[sigmaOri courtesy of DSS]
Given a visual acuity (VA) of 150" a 10x binocular will potentially split doublestars with separations as close as 15" (150/10), and 5" at 30x.
Doubles with equal or near equal mags are easier to blackline than those with a significantly brighter glare from the primary.
Color interpretations are often subjective for several reasons including sky conditions, color sensitivity, contrast effects, and aperture.
Equally impressive in low power scopefields, this collection of brighter targets for northern observers is arranged by constellation and decreasing separation. Pocket Sky Atlas chart references are included.
Andromeda psa 2/3
56 0156+3715 5.7, 6.0 @ 190"
59 0211+3902 6.5, 7.0 @ 16.6"
gamma 0204+4220 2.3, 5.5 @ 9.8"
stf79 0100+4443 6.0, 7.0 @ 7.8"
Aquarius psa 76
94 2319-1327 5.3, 7.3 @ 13"
107 2346-1840 5.5, 6.5 @ 6.6"
Aquila psa 65/66/67
15 1905-0402 5.5, 7.2 @ 38"
57 1955-0814 5.8, 6.5 @ 36"
stf2654 2015-0330 6.0, 7.5 @ 14.2"
5 1847-0057 5.5, 7.5 @ 13"
Aries psa 4
30 0237+2439 6.6, 7.4 @ 38.6"
lambda 0158+2336 4.9, 7.7 @ 37"
gamma 0154+1918 4.8, 4.8 @ 7.8"
Auriga psa 12
stf698 0525+3451 6.5, 7.5 @ 31.2"
stf764 0541+2929 6.5, 7.0 @ 26"
14 0515+3231 5.1, 7.4 @ 14.6"
stf872 0616+3609 6.9, 7.9 @ 11.3"
41 0612+4843 5.0, 7.0 @ 7.7"
stf918 0634+5227 6.5, 7.5 @ 4.7"
Bootes psa 42/44/53
mu 1525+3723 4.3, 6.5 @ 108"
s656 1350+2117 6.8, 7.3 @ 86"
iota 1416+5122 4.9, 7.5 @ 38"
stf1850 1429+2817 6.0, 7.0 @ 25.6"
kappa 1414+5147 4.6, 6.6 @ 13.4"
xi 1451+1906 4.7, 7.0 @ 6.9"
stf1835 1423+0827 5.1, 7.6 @ 6.2"
pi 1441+1625 4.9, 5.8 @ 5.6"
Camelopardalis psa 11/12/31
11/12 0506+5858 5.4, 6.5 @ 180"
s436 0349+5707 6.5, 7.3 @ 58"
32 1249+8325 5.3, 5.8 @ 21.6"
1 0432+5355 5.7, 6.8 @ 10.3"
Cancer psa 24
b584 0840+1933 6.9, 7.2 @ 45"
iota 0847+2846 4.2, 6.6 @ 30"
stf1245 0836+0637 6.0, 7.2 @ 10.3"
zeta 0812+1739 5.6, 6.0 @ 5.9"
phi2 0827+2656 6.3, 6.3 @ 5.1"
Canes Venatici psa 32
17 1310+3830 6.0, 6.2 @ 84"
alpha 1256+3819 2.9, 5.5 @ 19.4"
Canis Major psa 27
h3945 0717-2320 5.0, 5.8 @ 26.8"
Capricornus psa 66
beta1/2 2021-1447 3.4, 6.2 @ 205"
omicron 2030-1834 6.0, 6.5 @ 21.9"
Cassiopeia psa 1
oss26 0220+6002 6.9, 7.4 @ 63"
stf3053 0003+6605 6.0, 7.7 @ 15.2"
eta 0049+5749 3.4, 7.5 @ 12"
Cepheus psa 71/73
delta 2229+5825 3.9, 6.3 @ 41"
stf2840 2152+5547 5.5, 7.3 @ 18.3"
beta 2129+7034 3.2, 7.9 @ 13.3"
xi 2204+6438 4.4, 6.5 @ 7.7"
stf2816 2139+5729 5.6, 7.7, 7.8 @ 11.7", 121"
Cetus psa 6
66 0213-0224 5.7, 7.5 @ 16.5"
Coma Berenices psa 45
17 1229+2555 5.3, 6.6 @ 145"
32/33 1252+1704 6.3, 6.7 @ 95"
24 1235+1823 5.2, 6.7 @ 20.3"
Corona Borealis psa 53
zeta 1539+3638 5.1, 6.0 @ 6.3"
sigma 1615+3352 5.6, 6.6 @ 6.2"
Corvus psa 47
stf 1669 1241-1300 6.0, 6.1 @ 5.4"
Cygnus psa 62/63
31 2014+4644 3.8, 7.0, 4.8 @ 107", 338"
16 1942+5031 6.0, 6.2 @ 40.0"
beta 1931+2758 3.1, 5.1 @ 34.4"
61 2107+3845 5.2, 6.0 @ 28"
stf2486 1912+4951 6.6, 6.8 @ 7.9"
Delphinus psa 64
s752 2030+1925 6.6, 7.0 @ 106"
gamma 2047+1607 4.4, 5.0 @ 9.1"
Draco psa 41/52/61
16/17 1636+5255 5.4, 5.5 @ 108"
39 1824+5848 5.0, 7.4 @ 89"
oss123 1327+6444 6.7, 7.0 @ 69"
nu 1732+5511 4.9, 4.9 @ 62"
omicron 1851+5923 4.8, 7.8 @ 34.2"
psi 1742+7209 4.9, 6.1 @ 30.3"
40/41 1800+8000 5.7, 6.1 @ 19.3"
stf2452 1854+7546 6.6, 7.4 @ 5.6"
Equuleus psa 75
epsilon 2059+0418 6.0, 7.1 @ 11"
Eridanis psa 16/17
55 0444-0848 6.7, 6.8 @ 9.2"
32 0354-0257 4.7, 6.2 @ 6.8"
Gemini psa 25
20 0632+1747 6.3, 6.9 @ 20.0"
38 0655+1311 4.7, 7.7 @ 7.1"
Hercules psa 52/54/55/65
37 1641+0413 5.8, 7.0 @ 70"
kappa 1608+1703 5.3, 6.5 @ 28"
100 1808+2606 5.9, 6.0 @ 14.2"
95 1802+2136 5.0, 5.1 @ 6.3"
alpha 1715+1423 3.5, 5.4 @ 4.7"
rho 1724+3709 4.6, 5.6 @ 4.1"
Lacerta psa 72
8 2236+3938 5.7, 6.5 22.4"
Leo psa 34/35
alpha 1008+1158 1.4, 7.7 @ 177"
tau 1128+0251 5.0, 7.4 @ 91"
83 1127+0300 6.2, 7.8 @ 28.5"
54 1056+2445 4.5, 6.3 @ 6.5"
gamma 1020+1951 2.2, 3.5 @ 4.4"
Lepus psa 16
gamma 0545-2227 3.7, 6.3 @ 96"
h3780 0539-1751 6, 9, 8, 8 @ 89", 76", 129"
s476 0519-1831 6.2, 6.4 @ 39"
Libra psa 57
alpha 1451-1602 3.0, 5.0 @ 231"
shj179 1426-1958 6.6, 6.6 @ 16"
stf1962 1539-0847 6.5, 6.6 @ 11.9"
Lynx psa 23
5 0627+5825 5.3, 7.9 @ 96"
19 0723+5517 5.6, 6.5 @ 14.8"
stf958 0648+5542 6.3, 6.3 @ 4.8"
Lyra psa 63
epsilon1/2 1844+3940 5.0, 5.2 @ 208"
beta 1850+2948 3.5, 7.0 @ 46.6"
oss525 1855+3358 6.0, 7.7 @ 45"
zeta 1845+3736 4.3, 5.9 @ 44"
Monoceros psa 25/26/27
zeta 0809-0259 4.3, 7.8 @ 67"
epsilon 0624+0436 4.5, 6.5 @ 27"
beta 0629-0702 4.7, 5.2 @ 7.3"
Ophiuchus psa 54/56
rho 1626-2327 5, 8, 7 @ 151", 156"
s694 1752+0107 6.9, 7.1 @ 82"
53 1735+0935 5.5, 7.5 @ 41.3"
61 1745+0235 6.2, 6.6 @ 20.6"
Orion psa 14/16
delta 0532-0018 2.5, 6.5 @ 52.6"
theta2 0535-0525 5.0, 6.5 @ 52"
shj49 0459+1432 6.0, 7.5 @ 39.4"
stf747 0535-0600 4.8, 5.7 @ 35.7"
23 0523+0333 5.0, 7.1 @ 32"
stf855 0609-0230 6.0, 7.0 @ 29.5"
sigma 0539-0236 4.0, 8.8, 6.5, 6.6 @ 11", 13", 42"
iota 0536-0555 2.8, 6.9 @ 11.3"
theta1 0535-0523 6.7, 7.9, 5.1, 6.7 @ 8.8", 13.0", 21.5"
lambda 0535+0956 3.6, 5.5 @ 4.4"
Pegusus psa 74/75
stf2841 2154+1943 6.4, 7.9 @ 22.3"
stf2978 2308+3249 6.3, 7.5 @ 8.4"
Perseus psa 12/13
57 0433+4304 6.1, 6.8 @ 116"
stf331 0301+5221 5.3, 6.7 @ 12.1"
Pisces psa 5
77 0106+0455 6.8, 7.6 @ 33"
psi1 0106+2128 5.6, 5.8 @ 30"
zeta 0114+0735 5.6, 6.5 @ 23"
35 0015+0849 6.0, 7.6 @ 11.6"
65 0050+2743 6.3, 6.3 @ 4.4"
Sagitta psa 64
bu139 1913+1651 6.5, 7.5 @ 113"
theta 2010+2055 6.5, 7.4 @ 84"
Scorpius psa 56
nu 1612-1928 4.3, 6.4 @ 41"
beta 1605-1948 2.5, 5.0 @ 13.7"
xi 1604-1122 4.8, 7.3 @ 7.6"
Serpens psa 55/65
stf1919 1513+1918 6.7, 7.6 @ 23.9"
theta 1856+0412 4.6, 4.9 @ 22.1"
Sextans psa 34
35 1043+0445 6.3, 7.4 @ 6.8"
Taurus psa 14/15
21/22 0346+2432 5.6, 6.4 @ 168"
eta 0348+2406 2.9, 6.3 @ 117"
hvi98 0416+0611 6.3, 7.0 @ 66"
chi 0423+2538 5.5, 7.6 @ 19.4"
stf401 0331+2734 6.4, 6.9 @ 11.3"
118 0529+2509 5.8, 6.6 @ 4.8"
Ursa Major psa 31/42/43
stf1831 1416+5643 6.6, 7.1 @ 108"
65 1155+4629 6.5, 6.7 @ 63"
stf1415 1018+7104 6.7, 7.3 @ 16.7"
zeta 1324+5456 2.3, 4.0 @ 14.4"
Ursa Minor psa 51
alpha 0231+8915 2.0, 9.0 @ 18.4"
pi1 1529+8027 6.6, 7.3 @ 31"
Virgo psa 47
stf1627 1218-0357 6.6, 6.9 @ 20.1"
54 1314-1849 6.5, 7.2 @ 5.3"
Vulpecula psa 75
stf2769 2111+2409 6.5, 7.5 @ 17.9"
*****
| Double Stars |
[muLupus courtesy of DSS]
No, it's not an Astronomical League Observe Program. But the southern sky certainly has its share of beautiful and interesting doubles, and I wanted to be ready for them on my next trip below the equator.
Here's a list of 100 gems for residents and northern visitors, including the SkyAtlas2000 charts where each can be found.
Special thanks to the folks at IIS for their valuable contributions.
beta1Tuc SA 24
00 32 -62 57 mag 4.5, 5.0 @ 27.1"
COO3 SA 24
00 45 -62 30 mag 6.5, 8.5 @ 2.4"
lambdaTuc SA 24
00 52 -69 30 mag 6.6, 8.0 @ 21.0"
betaPhe SA 18
01 06 -46 42 mag 4.0, 4.0 @ 1.4"
zetaPhe SA 24
01 08 -55 15 mag 4.0, 7.0, 8.0 @
0.8", 6.4"
kappaTuc SA 24
01 16 -68 52 mag 5.1, 7.3 @ 5.2"
DUN5 SA 24
01 40 -56 11 mag 5,8, 5.9 @ 10.5"
epsilonScl SA 18
01 46 -25 02 mag 5.5, 8.3 @ 4.7"
omegaFor SA 18
02 34 -28 13 mag 5.0, 7.7 @ 10.9"
DUN7 SA 24
02 40 -59 33 mag 7.0, 7.0 @ 36.7"
thetaEri SA 18
02 58 -40 18 mag 3.4, 4.5 @ 8.3"
HJ3568 SA 24
03 07 -78 59 mag 5.5, 8.0 @ 15.4"
alphaFor SA 18
03 12 -29 00 mag 4.0, 7.0 @ 1.9"
zetaRet SA 24
03 18 -62 30 mag 5.2, 5.5 @ 130"
DUN16 SA 18
03 49 -37 37 mag 4.9, 5.4 @ 8.0"
thetaRet SA 24
04 18 -63 15 mag 6.2, 8.2 @ 4.0"
RMK4 SA 24
04 24 -57 04 mag 7.1, 7.5 @ 5.7"
iotaPic SA 24
04 51 -53 27 mag 5.6, 6.4 @ 12.5"
gammaCae SA 19
05 04 -35 28 mag 4.5, 8.0 @ 2.9"
thetaPic SA 24
05 25 -52 19 mag 7.0, 7.0 @ 38.0"
betaLep SA 19
05 28 -20 45 mag 3.0, 7.5 @ 2.3"
DUN26 SA 24
06 12 -65 31 mag 7.0, 8.5 @ 20.9"
HJ3869 SA 19
06 33 -32 01 mag 5.7, 7.7 @ 24.9"
HJ3891 SA 19
06 46 -30 57 mag 6.1, 8.4 @ 4.9"
epsilonCMa SA 19
06 59 -28 58 mag 1.5, 8.0 @ 7.5"
gammaVol SA 25
07 09 -70 29 mag 3.9, 5.8 @ 13.6"
HJ3945 SA 19
07 17 -23 18 mag 4.8, 6.8 @ 26.8"
HJ3997 SA 24
07 35 -74 16 mag 7.0, 7.0 @ 2.0"
k1+2Puppis SA 19
07 39 -26 49 mag 4.4, 4.6 @ 9.8"
epsilonVol SA 25
08 08 -68 36 mag 4.5, 8.0 @ 6.1"
gammaVel SA 20
08 09 -47 20 mag 2.3, 4.4, 8.5, 9.4
@ 41.2", 62.3", 94.0"
RMK8 SA 25
08 15 -62 54 mag 5.3, 7.6 @ 3.6"
DUN70 SA 20
08 30 -44 43 mag 5.0, 6.5 @ 5.0"
deltaVel SA 25
08 45 -54 41 mag 2.1, 5.1, 10.5 @
2.6", 69.5"
DUN74 SA 25
08 57 -59 13 mag 4.9, 6.6 @ 40"
zetaAnt SA 20
09 31 -31 53 mag 6.3, 7.2 @ 8.0"
DUN82 SA 25
09 33 -86 00 mag 7.4, 8.0 @ 15.6"
upsilonCar SA 25
09 47 -65 03 mag 3.1, 6.1 @ 5.0"
DUN81 SA 20
09 54 -45 17 mag 5.7, 7.9 @ 5.4"
DUN95 SA 25
10 39 -55 36 mag 4.5, 6.5 @ 51.8"
HR4179 SA 25
10 39 -58 49 mag 6.2, 8.0 @ 26.3"
DUN94 SA 25
10 39 -59 11 mag 4.8, 8.2 @ 14.5"
muVel SA 20
10 47 -49 25 mag 2.9, 6.6 @ 2.6"
HJ4383 SA 25
10 54 -70 42 mag 6.5, 7.0 @ 1.5"
HJ4432 SA 25
11 23 -64 27 mag 5.5, 7.5 @ 2.5"
BSO6 SA 20
11 29 -42 40 mag 5.1, 7.4 @ 13.1"
HJ4455 SA 20
11 37 -33 34 mag 6.0, 8.1 @ 3.3"
DUN114 SA 20
11 40 -38 06 mag 6.5, 8.0 @ 17.0"
HR4628 SA 21
12 10 -34 42 mag 6.3, 8.3 @ 3.2"
DCen SA 21
12 14 -45 43 mag 5.5, 6.6 @ 2.9"
alphaCru SA 25
12 27 -63 05 mag 1.5, 1.8, 4.8 @
4.4", 90.0"
gammaCru SA 25
12 32 -57 06 mag 1.8, 6.5 @ 125"
betaMus SA 25
12 46 -68 06 mag 3.7, 4.0 @ 1.4"
betaCru SA 25
12 48 -59 43 mag 1.3, 7.2 @ 373"
muCru SA 25
12 55 -57 11 mag 3.9, 5.0 @ 34.8"
thetaMus SA 25
13 08 -65 18 mag 5.5, 8.0 @ 5.3"
JCen Sa 25
13 23 -60 59 mag 4.5, 6.2 @ 61.7"
OCen SA 25
13 42 -54 53 mag 5.5, 7.0 @ 5.3"
3Cen SA 21
13 52 -32 59 mag 4.5, 6.0 @ 7.9"
NCen SA 25
13 52 -52 48 mag 5.5, 7.5 @ 18.0"
4Cen SA 21
13 53 -31 55 mag 4.8, 8.5 @ 14.8"
COO167 SA 25
14 15 -61 42 mag 6.5, 8.5 @ 2.8"
alphaCen SA 25
14 40 -60 50 mag 0.0, 1.5 @ 8.3"
alphaCir SA 25
14 43 -64 57 mag 3.4, 8.8 @ 15.7"
HR5520 SA 25
14 53 -73 11 mag 5.9, 7.6 @ 2.2"
piLup SA 21
15 05 -47 03 mag 4.6, 4.7 @ 1.7"
kappaLup SA 21
15 12 -48 44 mag 4.1, 6.0 @ 26.1"
muLup SA 25
15 19 -47 52 mag 5.0, 5.5, 7.0 @
1.0", 22.7"
gammaCir SA 25
15 23 -59 19 mag 5.0, 5.0 @ 0.9"
zetaCrB SA 21
15 39 -36 38 mag 5.1, 6.0 @ 6.3"
RMK20 SA 25
15 48 -65 26 mag 6.5, 6.5 @ 1.9"
2Sco SA 21
15 54 -25 19 mag 4.7, 7.4 @ 2.3"
xiLup SA 21
15 57 -33 57 mag 5.5, 5.5 @ 10.4"
etaLup SA 22
16 00 -38 24 mag 3.5, 7.5 @ 15.2"
deltaAps SA 26
16 20 -78 41 mag 5.0, 5.0 @ 103"
sigmaSco SA 22
16 21 -25 35 mag 2.9, 8.7 @ 20.0"
epsilonNor SA 22
16 27 -47 33 mag 4.5, 7.5 @ 22.0"
alphaSco SA 22
16 29 -26 26 mag 1.0, 5.4 @ 2.9"
RAra SA 26
16 40 -56 59 mag 6.0, 8.5 @ 3.6"
36Oph SA 22
17 15 -26 33 mag 5.5, 5.5 @ 4.4"
44Ara SA 22
17 19 -46 39 mag 5.5, 8.5 @ 9.2"
HJ4978 SA 26
17 50 -53 37 mag 6.0, 9.0 @ 12.3"
HJ5014 SA 22
18 07 -43 25 mag 5.7, 5.7 @ 0.9"
etaSgr SA 22
18 18 -36 44 mag 3.2, 7.8 @ 3.6"
xiPav SA 26
18 23 -61 29 mag 4.3, 8.6 @ 3.3"
kappaCrA SA 22
18 33 -38 43 mag 6.0, 6.5 @ 21.4"
gammaCrA SA 22
19 06 -37 04 mag 4.8, 5.1 @ 1.3"
betaSgr SA 22
19 23 -44 27 mag 4.3, 7.4 @ 28.3"
DUN227 SA 26
19 53 -54 58 mag 6.0, 6.5 @ 22.9"
kappaSgr SA 23
20 24 -42 25 mag 6.0, 6.9 @ 0.8"
muOct SA 26
20 42 -75 21 mag 7.1, 7.6 @ 17.4"
RMK26 SA 26
20 52 -62 25 mag 6.6, 6.6 @ 2.5"
thetaInd SA 26
21 20 -53 26 mag 4.7, 7.2 @ 6.3"
HR8202 SA 23
21 27 -42 33 mag 5.6, 8.2 @ 2.9"
lambdaOct SA 26
21 51 -82 43 mag 5.5, 7.8 @ 2.8"
etaPsA SA 23
22 01 -28 27 mag 5.5, 6.5 @ 1.6"
betaPsA SA 23
22 32 -32 21 mag 4.5, 7.5 @ 30.4"
gammaPsA SA 23
22 53 -32 52 mag 4.6, 8.1 @ 4.2"
DUN246 SA 26
23 07 -50 41 mag 6.1, 6.8 @ 8.7"
thetaPhe SA 23
23 40 -46 38 mag 6.6, 7.2 @ 3.9"
*****
| Double Stars |
