44 Boötis
June 2009 :
Rule #1: Never write about a deep-space object you haven’t seen.
Rule#2: Ignore Rule #1.
In the early 1970s, during my tenure as a “rookie” backyard astronomer, I observed double stars with relentless abandon. My instrument of choice at the time was a 3-inch f/10 reflecting telescope, made by Edmund Scientific. For a reference, I chose the 1966 edition of Norton’s Star Atlas.
One evening, I decided to dine on double stars in the constellation Boötes. According to Norton’s, one particular pair, 44 Boötis, had a separation of 2.6 seconds of arc – close, but not impossible in a 3-inch scope. To my surprise and disappointment, I couldn’t split the pair – not that night or on subsequent evenings. Had I read Norton’s more carefully, I would have seen a note describing 44 Boötis as a binary pair that was closing. I would later learn that its magnitude 5.3 and 6.2 components were separated by a mere 0.4 arc-seconds at the time of my futile attempts.
Fast forward four decades to the present. 44 Boötis, whose 210-year orbit is highly inclined to our line-of-sight, has opened up. Orbital data indicate that its component stars are separated by 2.2 arc-seconds. Time for a feast!
I haven’t yet seen 44 Boötis, at least not double. But I’ll be outside this month trying. Although a 2+ arc-second separation is within reach of a 3-inch, I’m going “loaded for bear.” My instrument of choice this time will be a 5-inch f/12 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, paired with an eyepiece that magnifies at least 150X. To be safe, I’ll conduct the observation on a night of above average seeing. Instead of my reporting what I ultimately see, check out 44 Boötis for yourself, and we’ll compare notes.
Your comments on this column are welcome. E-mail me at gchaple@hotmail.com.
Answer to last month’s question: The faint star between Mizar and Alcor is known as Sidus Ludovicianum.
