While my binocular observation of Epsilon Lyrae, almost two weeks ago, offered a beautiful view I wasn’t quite prepared for the stunning sight that presented itself to me last Friday night — 16.10.09 — as I began gazing through the 5 inch refractor. Although there was a tenuous haze high up in the atmosphere the seeing conditions were relatively steady and both sets of stars exhibited a single inner diffraction ring during the good moments of atmospheric stability.
Ε Lyrae 1 comprises of two stars that orbit one another every 1,200 years, shining at magnitudes 4.7 and 6.2, while Ε Lyrae 2 consists of a magnitude 5.1 and 5.5 pair with an orbital period of 585 years. Both doubles offer a dazzling spectacle even under the most light polluted of skies and are more than worthy of your time. If you’ve not taken in an observation of this outstanding quadruple star system yet then do so. You won’t be disappointed!
Tags: Celestron Omni XLT 120, Epsilon Lyrae, Lyra, Multiple Star
G’day there!
Good post, this. I actually observed the Double Double for the very first time last weekend. It’s a great view. I had heard about it for years but for some reason or another, never attempted to find it. Why did I wait so long? A very nice site indeed.
Cheers,
Phil
Hi Phil. It’s great to see your comment on the blog. I couldn’t agree with you more! Epsilon Lyrae really offers a remarkable view. I seem to have wandered from the well worn path of deep sky observing and ended up hunting down some of the more well known double, and multiple stars up there in the sky. I’m glad I have because there really is a wealth of interesting and colourful stars out there to be seen. I’ll find my way back to those faint fuzzies soon enough though.
I’ve been seeing some great stuff over on your own site. Those images you’ve been taking are cracking and attempting the Caldwell Catalogue with your father is a master stroke! Good luck with it and have fun.
Thanks for your comment and clear skies,
Ewan
Great sketch. I found this back in May for the first time myself, and have been hooked ever since. Last night was horrible seeing, I couldn’t even cleanly split them at 150x, but other nights have been easily split. I check this out now every night, to gauge the seeing. I recall that President Obama viewed the Double Double as the very first object observed during the White House Star Party a few weeks back.
Its official, I’m hooked on doubles.
John
Thanks John! If you’re going to get hooked on double stars then the Double Double is definitely the way to get started! It certainly can make for an erratic observation if the seeing conditions are unstable, but when they’re not this multiple star system really comes into it’s own. I have no doubt that the President would’ve been treated to a wondrous sight.
Ewan