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Observations - 3/06/23

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1 year 5 months ago - 1 year 5 months ago #111879 by flt158
Observations - 3/06/23 was created by flt158
Hello, dear friends. 

Irish skies are now remaining bright up until midnight lately. 
On Friday night 2nd June 2023 I had my William Optics 158mm f/7 apochromatic refractor placed in my back garden. Sunset occurred at 21.43 IST (Irish Summer Time). The wind was dying down all the time from 8 km/h to 0 during my brief observing session. All 3 celestial objects are in Boӧtes. I’m sorry there weren’t more. 

1. The -0.06 magnitude star Arcturus was first on my menu. I was patiently waiting for Alpha Boӧtis to appear at 11x in my small 70mm f/6 apo. I was moving my whole system from east to west (has anyone else tried this?) until lo and behold himself appeared at 21.55 IST. I went straight to the main scope at 40x, and my wonderful orange K-class star looked very good indeed. To its south CN Boӧtis was in the same field of view. This star was very faint; but I was pleased I could see it with out any difficulties. 

2. Izar (Epsilon Boӧtis) came next. As some of you know I am having problems with my observing eye. That’s because I have a cataract in it. I am planning on having this nuisance removed during July or August this year. I used to be perfectly capable of seeing some black space between A and B of Izar. But that does not happen now until 167x. And even then the orange primary looks a complete mush. The secondary is white alright. And that’s because, as I said before, the sky is still very bright. 

3. What a beautiful true binary is my latest double. I’m sure some of you have observed STF1884; but it is a first time observation for yours truly. It has magnitudes: A = 6.6. B = 7.5. Sep = 2.15”. PA = 54.4˚. The star is about 3˚ down from Izar. If you haven’t treated yourself for a while I recommend to you STF1884. The primary is definitely a yellow-white F8 star. Some of you might see some blue in the secondary. But I didn’t, and I don’t mind in the least. I love white secondaries. I observed it at powers 112x, 140x, 167x and 225x. As you may know I can separate all 4 components of Epsilon Lyrae at 112x, and it was a real joy I could see the tiniest of black gaps between both these stars of STF 1884. 


Thank you for reading this report. 
I know it’s short and sweet. 
But wouldn’t it be great if I could see something new each time I have a brief observing session?

I wish you all clear skies.    

Aubrey.  
Last edit: 1 year 5 months ago by flt158.
The following user(s) said Thank You: michael_murphy, Fermidox, Until_then-Goodnight!

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1 year 4 months ago #111880 by Fermidox
Replied by Fermidox on topic Observations - 3/06/23
Aubrey, Mars was immersed in the Beehive cluster, M44, on Friday night and made an impressive sight through binoculars. That was a first for me.

Continued clear skies,
Finbarr.
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1 year 4 months ago #111882 by Until_then-Goodnight!
Replied by Until_then-Goodnight! on topic Observations - 3/06/23
Nothing wrong with short and sweet Aubrey...another enjoyable read...I love Bootes..one of my favourite constellations. 

Clear skies,

Darren.

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1 year 4 months ago #111885 by flt158
Replied by flt158 on topic Observations - 3/06/23
I'm glad someone observed the Mars - M44 conjunction, Finbarr. 
But I am somewhat saddened that I have lost the following constellations from my back garden:
Gemini, Cancer and Leo.
It's all because of the new 3 storey apartments that are remarkably close to my home. 
I can only observe Venus in the daytime. 
By 9pm she is gone too. 
I can only observed Venus in a dark sky from the Sugarloaf car park. 

But I must congratulate you for making sure you observed that wonderful conjunction, Finbarr. 

I wish you clear skies, 
From Aubrey. 
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