Double Stars: Real Science on a Budget

Affiliation(s): AAQ

Session details: Saturday, 2012-04-07 01:30:00

Abstract

A short history of the observation of double stars and the advances in technology/engineering that have allowed the modern day amateur astronomer to produce useful scientific results. The equipment required for this task, and the procedure for use of such equipment will be discussed.

Biography

After seeing a “shooting star” for the first time, became interested in Astronomy as a high school student in the 1970’s and convinced his parents to purchase a 50mm Tasco refractor to use. His interest in astronomy was rekindled in 2001 with the acquisition of a 150mm F8 Synta refractor – shortly before the great Leonid meteor shower. Now permanently housed in a Sirius dome that same refractor has been used since 2007 for double /multiple star observing. First visually, and then photographically, a programme of imaging and recording the positions of neglected southern pairs has been carried out in collaboration with fellow AAQ member Tim Napier-Munn.