[Coen]

Hello All,

Continuing on some of the smaller constellations I decided to have a look at the dove - Columba. I compiled a list of objects to look at and got started. Given various circumstances the viewing was spread over a number of nights and I have a few more double stars to check out yet.

24 December 2008 to ?? local time +10.5 to UT

Telescope is 70mm Skywatcher Refractor with the 25mm Plossl, 25mm basic, 15mm GSO, 10mm basic and 6mm Plossl.

In the documentation if unspecified the eyepiece is 60x 15mm GSO.

Tour of Columba - the dove

Due to daylight savings and changing weather objects viewed over a number of sessions with variable seeing/transparency.

Maps are Taki's double star atlas maps 27/28

Tri-Atlas Hybrid (M) 159-161, 184-186
Tri-Atlas (B) 78,79,95,96

Observing list compiled from CNebulaX, Taki's double star list and consultation with the WDS database.

24 December, times not recorded, took opportunity of small window of time. Notes written a number of days after viewing.

NGC 1891
Non-descript small group of stars, more of an asterium than anything else.

NGC 2061
As with NGC 1891, small group of stars, more compact than NGC 1891.

HJ 3760
Nice triple star that is worth looking at again. The fainter third component is readily seen and reasonably straight forward.
Documented: Magnitudes 7.7 & 10.6 at 29.1", 7.8 & 8.4 at 7.4"

NGC 1851
Globular cluster that has a bright glowing circular core, no resolution but pretty none the less.
Documented: Magnitude 7.3, 11'

NGC 1792
Sausage shaped faint glow, nice stars nearby.
Documented: Magnitude 10.2, 5.6'x2.9', SBbc, Surface Brightness 12.9

NGC 1808
Near NGC 1792, appears to be more circular than NGC 1792 but is seemingly harder to see although its magnitude is brighter. Might be something coming off the edges but unclear.
Documented: Magnitude 9.9, 6.5'x3.9', SBa, Surface Brightness 13.3

NGC 2090
Galaxy near alpha Col, not seen.
Documented: Magnitude 11.2, 5'x2.5', Sc, Surface Brightness 13.7

27 December

HJ 3858 (2230)
Triple star arrangement, main is orange and bright, secondary is a close pair that is widely separated from the bright main. The fainter pair are perhaps pale yellow and light green.
Documented: Magnitudes 6.4 & 7.6 at 132" and 7.6 & 8.2 at 3.8"

HJ 3830 (2250)
Nice almost equal pair both pale orange close together, PA close to 0deg
Documented: Magnitudes 8.1 & 8.4 at 6.2"

HJ 3825 (2300)
Wide and very unequal, main is very bright and has second bright star nearby. Secondary is faint, see with averted at 60x and somewhat in line with the other bright star, see with 90x averted also.
Documented: Magnitudes 7.2 & 10.4 at 33"

HJ 3823 (2330)
Two equal stars that are very close together - hard to split with the poor seeing conditions, maybe at 60x, clearer but tough at 90x has another star nearby and somewhat analogous to HJ 3825.
Documented: Magnitudes 8.9 & 8.9 at 2.4"

30 December

Dun 28 (2155)
Two components easily visible, faint star from secondary, perpendicular to main pair (magnitude 11.3), averted clear at 60x, 90x no averted needed. 3rd component might be visible with 90x but not definitive, not visible at 150x, seeing does not sustain 150x.
Documented: Magnitudes 5.7 & 9.8 at 13.1"; 5.7 & 6.9 at 63.6"

B 755
No split.
Documented: Magnitudes 5.8 & 6.9 at 1.5", 6.0 & 11.5 at 21.4"

CPO 6
No split.
Documented: Magnitudes 8.2 & 8.2 at 1.1"

Dun 29
Took some effort to find, once found easy split of an almost equal double.
Documented: Magnitudes 7.7 & 8.0 at 64.6"

HJ 3860 (2230)
Nice unequal double orange and green/blue.
Documented: Magnitudes 7.3 & 8.8 at 8.6"

HJ 3849
Nice, wide, choice double that is unequal with pale orange and dull orange components.
Documented: Magnitudes 6.7 & 8.1 at 39.5"

COO 34
Nestled as the middle star in a string of 3 with a fainter set of 3 stars nearby. This double is challenging and can just get secondary at 60x.
Documented: Magnitudes 9.0 & 10.2 at 5"

HJ 3831
Two equal, very tough, just split at 60x, looks like a peanut most of the time.
Documented: Magnitudes 8.7 & 8.8 at 2.3"

HJ 3827
Same FOV as HJ 3831, easier but fainter almost equal.
Documented: Magnitudes 9.4 & 9.6 at 23.7"

CPO 5
No split.
Documented: Magnitudes 8.4 & 8.8 at 1.6"

HJ 3807
No split.
Documented: Magnitudes 8.2 & 10.1 at 4.5"

HJ 3781 (2315)
Unequal double, choice, secondary faint, strong aqua colour, main orangish.
Documented: Magnitudes 8.0 & 9.4 at 16"

Dun 22
Nice almost equal pair, hint of yellow (primary) and green (secondary) but hint only.
Documented: Magnitudes 7.2 & 7.8 at 7.3"

Clouds at 2320 closed session down.