Introduction

Bruce MacEvoy

doi:10.1017/CBO9781316286548.001

Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2016

Bruce MacEvoy

Illustrated by

Wil Tirion

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Summary

This new edition of the Cambridge Double Star Atlas is designed to improve its utility for amateur astronomers of all skill levels.

For the first time in a publication of this type, the focus is squarely on double stars as physical systems, so far as these can be identified with existing data. Using the procedures described in Appendix A, the target list of double stars has been increased to 2,500 systems by adding 1,100 “high probability” physical double and multiple stars and deleting more than 850 systems beyond the reach of amateur telescopes or lacking any evidence of a physical connection. Wil Tirion has completely relabeled the Atlas charts to reflect these changes, and left in place the previous edition's double star icons as a basis for comparison. This new edition provides a selection based on evidence rather than traditional opinion, so that the twenty-first century astronomer can explore with fresh eyes the astonishing actual variety in double stars.

Continuing the emphasis on physical systems, this Atlas explains the origin and dynamic properties of double stars and the role they have played in our understanding of star formation and stellar evolution. The elements of binary orbits, stellar spectral types, and methods of detecting and cataloging double stars, are explained to enrich the observer's understanding of double star astronomy. There is also practical guidance for the visual astronomer – information on optics, equipment preparation, useful accessories, viewing techniques and opportunities for amateur research. The references suggest both print and online double star resources. Finally, over 330 systems in the target list are marked with a star (★) in the left margin. These indicate “showpiece” systems of intrinsic beauty or charm, “challenge” pairs of close separation or large brightness contrast, and several systems that have been important in the history of astronomy. From most observing locations, at least three dozen of these targets will be in view at any time of night on any evening of the year.

Jim Mullaney's choice of nineteenth century double star catalog labels has been retained as a tribute both to his original Atlas concept and to the bygone astral explorers who discovered over 90% of the systems in the target list (see Appendix D).

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Double Star Atlas , pp. 1 - 20

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316286548.001 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2015

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References

Aitken, R. G., Binary Stars (1938). A classic, with good historical and technical chapters. Available used as a Dover reprint (1964).

Argyle, R., Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars, Springer (2014). The primary resource for the amateur double star astronomer, with chapters on all types of observing, measuring and imaging techniques and equipment. Absolutely essential.

Burnham, R. Jr., Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Revised and Expanded Edition, volumes 1, 2 and 3, Dover Publications (1977). A useful basic resource on many astronomical topics and deep sky objects, but poorly indexed and badly out of date. A perennial rainy day diversion.

Couteau, P., Observing Visual Double Stars, MIT Press (1981). Reader-friendlier than Heintz, with many topics of interest to the double star observer. Available used.

Haas, S., Double Stars for Small Telescopes, Sky Publishing (2006). A field guide by an active amateur observer with an affection for star color poetry. Recently reissued.

Heintz, W., Double Stars, Springer (1978). A classic in the field, compact and informative, often technical or missing recent research but still irreplaceable. (You can download a free digital copy from https://archive.org/details/DoubleStars.)

Clark, R. Kent, ed., The Double Star Reader: Selected Papers From the Journal of Double Star Observations, Collins Foundation Press (2007). A convenient selection of 45 amateur papers on all aspects of double star astronomy. (Papers after 2007 are available from the JDSO online archive.)

Kepple, B. and Sanner, G., Night Sky Observer's Guide, volumes 1 and 2, Willmann-Bell (1998). A comprehensive guide to northern hemisphere deep sky objects, including a small selection of double stars, compiled by a cadre of dedicated amateur observers. The southern hemisphere volume by I. Cooper, J. Kay and G. Kepple was published in 2008.

Ridpath, I., ed., Norton's Star Atlas and Reference Handbook, Penguin Group Inc. (2004). In print for a century, this is perhaps the best single distillation of celestial charts, informative text, and clearly organized reference tables. The double star lists are great for casual observing.

Robinson, K., Starlight: An Introduction to Stellar Physics for Amateurs, Springer (2009). An overview of light, spectroscopy, stellar spectral and luminosity types and stellar evolution.

Royal Canadian Astronomical Society, Observer's Handbook (Annually). This invaluable publication is equal parts astronomical textbook, ephemeris and observing guide, and includes observing lists of double stars and colorful double stars.

Sidgwick, J. B., Amateur Astronomer's Handbook, Dover Publications (1971). A classic trove of useful and generally still accurate information on optics, visual observation and measurement (some chapters on equipment are outdated).

Aitken, R. G., “The Definition of the Term Double Star” (1911). An early proposal to exclude optical pairs from double star catalogs, including an early description the “Aitken test” (as proposed by E. C. Pickering!).

Anton, R., “On the Accuracy of Double Star Measurements from ‘Lucky’ Images, a Case Study of Zeta Aqr and Beta Phe” (JDSO, 2009). A useful introduction to the method of “lucky imaging” to improve CCD image clarity.

Caballero, R., “Finding New Common Proper Motion Binaries by Data Mining” (JDSO, 2009). Describes how to use NOMAD data and Aladin sky survey imagery to identify CPM pairs.

Caloi, R. M., “Estimation of Double Star Parameters by Speckle Observations Using a Webcam” (JDSO, 2008). Explains the methods of speckle interferometry, which exploits atmospheric turbulence to obtain high resolution images.

Daley, J., “A Method of Measuring High Delta m Doubles” (JDSO, 2007). Describes construction and use of a stellar coronagraph in the CCD measurement of bright double stars with faint components.

Goodwin, S. P., “Binaries in Star Clusters and the Origin of the Field Stellar Population” (2009). Recent, relatively non-technical summary of the way the “birth population” of double stars is transformed by the natal cluster.

Harshaw, R., “Using VizieR to Measure Neglected Double Stars” (JDSO, 2013). Step by step explanation for using sky survey photographs to measure telescopic double stars.

Lada, C., “Star Formation in the Galaxy, An Observational Overview” (2005). An informative summary of star formation processes with emphasis on solar mass double stars.

Larson, S., “Binary Stars” (2010). A concise and lucid summary of the binary orbital dynamics. (http://sciencejedi.com/professional/classes/astrophysics/lectures/lec08_binaries.pdf)

Mason, B., “Various Orbital Solutions and Double Star Statistics” (2011). Compact introduction to speckle interferometry and issues of orbital calculation.

Mollise, R., “Photographing and Measuring Double Stars with Unconventional Imagers” (JDSO, 2005). A basic overview of cameras and software; first of three articles.

Raghavan, D., McAlister, H., Henry, T., et al., “A Survey of Stellar Families: Multiplicity of Solar Type Stars” (2010). The latest and most complete analysis of multiplicity in solar type stars, a landmark study.

Reipurth, B. and Rikkola, S., “Formation of the Widest Binaries from Dynamical ‘Unfolding’ of Triple Systems” (2013). Computer simulations show how wide binaries and “hard” binaries evolve from the dynamic decay of close triple systems.

Shaya, E. and Olling, R. P., “Very Wide Binaries and Other Comoving Stellar Companions” (2011). The discovery of almost 800 wide binaries and comoving pairs through a computer analysis of the Hipparcos catalog.

Sinachopoulos, D. and Mouzourakis, P., “A Statistical Approach for the Recognition of Physical Visual Double Stars” (1991). Calculates all sky 95% probability limits for the maximum angular separation by magnitude.

Sterzik, M. and Durisen, R., “Are Binary Separations Related to their System Mass?” (2004). A Monte Carlo study exploring the effect of system mass on the multiplicity fraction and binary orbital elements.

Treanor, P. J., “On the Telescopic Resolution of Unequal Binaries” (1946). An early evaluation of the effect of unequal magnitude on double star detection.

Wasson, R., “Measuring Double Stars with a Dobsonian Telescope by the Video Drift Method” (JDSO, 2014). A thorough explanation of this measurement method, here using a GoTo altazimuth telescope.

Wilson, B. and Hartkopf, W., “The US Naval Observatory Double Star Program: Frequently Asked Questions” (JDSO, 2011). Useful overview of the WDS database and the requirements for submitting measurements.

Astronomical Files from Black Oak Observatory: http://www.handprint.com/ASTRO/ – Extensive information on double stars and visual double star astronomy.

Astronomical League Observing Programs: https://www.astroleague.org/observing.html – Observing campaigns suited to all levels of skill and supervised by the umbrella organization for USA amateur astronomy societies. A great way to start!

Calibration Candidates: http://ad.usno.navy.mil/wds/orb6/orb6c.html – A list of binaries that can used for calibrating astrometric instruments.

Henry Draper Catalogue at SkyMap.org: http://server6.sky-map.org/group?id=23 – Separate listings of information and related research for most HD objects. The index is a useless multipage shambles, so google the HD number to find a page directly.

Multiple Star Catalog: http://www.ctio.noao.edu/~atokovin/stars/index.php – Last update April 2010. A. Tokovinin's online database of multiple stars, showing hierarchical structure, spectral types and masses of all components.

SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/ – Portal for a digital library of research papers in astronomy and physics, operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). A national treasure.

SIMBAD Astronomical Database: http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/ – The comprehensive repository for all published astronomical data and survey photography maintained at the University of Strasbourg (FR).

Sixth Catalog of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astrometry/optical-IR-prod/wds/orb6 – A compilation of visual (including interferometric) binary star orbits, updated frequently.

Stelle Doppie: http://stelledoppie.goaction.it/ – Gianluca Sordiglioni's comprehensive and easy to use database of double star data, compiled from many sources.

Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS): http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astrometry/optical-IR-prod/wds/WDS – The primary database of double and multiple star information, maintained at the US Naval Observatory; the “summary” version, separated into four 4Mb text files, can be downloaded for free.

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