Hello, one and all.
Here are 3 quickies I observed in Cassiopeia last Thursday night 18th August 2022.
1. NGC 225 is a magnificent open cluster. Its nickname is the Sailboat Cluster. That's because with a refractor or an SCT its hull is seriously curved and there is a long row of stars heading upwards. So loads of stars are visible even at 112x with my WO 158mm apo.
2. But NGC 189 is a lot more dim. Still this open cluster has a nice character at 112x.
3. Finally I bumped into a fine but uncertain double star. STF 43 has magnitudes: A = 9. B = 9.5. Sep = 4.7". PA = 168 degrees. Lovely split at 112x. Both stars are white.
I failed to see a carbon star called V826 Cassiopeiae. It's supposed to vary in magnitude from 10.5 down to 14.6. But I will try again if we do get back to the Sugarloaf soon. It has been very many years since it reached 10.5 mag. And now I'm certain the star is near minimum today. Its period is 730 days. If anyone wishes to image the star, please tell me and I will give you the Right Ascension and Declination.
Clear skies from Aubrey.
