2022-11-24

• Condition: E6
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

A Thanksgiving observation session! We had Thanksgiving dinner at the cabin for the first time this year. Randy, Holly, Karen, Bill, Carly, Soren, Gwen and I (and Darth) were all there. The Moores had to stay home since Lydia was feeling sick, because of that we had so much extra food. I stuffed myself stupid; so much so that I was feeling too tired to go out viewing tonight. I’m glad I pushed myself because it was beautiful tonight!

10:16PM

• Target: 32 Eridani
• Const: Eridanus
• RaDec: 03h54m -2.57
• Type: Star (Double)
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, AV
• Double: AB: 340°

Found by right ascending from ν Eridani. Clean split. The sibling is less bright but not hard to see. Both appear yellow in color.

10:30PM

• Target: 55 Eridani
• Const: Eridanus
• RaDec: 04h43m -8.48
• Type: Star (Double)
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 57x
• Double: AB: 300° or 120°

Found by moving declination down from μ Eridani. Cool faint pair. Looks like a ghostly pair of eyes. Orange in color.

10:39PM

• Target: γ Leporis
• Const: Lepus
• RaDec: 05h44m -22.27
• Type: Star (Double)
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 57x
• Double: AB: 340°

Easy split. Primary is white, the sibling looks purple.

10:51PM

• Target: M 79
• Const: Lepus
• RaDec: 05h24m -24.33
• Type: Globular Cluster
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, AV

Very faint and difficult to see. AV is required. Can see some “noise” in the area with an occasional glint of light. Maybe it’s too low on the horizon? I may flag this one for a redo in the future.

11:07PM

• Target: β Orionis
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 05h14m -8.12
• Type: Star (Double)
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 57x, ½ stop-down
• Double: AB: 220°

Rigel is so bright it almost washes out the sibling. Tried various methods, but stop-down without barlow worked the best.

11:14PM

• Target: δ Orionis
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 05h32m -0.18
• Type: Star (Double)
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 57x
• Double: AB: 0°

Easy split. The sibling is less bright, but still easy to see. Primary looks yellow.

11:20PM

• Target: λ Orionis
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 05h35m +9.56
• Type: Star (Double)
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 150x
• Double: AB: 45°

Took a little effort to get the split, mostly with micro-focusing. Both appear white.

11:35PM

• Target: σ Orionis
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 05h38m -2.36
• Type: Star (Multiple)
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 150x
• Double: AC: 90°, AD: 70°

Can only see two of the three siblings. I’ve tried everything I could think of to see the third, but it’s keeps evading me.