Need help to ID double star in Puppis

[Ed D]

Last night I found a very nice double star in Puppis, an equal pair around 4.5 to 4.7 mag. I have been searching to identify this pair but could only narrow it down to either BSC 2948 or BSC 2944. Thanks in advance for helping me out.

Ed D

[Saturnine (Jeff)]

Hi Ed

The only double that I can find with those similar magnitude estimates is ;-

k Puppis, mag. 4.4 / 4.6 sep. 9.8" p.a. 318 , both B6 ( bright white stars ) R.A. 07.38.8 / Dec -26.48 , which places the binary approx. 3 deg. N.E. of Aludra ( Eta Canis Majoris ).

According to all the observing manuals that I've checked it's classed as an showpiece binary. References were :- Hartungs, Cambridge Double Star Atlas, Double Stars for Small Telescopes ( Sissy Haas ) & Burnhams Celestial Handbooks.

Hope this helps with your identification.

Regards

Jeff

[Ed D]

Jeff, you hit the nail on the head. Now that I have the correct designation I was able to search and find information on this very nice double. I have also decided it's time for me to get a double star reference, and I'll be looking at the ones you listed.

Thank you very much for your help.

Ed D

[glenc (Glen)]

Ed, you could also look at Taki's 36 page
Atlas of 2053 Double Stars
http://www.geocities.jp/toshimi_taki/
He also has spreadsheets with more info.

[Ed D]

Glen, I downloaded and looked over the various files in the website you linked to. This looks to be exactly what I'm looking for - a reference listing along with finder charts. Another plus for me is that in the 5 page introduction the authors mention that these are objects for smaller scopes.

Thank you,
Ed D

[Saturnine (Jeff)]

Glad to help, Ed, as Glen said, there a plenty of websites devoted to double stars as well as the books that I mentioned, a handy quick reference site I use is The Night Sky Atlas, Binaries & Multiples section
(www.nightskyatlas.com) and thanks Glen, will have to check out Takis' site, don't know how I've missed it.

Kind Regards

Jeff