Neil Webster, St Marys Platt, Kent 

e-mail:             ******@gmail.com

 

Introduction

The following measurements were made throughout 2018 using a Meade 12mm astrometric illuminated reticle eyepiece plus 2.5x powermate attached to an Altair Astro 115mm refractor (focal length 805mm, f7). The total magnification was 167.5x with a field of view of 0.3 degrees.

Fewer measurements were made this year due to relocation which finally happened at the end of February. Serious observing, measuring and imaging did not begin until the middle of April. Although St Marys Platt is a much darker site than Bromley measurements are still limited to 8.5 magnitude due to the red light in the eyepiece. However, a Southerly aspect is now available so many of the measurements are of systems previously unavailable.

All final separation values were calculated from a calibration determined by the timing/transit method (Simple Techniques of Measurement: E.T.H. Teague, Chapter 12 in Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars ed. Argyle, pub. Springer).

Position Angle measurements were made using the now tried and tested method previously outlined in DSSC 25 which involves using the directional west arrow on the synscan handset to electronically steer the primary to the outer edge of the protractor scale rather than turning off the mount motor for an unaided drift.

As before, 10 separation and 10 position angle measurements (N = 20) were performed on the same evening for each pair and the final results and associated uncertainties calculated.

Extensive use was again made of the Astroplanner software. Separations throughout the year were all limited to a range from 15 to 100 arc-seconds. Magnitudes ranged from 0.5 to 8.5.

As most of these systems are comparatively wide the orbits are generally very long (2,000 years+) and very few have accurate orbital calculations. Residuals (from the online version of 6th USNO Catalogue of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars) have been given for the few systems calculated but none have a better than grade 5 certainty (Table 2).

Values from the Fourth Catalogue of Interferometric Measurements have provided a more extensive set of residuals but most of these are from 1991 which is 26 years before the author’s measurements. Although many of the systems have not changed in this time some have and, in certain cases, this shows in the larger residuals calculated (Table 3).

For residuals greater than 1o in PA or 1” in separation relative proper motions have been analysed (Table 4). In certain cases differences between the components’ proper motions may provide a tentative explanation for the larger than average residuals obtained (Table 4).

Some systems have larger than anticipated residuals and alternative residuals have been calculated using the latest WDS measurements for comparison (Table 5).

References:

The Cambridge Double Star Atlas, (Mullany J. Tirion W. pub. Cambridge)

Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars (ed. Argyle R.W. pub. Springer)

Washington Double Star Catalogue (Mason, B.D., Wycoff, G.L. & Hartkopf, W.I.):

http://ad.usno.navy.mil/proj/WDS

Sixth Catalogue of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars (Hartkopf, W.I., Mason, B.D. & Worley, C.E.):

http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astrometry/optical-IR-prod/wds/orb6/sixth-catalog-of-orbits-of-visual-binary-stars

Fourth Catalogue of Interferometric Measurements of Binary Stars:

 http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astrometry/optical-IR-prod/wds/int4

Astroplanner:

 http://www.astroplanner.net/

 

Table 1: Measurements

 

Pair

Comp

RA

Dec

Va

Vb

PA (o)

+/-

Sep (‘’)

+/-

Epoch

2018 +

N

Obs

                         

STTA 254

AB

00013

+6021

7.40

8.33

89.0

0.1

57.8

0.3

.742

20

WST

STF 3053

AB

00026

+6606

5.96

7.17

69.5

0.1

15.0

0.1

.742

20

WST

STTA 1

AB

00141

+7601

7.39

7.81

103.2

0.1

73.2

0.3

.742

20

WST

H 5 17

AB

00369

+3343

4.36

7.08

173.0

0.1

36.0

0.2

.809

20

WST

HJ 1986

AB

00396

+8445

7.96

8.50

67.0

0.1

40.3

0.2

.742

20

WST

                         

STFA 1

AB

00464

+3057

7.25

7.43

46.8

0.1

47.8

0.2

.809

20

WST

H 5 82

AB

00474

+5106

7.97

8.35

75.0

0.1

56.8

0.3

.742

20

WST

STF 88

AB

01057

+2128

5.27

5.45

159.5

0.1

29.2

0.2

.802

20

WST

STF 90

AB

01058

+0455

6.39

7.26

83.5

0.2

32.7

0.2

.802

20

WST

STF 98

AB

01129

+3205

7.02

8.14

250.0

0.1

20.0

0.1

.802

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 100

AB

01137

+0735

5.22

6.27

63.2

0.1

23.2

0.2

.802

20

WST

HJ 2028

AB

01166

+7402

7.06

7.88

203.5

0.1

62.6

0.3

.772

20

WST

STT 30

AC

01256

+3133

8.09

8.06

105.7

0.1

56.7

0.3

.802

20

WST

S 398

AB

01284

+0758

6.34

8.02

100.4

0.1

68.9

0.3

.802

20

WST

STF 222

AB

02109

+3902

6.05

6.71

36.0

0.1

16.5

0.2

.809

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S 405

AB

02128

+7941

6.47

7.15

276.7

0.1

55.5

0.3

.772

20

WST

STTA 26

AB

02197

+6002

6.95

7.30

200.5

0.1

62.9

0.3

.772

20

WST

CTT3

AB

02359

+6338

7.78

8.30

87.5

0.1

88.1

0.4

.802

20

WST

STTA 28

AB

02390

+6235

6.65

7.56

147.9

0.1

67.9

0.3

.802

20

WST

STTA 31

AB

03009

+5940

7.33

8.03

230.6

0.1

73.7

0.1

.802

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STTA 94

AB

08362

+1347

7.39

8.11

132.7

0.1

43.2

0.2

.298

20

WST

S571

AD

08399

+1933

7.31

6.67

241.9

0.1

92.1

0.4

.342

20

WST

S571

AC

08399

+1933

7.31

7.47

157.5

0.1

45.7

0.3

.342

20

WST

STF 1254

AC

08404

+1040

6.52

7.61

342.6

0.2

62.5

0.1

.298

20

WST

STF 1268

AB

08467

+2846

4.13

5.99

307.9

0.2

30.7

0.1

.298

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 1283

AB

08499

+1450

7.66

8.45

123.0

0.1

16.4

0.3

.298

20

WST

STTA 96

AB

08520

+2543

7.65

8.45

312.0

0.1

50.0

0.1

.298

20

WST

STTA 97

AB

09084

+2732

8.30

8.31

273.6

0.1

51.5

0.2

.298

20

WST

STF 1575

AB

11520

+0850

7.43

7.89

211.0

0.1

30.5

0.2

.342

20

WST

STF 1579

AB D

11551

+4629

6.68

6.97

113.5

0.1

62.5

0.1

.523

20

WST

STF 1579

CD

11551

+4629

8.32

6.97

117.0

0.1

61.9

0.2

.523

20

WST

STTA 114

AB

12002

+3644

7.48

8.39

83.1

0.1

86.3

0.3

.523

20

WST

STTA 116

AB

12019

+0006

7.81

8.49

177.4

0.1

73.2

0.3

.324

20

WST

STF 1603

AB

12081

+5528

7.82

8.26

84.5

0.2

22.5

0.1

.523

20

WST

STF 1627

AB

12182

-0357

6.55

6.90

196.1

0.1

20.9

0.2

.342

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 1649

AB

12316

-1104

7.97

8.43

194.0

0.1

15.7

0.2

.342

20

WST

STF 1657

AB

12351

+1823

5.11

6.33

271.8

0.2

20.2

0.2

.496

20

WST

STF 1677

AB

12453

-0353

7.30

8.12

348.4

0.2

15.6

0.2

.342

20

WST

STF 1678

AB

12454

+1422

7.16

7.68

170.0

0.1

37.5

0.1

.517

20

WST

STF 1685

AB

12519

+1910

7.31

7.78

202.1

0.1

16.0

0.1

.517

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 1692

AB

12560

+3819

2.85

5.52

229.8

0.1

19.5

0.3

.517

20

WST

STF 1740

AB

13237

+0243

7.13

7.39

74.7

0.2

25.6

0.2

.342

20

WST

H 570

AC

13309

+2414

7.67

8.28

256.0

0.1

76.8

0.3

.517

20

WST

S 656

AB

13504

+2117

6.93

7.37

208.5

0.1

86.2

0.1

.534

20

WST

SHJ 179

AB

14255

-1958

6.61

7.16

295.8

0.1

35.0

0.3

.496

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STTA 131

AB

14538

-0024

7.47

8.14

215.8

0.1

83.0

0.3

.342

20

WST

HN 28

AB

14575

-2125

5.88

8.18

306.0

0.1

25.0

0.1

.496

20

WST

STF 1919

AB

15127

+1917

6.71

7.38

10.9

0.2

23.6

0.1

.501

20

WST

SHJ 195

AB

15145

-1826

6.79

8.32

140.7

0.2

47.5

0.3

.496

20

WST

SHJ 202

AB

15282

-0921

6.95

7.61

132.3

0.1

52.0

0.3

.496

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H 3 7 AC

AC

16054

-1948

2.59

4.52

20.0

0.1

13.0

0.2

.545

20

WST

STF 2007

AB

16060

+1319

6.89

7.98

322.1

0.1

37.5

0.1

.501

20

WST

H 5 6 AC

 

16120

-1928

4.35

6.60

336.5

0.1

41.3

0.2

.545

20

WST

SHJ 225

AB

16201

-2003

7.39

8.08

332.8

0.2

47.1

0.2

.638

20

WST

STFA 34

AB

17346

+0935

5.80

7.50

191.0

0.1

41.6

0.3

.501

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 2185

AC

17348

+0601

7.46

8.43

253.0

0.1

93.2

0.4

.501

20

WST

STF 2202

AB

17446

+0235

6.13

6.47

93.6

0.1

20.7

0.2

.501

20

WST

S 694

AB

17521

+0107

6.67

7.26

237.7

0.1

79.3

0.3

.501

20

WST

SHJ 264

AB C

18187

-1837

6.86

7.63

51.1

0.1

18.1

0.2

.545

20

WST

PLT 3

AB

18510

-2018

7.04

7.55

101.0

0.1

93.6

0.1

.545

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STTA 176

AB

18545

+0154

7.45

7.51

111.6

0.1

94.3

0.4

.509

20

WST

STF 2417

AB

18562

+0412

4.59

4.93

103.1

0.1

22.7

0.2

.509

20

WST

SHJ 286

AB

19050

-0404

5.52

6.98

211.0

0.1

39.3

0.2

.509

20

WST

STTA 178

AB

19153

+1505

5.69

7.64

266.7

0.2

89.6

0.3

.509

20

WST

STF 2497

AB

19200

+0535

7.73

8.49

356.0

0.1

30.6

0.2

.511

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HJ 599

AC

19407

-1618

5.42

7.65

40.8

0.2

45.3

0.2

.545

20

WST

STFA 45

AB

19431

-0818

7.11

7.56

146.1

0.1

97.0

0.4

.511

20

WST

STF 2594

AB

19546

-0814

5.65

6.35

169.9

0.1

36.0

0.2

.511

20

WST

STTA 198

AB

20066

+0735

7.12

7.55

185.0

0.1

64.6

0.3

.511

20

WST

S 735

AB

20113

-0008

7.16

7.98

211.0

0.1

56.0

0.2

.511

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S 740

AB

 

20142

+0635

7.77

8.06

191.6

0.1

43.6

0.2

.511

20

WST

S 749

AB

20275

-0206

6.76

7.51

189.0

0.1

60.6

0.3

.511

20

WST

STTA 211

AB

20493

+5845

6.85

7.88

268.2

0.1

94.9

0.4

.807

20

WST

S 788

AB

21238

-0635

7.65

8.27

93.2

0.1

58.1

0.3

.638

20

WST

STFA 56

AB

21377

+0637

6.18

7.50

348.3

0.1

38.8

0.2

.826

20

WST

STF 2816

AD

21390

+5729

5.73

7.53

338.7

0.2

20.6

0.2

.807

20

WST

STTA 222

AB

21441

+0709

7.49

8.47

257.5

0.1

87.4

0.1

.826

20

WST

ES 382

AC

21509

+3240

8.28

8.42

322.0

0.1

58.1

0.3

.826

20

WST

STF 2840

AB

21520

+5548

5.64

6.42

196.8

0.2

18.1

0.2

.807

20

WST

S 825

AB

23100

+3651

7.78

8.26

318.0

0.1

67.3

0.2

.809

20

WST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 2985

AB

23100

+4758

7.21

8.02

256.2

0.1

15.2

0.1

.809

20

WST

SHJ 355

AC

23300

+5833

4.87

7.23

268.5

0.1

75.0

0.1

.809

20

WST

 

 

Table 2: Residuals from Known Orbits

 

Pair

ADS (HIP)

Residual (O-C) PA (0)

Residual

 (O-C) Sep (‘’)

Orbit

Period (yrs)

 

Date

Grade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H N 28 AB

9446

-1.1

-0.9

Hale

2130

1994

5

S 825 AB

16558

-0.7

+0.4

Kiselev

110 000

2009

5

S 825 AB

16558

-1.8

+0.5

Kiselev

110 000

2009

5

S 825 AB

16558

-0.8

+0.1

Kiselev

110 000

2009

5

 

 

(All Residuals: Observed – latest Catalogue measurement)

 

Table 3: Residuals from Fourth Catalogue of Interferometric Measurements

 

Pair

ADS (BDS)

HIP (TYC)

Epoch (catalogue)

Residual

 PA (0)

Residual

 Sep (‘’)

STTA 254 AB

(12693)

99

1991.61

-0.4

0.0

STF 3053 AB

1

207

2003.770

-0.7

0.0

STTA 1 AB

(71)

1124

1991.67

-0.3

-0.7

H 5 17 AB

 

 

 

 

 

HJ 1986 AB

(+83)

(4619 00293)

1991.69

+0.1

-0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

STFA 1 AB

639

3617

2003.804

+0.5

+0.7

H 5 82 AB

(417)

3698

1991.76

-0.1

+1.4

STF 88 AB

899

5131

2003.845

-0.2

-0.8

STF 90 AB

903

5141

2003.845

+0.5

-0.1

STF 98 AB

988

5671

1991.45

+1.3

+0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 100 AB

996

5737

2003.866

+0.1

+0.6

HJ 2028 AB

(BD+73)

5950

1991.67

-0.2

+0.8

STT 30 AC

1134

6668

1991.54

+0.1

0.0

S 398 AB

(770)

6868

1991.54

+0.9

-0.1

STF 222 AB

1683

10176

2003.875

+0.1

0.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

S 405 AB

(1094)

10309

1991.73

+0.2

-0.2

STTA 26 AB

(1193)

10856

1991.56

+0.2

-0.5

CTT3 AB

(BD+62 423)

12081

1991.66

-0.4

+0.6

STTA 28 AB

(1329)

12346

1991.56

+0.1

+0.1

STTA 31 AB

(BD+59 582)

14049

1991.71

+0.4

+0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

STTA 94 AB

 

42193

1991.72

-0.3

-0.2

S 571 AD

6915

(1395 02711)

1991.63

+0.1

-0.7

S 571 AC

6915

(1395 02711)

1991.61

+1.0

+0.5

STF 1254 AC

6921

42549

1991.59

0.0

-0.8

STF 1268 AB

6988

43100

2003.283

+0.2

+0.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 1283 AB

7031

43359

1991.56

+0.1

0.0

STTA 96 AB

 

43535

1991.57

-1.2

+1.5

STTA 97 AB

 

44858

1991.72

-0.1

-0.2

STF 1575 AB

8327

57858

1991.70

+1.0

0.0

STF 1579   AB D

8347

58112

1991.73

-0.3

-0.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

STTA 114 AB

(5993)

58530

1991.80

+0.7

-0.5

STTA 116 AB

 

58678

1991.66

0.0

+0.4

STF 1603 AB

8434

59176

1991.63

+2.1

+0.2

STF 1627 AB

8505

59984

2003.284

+0.4

+1.1

STF 1649 AB

8585

61127

1991.67

+0.1

+0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 1657 AB

8600

61418

2003.284

+1.7

+0.3

STF 1677 AB

8657

62234

1991.51

+0.5

-0.5

STF 1678 AB

8659

62248

2003.251

-2.1

+0.8

STF 1685 AB

8690

62783

1991.63

-0.6

0.0

STF 1692 AB

8706

63125

2003.284

+1.2

+0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 1740 AB

8883

65352

1991.31

0.0

-0.7

H 570 AC

8929

65921

1991.66

-0.7

+1.3

S 656 AB

(6647)

67543

1991.75

+0.3

+0.4

SHJ 179 AB

9258

70518

2003.481

+0.4

+0.8

STTA 131 AB

 

72888

1991.52

+1.3

-1.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

HN 28 AB

9446

73184

1991.48

+1.4

+0.8

STF 1919 AB

9535

74432

2003.284

+0.7

+0.5

SHJ 195 AB

(17 4283)

(6174 00156)

1991.58

+0.8

+0.4

SHJ 202 AB

(7268)

75718

1991.52

-0.3

-0.1

H 3 7 AC

9913

78820

2005.498

+0.2

-0.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 2007 AB

9922

78875

2003.418

-0.3

-0.3

H 5 6 AC

9951

79374

2003.418

-0.4

+0.5

SHJ 225 AB

(7575)

80024

1991.53

0.0

+0.4

STFA 34 AB

10635

85998

2003.418

+0.8

+0.2

STF 2185 AC

10638

86024

1991.52

+9.2

+6.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 2202 AB

10750

86831

2003.290

+0.5

+0.3

S 694 AB

(8198)

87448

1991.67

+0.4

-0.6

SHJ 264    AB C

11240

(6269 04010)

2009.668

-0.4

+1.2

PLT 3 AB

 

92491

1991.72

+0.1

+0.4

STTA 176 AB

(8894)

92794

1991.81

-1.0

-0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 2417 AB

11853

92946

2003.580

-0.5

+0.6

SHJ 286 AB

12007

93717

2003.418

+1.4

+0.1

STTA 178 AB

(9149)

94624

1991.57

-0.3

-0.2

STF 2497 AB

(9208)

95017

1991.79

-0.6

+0.6

HJ 599 AC

12767

96808

2003.628

-0.7

+0.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

STFA 45 AB

(9525)

97016

1991.82

+0.3

+0.3

STF 2594 AB

13087

97966

2003.418

-0.7

+0.3

STTA 198 AB

13379

99055

1991.49

-0.6

-0.4

S 735 AB

(9961)

99476

1991.49

+1.7

+0.6

S 740 AB

(10012)

99729

1991.59

-0.2

+0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

S 749 AB

13868

100896

1991.46

+0.5

+0.7

STTA 211 AB

(10577)

102775

1991.72

+1.9

-3.0

S 788 AB

(10943)

105641

1991.66

+1.3

+3.2

STF 2816 AD

15184

106886

2003.620

0.0

+0.9

STF 2840 AB

15405

107930

2003.621

+1.1

+0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

S 825 AB

16558

114390

1991.76

-0.5

+0.1

STF 2985 AB

16557

114385

2012.6746

+0.5

-0.6

SHJ 355 AC

16795

115990

1991.59

-0.3

-0.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 4: Doubles with significant proper motion differences

 

(All Proper Motions: WDS 2018)

Pair

Comp

Epoch

μα

μδ

μα

μδ

Δθ

(o)

Δρ  

(‘’)

H 5 82

AB

1991

-026

-024

+017

+004

-0.1

+1.4

STF 98

AB

1991

+013

-009

+013

-009

+1.3

+0.4

S 571

AC

1991

-036

-012

-035

-014

+1.0

+0.5

STTA 96

AB

1991

-004

-038

-047

-001

-1.2

+1.5

STF 1575

AB

1991

-010

-050

+008

-051

+1.0

0.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 1603

AB

1991

-178

-017

-180

-033

+2.1

+0.2

STF 1627

AB

2002

-014

+022

-012

+031

+0.4

+1.1

STF 1657

AB

2003

-004

+023

-001

+025

+1.7

+0.3

STF 1678

AB

2003

-050

+004

+081

-044

-2.1

+0.8

STF 1692

AB

2003

-233

+055

-204

+088

+1.2

+0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H 570

AC

1991

+006

+019

-055

-019

-0.7

+1.3

STTA 131

AB

1991

+021

-058

+001

+010

+1.3

-1.1

H N 28

AB

1991

+103

-173

+010

-017

+1.4

+0.8

STF 2185

AC

1991

+012

-069

-459

+377

+9.2

+6.9

SHJ 264

AB C

2009

+001

-004

+000

-001

-0.4

+1.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STTA 176

AB

1991

+006

-062

+000

-014

-1.0

-0.4

SHJ 286

AB

2003

+022

-026

+000

-039

+1.4

+0.1

S 735

AB

1991

+025

-028

-014

-010

+1.7

+0.6

STTA 211

AB

1991

-004

-002

+131

+100

+1.9

-3.0

S 788

AB

1991

-129

-004

-015

-044

+1.3

+3.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STF 2840

AB

2003

+019

-001

+013

+013

+1.1

+0.4

 

Table 5: Alternative Residuals: WDS

 

Pair

Epoch (WDS)

Residual PA (0) (Fourth Catalogue)

Residual Sep () (Fourth Catalogue)

 

 

 

 

STF 1603 AB

2015

+2.1     (+2.1)

+0.4  (+0.2)

STF 1678 AB

2017

0.0       (-2.1)

-0.2   (+0.8)

STTA 131 AB

2017

-0.2      (+1.3)

+0.2  (-1.1)

STF 2185 AC

2015

-0.6      (+9.2)

+0.4  (+6.9

SHJ 286 AB

2017

+0.5     (+1.4)

-0.3   (+0.1)

 

 

 

 

S 735 AB

2015

0.0       (+1.7)

+0.4  (+0.6)

S 788 AB

2017

+0.1     (+1.3)

+0.6  (+3.2)