September Challenge Object (Db) - h 5003

[iceman]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the September Observing and Imaging Challenge (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=69,226,0,0,1,0). Please post your reports, sketches and deep-space images of h 5003 in this thread. Discussions about the images can also be in this thread.

Please ensure the images obey the posting guidelines when you attach them.

While it would be nice if the report, sketch or image were taken in the month of September, it's not essential so feel free to post older reports and images if you're unable to take some new ones.

We look forward to seeing your contributions!

[iceman]

John and I found this double last Saturday night while scanning through the SkyCommander doubles catalogue looking for the September challenge object.

From the first time I saw it, it grabbed me straight away. It's a striking object, the gold colour of the primary star really stands out among the field, while I saw the companion as a duller blue/white.

We viewed this double in a 13mm Nagler Type 6 @ 96x, a Meade 14mm UWA and a Pentax 14mm XW @ 89x. All eyepieces gave spectacular medium power views of the double and the surrounding starfield amongst the sagittarius area of the milky way.

Separation was easy at that magnification, so there was no need to push it any higher. I imagine it would still be easy to split at low power , 40x or higher with the separation at 6".

I'm not usually one that gets excited over doubles, but this one was a real treat to observe, mainly because of the rich starfield surrounding and the striking gold colour that really stands out.

I took my scope out tonight with the ToUcam to grab an image, this was taken at newt prime focus (no barlow) so the image scale is small and the colours not well pronounced. I'll be trying for another image with the barlow in the coming days/weeks.

[atalas]

Nice report Mike,I hope we see some more shots of this double from people.



Louie :thumbsup:

[Orion]

A little late I know. But this is my attempt with the double. I used the DSI 10x1/2sec images stacked with registax.

I was surprised how tiny and close this double looked in the eyepiece. Mind you I am not used to looking at doubles.

[atalas]

Nice shot Ed ! I like looking at shots of doubles .

Louie :thumbsup: