Measurements of wide double stars using your occultation gear

Presenter(s): Murray Forbes

Affiliation(s): Occultation Section (RASNZ), VSS, Wellington Astronomical Society

Session details: Monday, 2016-03-28 00:00:00, LT106

Abstract

Do you get frustrated when you finally get a calm, clear night and there are no occultations predicted? I know I do. I recently came across something we could do in those circumstances that uses our existing occultation equipment and is in a related area of astronomy – measuring the position angle and separation of ‘wide’ double stars. This talk will give a brief introduction to the subject – why, what and who (why do it, what do you do, and who do you send the results to).

Biography

Murray Forbes is a Wellington, New Zealand based occultation observer.  Murray also helps with the administration and circular production for the RASNZ Occultation Section.