Excellent Double and Triple in Bootes

Hello everyone.
I have been meaning to inform you all about a very fine binary and an excellent triple star system both in the northern part of Bootes.
Last Saturday night 28th April, I had the great pleasure of observing 39 Bootis for the 3rd time.
The magnitudes are 6.3 and 6.7. The separation is 2.7" and the PA is 47 degrees.
It is an easy double to split -112X is sufficient to see A and B. But to study the colours I increased the magnifications up to 225X with my 5mm Nagler. There is plenty of black space between them at this power. Both stars are Class F and it was very pleasing to figure out that both stars are yellow -white. So there are no blue tints at all.

On then to the triple. It is, of course, Mu Bootis also known as Alkalurops (not easy to pronounce).
Even at 11X in my 70mm guidescope A and B are clearly separated. The primary is 4.3 in magnitude. However the secondary is also a double with magnitudes 7.1 and 7.6. Their separation is 2.2". The B and C stars seem to point up to the primary. 112X is perfectly sufficient to see all 3 stars. I am planning to getting back to Mu Bootis soon to figure out its colours at higher magnifications.

Thank you for reading,

Aubrey.

Thanks for another interesting report Aubrey. Was supposed to be clear tonight here in Limerick, but can't even see the full moon at the moment

Finbarr.

Hi Finbarr and others.
I would say there is plenty of time to observe anything in Bootes for many months to come.
The whole constellation is going to be around in our Irish skies until October / November.
So let's relax and take our time visiting this wonderful constellation even if our nights are getting considerably shorter.

I had another look at the double star 39 Bootis and triple star Alkalurops (Mu Bootis) on Friday night 4th May.
They are both climbing even higher in our eastern sky.
To my eyes they are both beautifully attractive at 112X.
Higher magnifications also work well on either.
Plus I did finish the evening with wonderful Izar (Epsilon Bootis).
I required 140X and 167X to see A and B.

By the way, am I the only one to have observed Nova Persei 2018?

Clear skies from Aubrey.

I did manage to catch it Aubrey, but didn't detect the orange colour through binoculars. Pity it didn't stay at its brightest for longer, but quite a rare event for a listed dwarf nova to detonate in this manner.

Finbarr.

Yes, Finbarr.
It is right that you would not have noticed the orange colour of Nova Persei with any binoculars.
After all I was not successful with either 11X or 40X.
It was only when I slapped in my Pentax 10 mm which gives me 112X did I notice its nice orange tint.
AAVSO observers are now estimating the magnitude of V392 Persei between 8.7 to 9.1.
Unfortunately it is highly unlikely I will be observing the nova again as it has gone behind a wide tree. :bricks:
Unless I can meet up with the gang at the Sugarloaf.

Aubrey.