Sirius A & B split visually and with ASI120MM

[Dennis]

After capturing the AVI’s for a crescent Moon mosaic, I slewed to Sirius which had just crossed the Meridian to check the collimation on the Mewlon 180 as I had removed the mirror cell earlier in the day to remove the metal puck which the dovetail rail screws into.

The good news was that the collimation had held and the even better news was that Sirius A & B were an easy visual split (Tak 5mm LE eyepiece) at over 10 arc secs, compared to the closer 7 arc secs when I last attempted this a few years ago.:)

Here is an image taken with the ZWO ASI120MM ccd camera at the prime focus of the Mewlon (2160mm).

Sirius A & B, Alpha CMa
Magnitude: -1.46
AB: -1.46+8.5 mag, PA 80° Sep 10.14" (2014.3)

Cheers

Dennis

[Astro_Bot]

Excellent result. Well done! :thumbsup:

[Shiraz]

that makes it look too easy Dennis - nice work

[RickS]

You could drive a truck between them :lol: Well done, Dennis!

[John Hothersall]

Nicely done, would have thought the diff spikes would bury it but it seems wider now. I just about saw it through a blue filter with eyepiece back in 2011.

John.

[LewisM]

Ah, Takahashi...

[FranckiM06]

Wow, it is excellent result.

[Dennis]

Thanks for all your comments and feedback guys, I appreciate you looking.:)

I was astonished at the size of the visual split, but it had grown from 7 or 8 arc secs the last time I tried this to a whopping 10 arc secs. I think the max is 11 arc secs in 2015.

Cheers

Dennis

[Jason D]

I took the following photo last year using my handheld iphone -- one frame. Not as nice as Dennis' photo -- not even close -- but I was surprised I captured the Pup.
Jason

[prokyon]

Wow, great! :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

I honestly thought i replied to this one - absolutely fantastic. The skills of a Jedi for sure ;) carving out that star

[Dennis]

Thanks Werner and David, I appreciate your comments. I was lucky that the diffraction spikes from the 3 vane Mewlon 2ndary holder didn’t obliterate the Pup.:)

Cheers

Dennis

[strongmanmike]

They probably helped, very nice (crisp) work Dennis :thumbsup:

Mike

[Dennis]

Thanks Mike, I tried for Deimos tonight, but the dim little blighter was smack in the middle of one of the diffraction spikes from a grossly overexposed Mars. If only I had 4 spikes, not six.;):lol:

Time to get an 8 inch Apo refractor maybe?:P

Cheers

Dennis

[strongmanmike]

Or a 12" (http://www.takahashi-europe.com/en/FET-300.php) :shrug: the perfect planetary and public telescope :thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Wow – what a beauty.:thumbsup:

I’ve just placed an order for a pair, so I can make a binocular telescope.:lol:

Cheers

Dennis