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(IAAC) Obj: Nu Dra (Kuma, STF 35, Eyes of the Dragon) - Inst: Discovery DHQ 8" dobsonian
IAAC Deep-Sky Observing Log Entry
Name of observer: Tom Campbell
Your observing skills then: Advanced (many years)
Date/time of observation: June 6, 2003 11:30pm CDT
Site type: Exurban
Location: Iola, Kansas (Long: 95o24'W Lat: 37o55'N)
Transparency: Clear (8/10)
Seeing: Mostly Stable (7/10)
Moon presence: Major - Gibbous or near object
Instrument: Discovery DHQ 8" dobsonian
Powers: 49x, 81x, 125x, 203x, 305x
Filters: None
Deep Sky Object: Nu Draconis (Kuma, STF 35, Eyes of the Dragon)
Object category: Multiple Star.
Object class:
Constellation: Dra
Position: RA: 17h 32m 16s | Dec: +55o10'
Object data: Mag: 4.9, 4.9 | Sep: 62"
Description:
With the nearly first quarter Moon high overhead as twilight neared an
end, I knew that my Herschel galaxies were out of the question from my
back yard. So instead, I gathered up the last couple of issues of
Sky&Telescope to see what objects were featured. As it turned out,
most of the observing articles were about double stars. In the
moonlight, doubles seemed the best course to take, so I thought it was
fitting. I hand-picked several of those listed that I either hadn't
seen yet, or else I hadn't visited in quite a while. I began in Corona
Borealis, but the glare of the Moon in that region of sky made me
retreat into Draco, the land of the Dragon.
--
I like to refer to this double as the "Eyes of the Dragon". Both stars
were bright white and of equal magnitude. The pair was wide, easily
split at 49x with a lot of space between. Compared to other stars in
the field, this double was much brighter, staring back at you from the
depths of space.
--
Any Web URL related to log:
http://www.iolaks.com/softech/astro
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