Are there any double stars that I can actually see orbit each other?How many stars can stay close to each other without collapsing?Affordable night sky photographyWhat percentage of visual stars are actually binary stars?can we see all binary stars as pairs?Does CIBER Experiment from Caltech suggest that there can be lots of stars which are not in any galaxy?How was Earth's “quasi-satellite” 2016 HO3 “first spotted” and it's orbit determined?Are there any mirrors in space?Would 2 stars in binary star formation with same mass and no velocity collide into each other?Can Two Stars of One Same Type Orbit Each Other?Difference in observing hot stars that have been reddened and stars that are cool and red
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Are there any double stars that I can actually see orbit each other?
How many stars can stay close to each other without collapsing?Affordable night sky photographyWhat percentage of visual stars are actually binary stars?can we see all binary stars as pairs?Does CIBER Experiment from Caltech suggest that there can be lots of stars which are not in any galaxy?How was Earth's “quasi-satellite” 2016 HO3 “first spotted” and it's orbit determined?Are there any mirrors in space?Would 2 stars in binary star formation with same mass and no velocity collide into each other?Can Two Stars of One Same Type Orbit Each Other?Difference in observing hot stars that have been reddened and stars that are cool and red
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
$begingroup$
If I had a nice amateur telescope†, are there any multiple star systems that I could observe over a few years or a few decades and observe the motion of one or both of them in some way?
My short human lifespan and limited telescope put heavy constraints on the orbital distance, brightness, and distance from the Sun, so I am guessing that if there are any at all, the number is probably small.
†arbitrarily defined as say 8-inch (20 cm) aperture, with a good set of eyepieces, and a sketch pad.
observational-astronomy amateur-observing binary-star
$endgroup$
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
If I had a nice amateur telescope†, are there any multiple star systems that I could observe over a few years or a few decades and observe the motion of one or both of them in some way?
My short human lifespan and limited telescope put heavy constraints on the orbital distance, brightness, and distance from the Sun, so I am guessing that if there are any at all, the number is probably small.
†arbitrarily defined as say 8-inch (20 cm) aperture, with a good set of eyepieces, and a sketch pad.
observational-astronomy amateur-observing binary-star
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
There are links to various lists of visual binaries here. Ignore the optical doubles, they are just stars that look like they're close together.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PM2Ring there are several more links there, for example this one with some periods $P$ on the order of a human lifetime, maybe it's not so hopeless after all?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
I was just about to link that table from Richard Dibon-Smith's site. :D The trick is to find a binary with separation small enough for the period to be small, but large enough (and close enough to us) so that the 2 stars can distinguished.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might want to invest in either a reticle or a camera so you can quantify the relative position (spacing projected onto your image plain) and the changes over time.
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
This is a years long project, but can be done. Sky and Telescope recently had a list of visual binaries with shorter orbital periods, but I can't find a reference right now.
$endgroup$
– antlersoft
6 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
If I had a nice amateur telescope†, are there any multiple star systems that I could observe over a few years or a few decades and observe the motion of one or both of them in some way?
My short human lifespan and limited telescope put heavy constraints on the orbital distance, brightness, and distance from the Sun, so I am guessing that if there are any at all, the number is probably small.
†arbitrarily defined as say 8-inch (20 cm) aperture, with a good set of eyepieces, and a sketch pad.
observational-astronomy amateur-observing binary-star
$endgroup$
If I had a nice amateur telescope†, are there any multiple star systems that I could observe over a few years or a few decades and observe the motion of one or both of them in some way?
My short human lifespan and limited telescope put heavy constraints on the orbital distance, brightness, and distance from the Sun, so I am guessing that if there are any at all, the number is probably small.
†arbitrarily defined as say 8-inch (20 cm) aperture, with a good set of eyepieces, and a sketch pad.
observational-astronomy amateur-observing binary-star
observational-astronomy amateur-observing binary-star
asked 8 hours ago
uhohuhoh
9,3352 gold badges25 silver badges82 bronze badges
9,3352 gold badges25 silver badges82 bronze badges
2
$begingroup$
There are links to various lists of visual binaries here. Ignore the optical doubles, they are just stars that look like they're close together.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PM2Ring there are several more links there, for example this one with some periods $P$ on the order of a human lifetime, maybe it's not so hopeless after all?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
I was just about to link that table from Richard Dibon-Smith's site. :D The trick is to find a binary with separation small enough for the period to be small, but large enough (and close enough to us) so that the 2 stars can distinguished.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might want to invest in either a reticle or a camera so you can quantify the relative position (spacing projected onto your image plain) and the changes over time.
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
This is a years long project, but can be done. Sky and Telescope recently had a list of visual binaries with shorter orbital periods, but I can't find a reference right now.
$endgroup$
– antlersoft
6 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2
$begingroup$
There are links to various lists of visual binaries here. Ignore the optical doubles, they are just stars that look like they're close together.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PM2Ring there are several more links there, for example this one with some periods $P$ on the order of a human lifetime, maybe it's not so hopeless after all?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
I was just about to link that table from Richard Dibon-Smith's site. :D The trick is to find a binary with separation small enough for the period to be small, but large enough (and close enough to us) so that the 2 stars can distinguished.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might want to invest in either a reticle or a camera so you can quantify the relative position (spacing projected onto your image plain) and the changes over time.
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
This is a years long project, but can be done. Sky and Telescope recently had a list of visual binaries with shorter orbital periods, but I can't find a reference right now.
$endgroup$
– antlersoft
6 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
There are links to various lists of visual binaries here. Ignore the optical doubles, they are just stars that look like they're close together.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
There are links to various lists of visual binaries here. Ignore the optical doubles, they are just stars that look like they're close together.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PM2Ring there are several more links there, for example this one with some periods $P$ on the order of a human lifetime, maybe it's not so hopeless after all?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@PM2Ring there are several more links there, for example this one with some periods $P$ on the order of a human lifetime, maybe it's not so hopeless after all?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
8 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
I was just about to link that table from Richard Dibon-Smith's site. :D The trick is to find a binary with separation small enough for the period to be small, but large enough (and close enough to us) so that the 2 stars can distinguished.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
I was just about to link that table from Richard Dibon-Smith's site. :D The trick is to find a binary with separation small enough for the period to be small, but large enough (and close enough to us) so that the 2 stars can distinguished.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might want to invest in either a reticle or a camera so you can quantify the relative position (spacing projected onto your image plain) and the changes over time.
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might want to invest in either a reticle or a camera so you can quantify the relative position (spacing projected onto your image plain) and the changes over time.
$endgroup$
– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
This is a years long project, but can be done. Sky and Telescope recently had a list of visual binaries with shorter orbital periods, but I can't find a reference right now.
$endgroup$
– antlersoft
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
This is a years long project, but can be done. Sky and Telescope recently had a list of visual binaries with shorter orbital periods, but I can't find a reference right now.
$endgroup$
– antlersoft
6 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Probably Porrima, $gamma$ Vir, is the best candidate for observing changes in a binary orbit, particularly using a small telescope. It is a pair of stars with similar size and visual magnitude, of about 3.6. Their orbital period is about 169 years, but the orbit is eccentric, e = 0.88. They are also relatively close at about 40 ly. Periapsis was in 2005, so the stars are now moving away from each other, but their rate of separation is decreasing. Separation at periapsis was about 0.4 arcsec, so would not have been resolved using a small telescope in 2005. By 2015 their separation was ~2.5 arcsec, and will increase to ~3 arcsec by 2020. I estimated a position angle change between 2015-2020 of ~7 degrees. These changes should be detectable with a 100-200 mm (4-8 inch) telescope.
Since most short period binaries are close together, with nearly circular orbits, and often more distant, they are very difficult or impossible to resolve with a small telescope.
It is also possible to observe the orbit of the white dwarf binary companion to Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky (as also suggested by Michael Walsby). Sirius is only 8.6 ly away, and their orbit has a semi-major axis of about 7.5 arcsec, an eccectricity of e = 0.59, and a period of about 50 years. If this pair were similar in brightness, they would be an easy answer to this question. Unfortunately, Sirius B, or the Pup (as the companion is known to amateur astronomers), is ~10 magnitudes dimmer than Sirius, and usually lost in its glare. It takes a night with excellent seeing, i.e. a stable, non-turbulent atmosphere, especially since Sirius never gets much above 30 degrees elevation at the mid-northern latitude where I live. I have only seen the Pup 4 or 5 times (one view was probable but not certain) over almost 6 decades of observing, and I have never seen it in a telescope with aperture under 300 mm. I know other amateurs that have seen Sirius B in 150-200 mm telescopes, but mostly at lower latitudes. However, by seeing Sirius B at intervals separated by decades, I have observed its polar angle change.
I believe the separation of Sirius B is now over 10 arcsec, and still increasing slightly. So for the next couple of decades, observing it might be a bit easier. In recent winters I have tried with telescopes from a 120 mm refractor to a 250 mm Dobsonian, and occasionally larger, but still have not seen it for several years. This Hubble photo of Sirius gives some idea why Sirius B is hard to observe in small telescopes.
Also, many eclipsing binaries are often observed, and their light curves measured. By analyzing light curves, orbital elements can be estimated. However, these indirect orbital observations are probably stretching the intent of the original question.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
wow!+1very nice answer!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Back when USNO (home of the Washington Double Star Catalogue) was giving tours, the astronomers there seemed fond of that one.
$endgroup$
– Mike G
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
While editing my answer above to add Sirius B as another alternative, I saw the answer from Michael Walsby suggesting the same. I hope my additional information supports his answer.
$endgroup$
– amateurAstro
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You could try Sirius B, which is a white dwarf orbiting Sirius A around their common centre of mass. Sirius is one of the closest stars to Earth, and Sirius B has a 50 year orbital period. At maximum separation the white dwarf is about 30 AU from Sirius A, which should allow you to separate them with a good amateur telescope, but I'm not sure where Sirius B is right now. There should be a detectable change in position within 5 years or less. Needless to say, Sirius is a very btight star, and its companion rather faint, so you won't be able to separate them when they are close together.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
This one certainly won't be hard to find. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Probably Porrima, $gamma$ Vir, is the best candidate for observing changes in a binary orbit, particularly using a small telescope. It is a pair of stars with similar size and visual magnitude, of about 3.6. Their orbital period is about 169 years, but the orbit is eccentric, e = 0.88. They are also relatively close at about 40 ly. Periapsis was in 2005, so the stars are now moving away from each other, but their rate of separation is decreasing. Separation at periapsis was about 0.4 arcsec, so would not have been resolved using a small telescope in 2005. By 2015 their separation was ~2.5 arcsec, and will increase to ~3 arcsec by 2020. I estimated a position angle change between 2015-2020 of ~7 degrees. These changes should be detectable with a 100-200 mm (4-8 inch) telescope.
Since most short period binaries are close together, with nearly circular orbits, and often more distant, they are very difficult or impossible to resolve with a small telescope.
It is also possible to observe the orbit of the white dwarf binary companion to Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky (as also suggested by Michael Walsby). Sirius is only 8.6 ly away, and their orbit has a semi-major axis of about 7.5 arcsec, an eccectricity of e = 0.59, and a period of about 50 years. If this pair were similar in brightness, they would be an easy answer to this question. Unfortunately, Sirius B, or the Pup (as the companion is known to amateur astronomers), is ~10 magnitudes dimmer than Sirius, and usually lost in its glare. It takes a night with excellent seeing, i.e. a stable, non-turbulent atmosphere, especially since Sirius never gets much above 30 degrees elevation at the mid-northern latitude where I live. I have only seen the Pup 4 or 5 times (one view was probable but not certain) over almost 6 decades of observing, and I have never seen it in a telescope with aperture under 300 mm. I know other amateurs that have seen Sirius B in 150-200 mm telescopes, but mostly at lower latitudes. However, by seeing Sirius B at intervals separated by decades, I have observed its polar angle change.
I believe the separation of Sirius B is now over 10 arcsec, and still increasing slightly. So for the next couple of decades, observing it might be a bit easier. In recent winters I have tried with telescopes from a 120 mm refractor to a 250 mm Dobsonian, and occasionally larger, but still have not seen it for several years. This Hubble photo of Sirius gives some idea why Sirius B is hard to observe in small telescopes.
Also, many eclipsing binaries are often observed, and their light curves measured. By analyzing light curves, orbital elements can be estimated. However, these indirect orbital observations are probably stretching the intent of the original question.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
wow!+1very nice answer!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Back when USNO (home of the Washington Double Star Catalogue) was giving tours, the astronomers there seemed fond of that one.
$endgroup$
– Mike G
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
While editing my answer above to add Sirius B as another alternative, I saw the answer from Michael Walsby suggesting the same. I hope my additional information supports his answer.
$endgroup$
– amateurAstro
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Probably Porrima, $gamma$ Vir, is the best candidate for observing changes in a binary orbit, particularly using a small telescope. It is a pair of stars with similar size and visual magnitude, of about 3.6. Their orbital period is about 169 years, but the orbit is eccentric, e = 0.88. They are also relatively close at about 40 ly. Periapsis was in 2005, so the stars are now moving away from each other, but their rate of separation is decreasing. Separation at periapsis was about 0.4 arcsec, so would not have been resolved using a small telescope in 2005. By 2015 their separation was ~2.5 arcsec, and will increase to ~3 arcsec by 2020. I estimated a position angle change between 2015-2020 of ~7 degrees. These changes should be detectable with a 100-200 mm (4-8 inch) telescope.
Since most short period binaries are close together, with nearly circular orbits, and often more distant, they are very difficult or impossible to resolve with a small telescope.
It is also possible to observe the orbit of the white dwarf binary companion to Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky (as also suggested by Michael Walsby). Sirius is only 8.6 ly away, and their orbit has a semi-major axis of about 7.5 arcsec, an eccectricity of e = 0.59, and a period of about 50 years. If this pair were similar in brightness, they would be an easy answer to this question. Unfortunately, Sirius B, or the Pup (as the companion is known to amateur astronomers), is ~10 magnitudes dimmer than Sirius, and usually lost in its glare. It takes a night with excellent seeing, i.e. a stable, non-turbulent atmosphere, especially since Sirius never gets much above 30 degrees elevation at the mid-northern latitude where I live. I have only seen the Pup 4 or 5 times (one view was probable but not certain) over almost 6 decades of observing, and I have never seen it in a telescope with aperture under 300 mm. I know other amateurs that have seen Sirius B in 150-200 mm telescopes, but mostly at lower latitudes. However, by seeing Sirius B at intervals separated by decades, I have observed its polar angle change.
I believe the separation of Sirius B is now over 10 arcsec, and still increasing slightly. So for the next couple of decades, observing it might be a bit easier. In recent winters I have tried with telescopes from a 120 mm refractor to a 250 mm Dobsonian, and occasionally larger, but still have not seen it for several years. This Hubble photo of Sirius gives some idea why Sirius B is hard to observe in small telescopes.
Also, many eclipsing binaries are often observed, and their light curves measured. By analyzing light curves, orbital elements can be estimated. However, these indirect orbital observations are probably stretching the intent of the original question.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
wow!+1very nice answer!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Back when USNO (home of the Washington Double Star Catalogue) was giving tours, the astronomers there seemed fond of that one.
$endgroup$
– Mike G
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
While editing my answer above to add Sirius B as another alternative, I saw the answer from Michael Walsby suggesting the same. I hope my additional information supports his answer.
$endgroup$
– amateurAstro
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Probably Porrima, $gamma$ Vir, is the best candidate for observing changes in a binary orbit, particularly using a small telescope. It is a pair of stars with similar size and visual magnitude, of about 3.6. Their orbital period is about 169 years, but the orbit is eccentric, e = 0.88. They are also relatively close at about 40 ly. Periapsis was in 2005, so the stars are now moving away from each other, but their rate of separation is decreasing. Separation at periapsis was about 0.4 arcsec, so would not have been resolved using a small telescope in 2005. By 2015 their separation was ~2.5 arcsec, and will increase to ~3 arcsec by 2020. I estimated a position angle change between 2015-2020 of ~7 degrees. These changes should be detectable with a 100-200 mm (4-8 inch) telescope.
Since most short period binaries are close together, with nearly circular orbits, and often more distant, they are very difficult or impossible to resolve with a small telescope.
It is also possible to observe the orbit of the white dwarf binary companion to Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky (as also suggested by Michael Walsby). Sirius is only 8.6 ly away, and their orbit has a semi-major axis of about 7.5 arcsec, an eccectricity of e = 0.59, and a period of about 50 years. If this pair were similar in brightness, they would be an easy answer to this question. Unfortunately, Sirius B, or the Pup (as the companion is known to amateur astronomers), is ~10 magnitudes dimmer than Sirius, and usually lost in its glare. It takes a night with excellent seeing, i.e. a stable, non-turbulent atmosphere, especially since Sirius never gets much above 30 degrees elevation at the mid-northern latitude where I live. I have only seen the Pup 4 or 5 times (one view was probable but not certain) over almost 6 decades of observing, and I have never seen it in a telescope with aperture under 300 mm. I know other amateurs that have seen Sirius B in 150-200 mm telescopes, but mostly at lower latitudes. However, by seeing Sirius B at intervals separated by decades, I have observed its polar angle change.
I believe the separation of Sirius B is now over 10 arcsec, and still increasing slightly. So for the next couple of decades, observing it might be a bit easier. In recent winters I have tried with telescopes from a 120 mm refractor to a 250 mm Dobsonian, and occasionally larger, but still have not seen it for several years. This Hubble photo of Sirius gives some idea why Sirius B is hard to observe in small telescopes.
Also, many eclipsing binaries are often observed, and their light curves measured. By analyzing light curves, orbital elements can be estimated. However, these indirect orbital observations are probably stretching the intent of the original question.
$endgroup$
Probably Porrima, $gamma$ Vir, is the best candidate for observing changes in a binary orbit, particularly using a small telescope. It is a pair of stars with similar size and visual magnitude, of about 3.6. Their orbital period is about 169 years, but the orbit is eccentric, e = 0.88. They are also relatively close at about 40 ly. Periapsis was in 2005, so the stars are now moving away from each other, but their rate of separation is decreasing. Separation at periapsis was about 0.4 arcsec, so would not have been resolved using a small telescope in 2005. By 2015 their separation was ~2.5 arcsec, and will increase to ~3 arcsec by 2020. I estimated a position angle change between 2015-2020 of ~7 degrees. These changes should be detectable with a 100-200 mm (4-8 inch) telescope.
Since most short period binaries are close together, with nearly circular orbits, and often more distant, they are very difficult or impossible to resolve with a small telescope.
It is also possible to observe the orbit of the white dwarf binary companion to Sirius, the brightest star visible in the night sky (as also suggested by Michael Walsby). Sirius is only 8.6 ly away, and their orbit has a semi-major axis of about 7.5 arcsec, an eccectricity of e = 0.59, and a period of about 50 years. If this pair were similar in brightness, they would be an easy answer to this question. Unfortunately, Sirius B, or the Pup (as the companion is known to amateur astronomers), is ~10 magnitudes dimmer than Sirius, and usually lost in its glare. It takes a night with excellent seeing, i.e. a stable, non-turbulent atmosphere, especially since Sirius never gets much above 30 degrees elevation at the mid-northern latitude where I live. I have only seen the Pup 4 or 5 times (one view was probable but not certain) over almost 6 decades of observing, and I have never seen it in a telescope with aperture under 300 mm. I know other amateurs that have seen Sirius B in 150-200 mm telescopes, but mostly at lower latitudes. However, by seeing Sirius B at intervals separated by decades, I have observed its polar angle change.
I believe the separation of Sirius B is now over 10 arcsec, and still increasing slightly. So for the next couple of decades, observing it might be a bit easier. In recent winters I have tried with telescopes from a 120 mm refractor to a 250 mm Dobsonian, and occasionally larger, but still have not seen it for several years. This Hubble photo of Sirius gives some idea why Sirius B is hard to observe in small telescopes.
Also, many eclipsing binaries are often observed, and their light curves measured. By analyzing light curves, orbital elements can be estimated. However, these indirect orbital observations are probably stretching the intent of the original question.
edited 1 hour ago
answered 6 hours ago
amateurAstroamateurAstro
6282 silver badges8 bronze badges
6282 silver badges8 bronze badges
$begingroup$
wow!+1very nice answer!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Back when USNO (home of the Washington Double Star Catalogue) was giving tours, the astronomers there seemed fond of that one.
$endgroup$
– Mike G
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
While editing my answer above to add Sirius B as another alternative, I saw the answer from Michael Walsby suggesting the same. I hope my additional information supports his answer.
$endgroup$
– amateurAstro
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
wow!+1very nice answer!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Back when USNO (home of the Washington Double Star Catalogue) was giving tours, the astronomers there seemed fond of that one.
$endgroup$
– Mike G
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
While editing my answer above to add Sirius B as another alternative, I saw the answer from Michael Walsby suggesting the same. I hope my additional information supports his answer.
$endgroup$
– amateurAstro
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
wow!
+1 very nice answer!$endgroup$
– uhoh
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
wow!
+1 very nice answer!$endgroup$
– uhoh
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Back when USNO (home of the Washington Double Star Catalogue) was giving tours, the astronomers there seemed fond of that one.
$endgroup$
– Mike G
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Back when USNO (home of the Washington Double Star Catalogue) was giving tours, the astronomers there seemed fond of that one.
$endgroup$
– Mike G
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
While editing my answer above to add Sirius B as another alternative, I saw the answer from Michael Walsby suggesting the same. I hope my additional information supports his answer.
$endgroup$
– amateurAstro
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
While editing my answer above to add Sirius B as another alternative, I saw the answer from Michael Walsby suggesting the same. I hope my additional information supports his answer.
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– amateurAstro
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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You could try Sirius B, which is a white dwarf orbiting Sirius A around their common centre of mass. Sirius is one of the closest stars to Earth, and Sirius B has a 50 year orbital period. At maximum separation the white dwarf is about 30 AU from Sirius A, which should allow you to separate them with a good amateur telescope, but I'm not sure where Sirius B is right now. There should be a detectable change in position within 5 years or less. Needless to say, Sirius is a very btight star, and its companion rather faint, so you won't be able to separate them when they are close together.
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This one certainly won't be hard to find. Thanks!
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– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You could try Sirius B, which is a white dwarf orbiting Sirius A around their common centre of mass. Sirius is one of the closest stars to Earth, and Sirius B has a 50 year orbital period. At maximum separation the white dwarf is about 30 AU from Sirius A, which should allow you to separate them with a good amateur telescope, but I'm not sure where Sirius B is right now. There should be a detectable change in position within 5 years or less. Needless to say, Sirius is a very btight star, and its companion rather faint, so you won't be able to separate them when they are close together.
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$begingroup$
This one certainly won't be hard to find. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You could try Sirius B, which is a white dwarf orbiting Sirius A around their common centre of mass. Sirius is one of the closest stars to Earth, and Sirius B has a 50 year orbital period. At maximum separation the white dwarf is about 30 AU from Sirius A, which should allow you to separate them with a good amateur telescope, but I'm not sure where Sirius B is right now. There should be a detectable change in position within 5 years or less. Needless to say, Sirius is a very btight star, and its companion rather faint, so you won't be able to separate them when they are close together.
$endgroup$
You could try Sirius B, which is a white dwarf orbiting Sirius A around their common centre of mass. Sirius is one of the closest stars to Earth, and Sirius B has a 50 year orbital period. At maximum separation the white dwarf is about 30 AU from Sirius A, which should allow you to separate them with a good amateur telescope, but I'm not sure where Sirius B is right now. There should be a detectable change in position within 5 years or less. Needless to say, Sirius is a very btight star, and its companion rather faint, so you won't be able to separate them when they are close together.
answered 3 hours ago
Michael WalsbyMichael Walsby
3601 silver badge5 bronze badges
3601 silver badge5 bronze badges
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This one certainly won't be hard to find. Thanks!
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– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This one certainly won't be hard to find. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
This one certainly won't be hard to find. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
This one certainly won't be hard to find. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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There are links to various lists of visual binaries here. Ignore the optical doubles, they are just stars that look like they're close together.
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– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
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@PM2Ring there are several more links there, for example this one with some periods $P$ on the order of a human lifetime, maybe it's not so hopeless after all?
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– uhoh
8 hours ago
1
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I was just about to link that table from Richard Dibon-Smith's site. :D The trick is to find a binary with separation small enough for the period to be small, but large enough (and close enough to us) so that the 2 stars can distinguished.
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– PM 2Ring
8 hours ago
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You might want to invest in either a reticle or a camera so you can quantify the relative position (spacing projected onto your image plain) and the changes over time.
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– Carl Witthoft
7 hours ago
1
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This is a years long project, but can be done. Sky and Telescope recently had a list of visual binaries with shorter orbital periods, but I can't find a reference right now.
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– antlersoft
6 hours ago