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2022-12-17

Condition: VG6

Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

Heavy snowfall for the prior four days. We have a good 4 1/2 feet of snow in the backyard. I had to shovel a path out to my viewing spot and shovel around the spot just to view.

6:44PM

Target: 1 Camelopardalis

Const: Camelopardalis

RaDec: 4h32m 53°55

Scope: ST80

Setting: 36x

Double: AB: 320°

Image

Popped right into view. Took a few attempts to find. Used λ Persei as an anchor point.

7:06PM

Target: Θ Aurigae

Const: Auriga

RaDec: 5h59m 37°13

Scope: ST80

Setting: 150x, 1/2 stop-down

Double: AB: 300°

Image

I think I saw this sibling finally. I had to zoom in and de-focus. After a while I could see a "lump" of light jutting out of the main source of light making it look lopsided. I wasn't sure if that was it, but after seeing no other noticeable evidence of a sibling, I took a chance on it and guessed it's PA.

Came in to warm up for a few hours and wait for Monoceros to rise higher.

10:03PM

Target: ε Monocerotis

Const: Monoceros

RaDec: 6h23m 4°36

Scope: ST80

Setting: 59x

Double: AB: 20°

Image

The sibling is small, but easily seen even at lower magnification.

10:16PM

Target: β Monocerotis

Const: Monoceros

RaDec: 6h28m -7°02

Scope: ST80

Setting: 130x

Double: AB: 130°, AC: 130°

Image

Cool multiple! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me at first. All three stars almost form a straight line! I can detect a little variation in the angle of both siblings, but I'm going to guess 130° for both.

10:39PM

Target: α Ursae Minoris

Const: Ursa Minor

RaDec: 2h31m 89°16

Scope: ST80

Setting: 44x

Double: AB: 250°

Image

Took me a bit to guess the location of NCP in order to get the PA. I estimated the position of NCP by using Kochab as a reference point for it's direction from Polaris. Funny that I almost waited until the very end to scratch this one off my list!