliant double. The diffraction patterns shimmered and danced, adding a bit of challenge to viewing the pair, but also providing a mesmerizing, speckled light show. The primary of Castor appeared bright white while its companion hinted at a subtle blue.
Measuring this duo using the Dobsonian scope was very challenging. I was attempting the PA measurement without my external dial, and although it was very tough to get the primary to drift through the exact center of the eyepiece, the measurement worked out fairly well–differing from Workman’s calculated 2008.2 value by only .8 degrees. The separation estimate was worse though, since I couldn’t track and allow the stars to hover over the scale. (My estimate of 6.9 arc seconds was a bit over compared to the calculated value of 4.5 arc seconds).
| Subject | Alpha Geminorum (Castor / STF 1110) |
| Classification | Multiple Star |
| Position (J2000) | Gemini [RA: 07:34:35.7 / Dec: +31:53:16]* |
| Position Angle* | 59° [2008.2 my measurement] 58.2° [2008.2 Brian Workman’s DS Calculator] |
| Separation* | 6.9″ [2008.2 my measurement] 4.5″ [2008.2 Brian Workman’s DS Calculator] |
| Magnitudes* | 2.0 / 2.9 |
| Spectral Types* | A1V / A2Vm |
| Date/Time | MAR 19, 2008 – 10:45 PM MST (MAR 20, 2008 – 05:45 UT) |
| Observing Loc. | Phoenix, AZ |
| Instrument | Orion XT8 (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L) |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | 10 mm Sirius Plössl + 2X Barlow (240X) 12 mm Meade Astrometric EP + 2X Barlow (200X) |
| Conditions | Mostly Clear, Gibbous Moon |
| Seeing | 3-4/10 Pickering |
| Transparency | NELM Mag ~4.0 |
| *References | The Washington Visual Double Star Catalog, 1996.0 (Worley+, 1996); Starry Night Pro Plus 5.8 |
Very nice drawing of the diffraction rings!
Andrew, thanks for the comment. The appearance of the diffraction rings is part of what I enjoy about observing close doubles–I think it’s great that I can get a different impression of the same double from night to night, depending on the seeing. Representing them in an illustration is another matter though. I’m still fine-tuning that process.
Wishing you some great observing in Waimea!
Jeremy