|
I have been using doubles as a way of touring a constellation, specifically the fainter ones. There are some really nice ones out there and there are plenty of lists to get started on. I am building a bit of my own list.
Multiple stars are something to enjoy regardless of Moon (well, not quite as splitting tight high magnitude difference ones, all help is useful). It also fun stumbling across a few.
I recommend Taki's double star atlas (down to magnitude 8.5) with its associated MS Excel spreadsheets (1000s of doubles listed). I also use CNebulaX to compile a bit of list, it displays graphically the relative magnitude difference and separation plus what a certain magnification might expect - it does not do colours. There are other bits and pieces of software out there to help.
The big Washington Double Star database (WDS), in MS Access format with search queries or as a text file, is a fantastic resource that does take a little effort - it is about 25MB in size and regularly updated. The MS Access database allows for searching by a number of criteria including constellation, magnitude difference, separation, limiting magnitude etc. A short search with limiting magnitude of 11.5, minimum separation of 1.5" and no constraint on magnitude difference returns over 550 pages of double stars. More than enough to keep busy for a while. I understand that the WDS custodians welcome corrections etc.
There are also sites that give orbits of pairs and their relative positions as time goes on. There are a number of stars within reach of your telescope that you can watch change over a period of a few years. They might not be massive changes but still...Also there are some stars that are openning up that can become visible or others that you can watch as they can not be split.
I have watched off and on Alpha Cent over the last 25 or so years and been interested to watch its changing separation as it progresses along its nearly 80 year orbit. Have not bothered with Proxima yet.
Another option you might consider besides planets and the Moon are perhaps tracking minor planets or comets?
|