Quote:
Originally Posted by AJames
I have written about this colourful system on several occasions - including having coining Alberio Australis - mainly just to get the northerners attention to another great colour contrasting pair.
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I actually made mention of this when I wrote the notes on this target, as part of the "Monthly Observing Challenge" for this website in May, 2005.
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Multiple Star - X Velorum (Dunlop 95)
Const.: Vela
Type: Multiple Star
Visual Mag: 4.3
RA: 10h 39.3m
DEC: -55°36'
Diameter: n/a
Distance: 906ly
x Velorum is one of the most aesthetically pleasing multiple stars in the entire sky. Andrew James from the ASNSW has nicknamed it Albireo Australis after its visual resemblance to the famous northern hemisphere double, Albireo (B Cygni).
x Velorum is in fact a triple star, the brighter AB components (mag 4.4/6.0, sep 51.7”, pa 105 deg), are also known as Dunlop 95. The third member of the trio is found 20.1” from the B component at pa 174 deg and is mag 12.1. This system is known as HJ 4341 BC (Herschel). The C component is more difficult to spot in smaller scopes than the two main components, which can be separated in larger binoculars. x Velorum presents a wonderful target in any sized telescope at low to medium powers. The two main components provide a brilliant colour contrast double of electric blue and a deep gold, with the colour contrast enhanced by the brightness of both stars. This wonderful target is not listed as a target of note in much of the literature, including Hartung’s Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes (Burnham’s Celestial Handbook does include it, albeit as a listing only). In the Hipparcos Catalogue it is listed as HIP 52154 and in the Tycho Catalog as TYC8605-1196-1
The proper motion of the trio indicates them to be a long period related system. A wonderful target to be returned to time and again.
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Cheers,
John B