Observation by Nick Hewitt: A slow binary in Gemini

Uploaded by

Nick Hewitt

Observer

Nick Hewitt

Observed

2019 Feb 21 - 18:50

Uploaded

2019 Feb 22 - 17:36

Objects

E-Gem

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Constellation

Gemini

Field centre

RA: 06^h54^m
Dec: +13°10'
Position angle: -16°06'

Field size

0°19' × 0°15'

Equipment

TMB 115mm f7 triplet
EQ8
Canon 60Da

Exposure

5 x 2 sec ISO 800

Location

Northampton

Target name

38 Geminorum

Title

A slow binary in Gemini

About this image

This slow binary has a 1898 year orbit but its motion can be detected by careful measure if your life is long enough! It has opened slightly from 6.7" in 1940 to 7.3" now, and its PA has changed from 154 degrees to about 142 in the same 80 years. Its components magnitudes are 4.7 and 7.7 so its could eb a vey good practice binary for embryonic binary enthusiasts.

North is up, west to the right. Larger apertures should split the stars very cleanly. My 115mm is too small and the focal length too short to do it justice.

Files associated with this observation

38 Geminorum cropped.jpg (36.0 kB)

Like this image

Jeremy Shears, Graham Winstanley, Chris Dole, Andy Wilson, David Basey, Peter Mulligan, Steve Knight, Peter Carson, Andrew Dumbleton

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