What are double stars? Why do we study them? What measurements
do we make? What equipment is required? What do we do with the
data obtained?
All of these questions will be answered if you choose to be part
of one of the double star astrometry groups at Pine Mountain
Observatory this summer. The
workshop will be held August 5-8, 2010. Work in these groups
will be devoted to scientific measurements of double or multiple
star systems. Over 50% of the 6000 naked eye visible stars in
the sky have at least one, or more, companion stars associated
with it. We will measure the apparent distance between these
stars and their position relative to Polaris, the celestial pole
star. This information will eventually result, in some cases, in
the determination of the orbital period of the system.
We will show that double star studies can be made with fairly
simple telescopes on either equatorial or alt-az mounts.
Tracking motors are usually required. The telescope is equipped
with an illuminated reticle astrometric eyepiece that is used to
make the measurements. Math skills are minimal. All formulas are
carefully explained and examples given. Computer knowledge of
spread sheets (like Excel) and word processing programs (like
Word) are fundamental to doing these studies. A detailed
presentation will be given upon your arrival of the necessary
observational techniques and data processing required.
Once calibration and observations have been carried out, and we
get some sleep, we will devote the rest of the time to reducing
and processing the data. As a group, we will prepare a power
point presentation of our results to be presented to all of the
attendees at the workshop. This will include our purpose,
equipment used, systems studied, observation results, what you
gained from the experience and conclusions. This summary will be
used as a basis for a paper in the Journal of Double Star
Observations (www.jdso.org).
Thomas G. Frey
PI, Astrometry
PMO, 2010
You are encouraged to consult a few of the following references
before arriving to get some background information on double
stars:
Argyle, Robert, Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars,
Springer, London, 2004.
Haas, Sissy,
Double Stars for Small Telescopes,
Sky Publishing, Cambridge, MA, 2006.
Teague, Thomas, 2000, Sky and Telescope, July, 112-117.
Frey, Thomas G., Spring 2008, Journal of Double Star
Observations, 3(2), p. 59-65.
Arnold, Dave, Winter 2006, Journal of Double Star
Observations, 2(1), p. 13-20.
Genet, Russell, et.al., Small Telescopes and Astronomical
Research, Collins Foundation
Press, Santa Margarita, CA,
2010:
Chapter 9: Double Stars (Robert Argyle)
Chapter 10: Visual Double Star Measurements with Equatorial
and
Alt-Azimuth Telescopes (Thomas Frey, et al)
Chapter 11: Considering Proper Motion in the Analysis of
Visual Double Star Observations (Dave Arnold)
Chapter 12: All about the Journal of Double Star
Observations (R. Kent Clark)
Chapter 18: Pine Mt. Observatory Summer Research Workshop
(Russ Genet, et al)
Chapter 23: Double Star Measurements with a Three-Inch Tasco
Telescope
(Darrel Grisham, et al)
In addition,
the following papers will provide further important information:
Word Documents:
Neglected Double Stars I.doc
Neglected double Stars II.doc
Workshop Goals, PMO.doc
Writing Research Paper, Double Stars, PMO.doc
Key Ideas PMO Double Star Power Point.doc
Possible triple star systems.doc
Power Point:
Calibration Stars for Double Stars.ppt
Excel
Data Sheet, Double Stars.xls
Known Double Stars PMO.xls
PDF
T. Frey, JDSO,Double Stars, Alt-Az.pdf
T. Frey,JDSO, ARY52,PMO .pdf
D. Arnold, JDSO, #20.pdf
Conversion Formula, JDSO.pdf
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