Object name: Theta Virginis (Sigma 1724/H III 50)
Object type: Double/Multiple star
Location: York, UK
Date: 24th April 2011
Media: Graphite pencil sketch on white paper at eyepiece, colour added digitally after scanning and reversing.
I often find springtime rather hectic, tracking down all those dim galaxies whilst the sky conditions permit. This year I have rediscovered relaxing in front of the scope, thanks to a birthday gift of the Cambridge Double Star atlas. Double stars allow you the time to enjoy colour and light and pattern without all the frustration of hunting for barely perceptible objects in uncontrollable sky conditions. Here is one of my favourites from this spring; Theta Virginis. The primary is 4th magnitude, I noted as white, with two “brown-orange” companions of 9th-10th magnitude at pleasingly different distances (7’’ and 70’’) and angles from the primary.
I used a Skywatcher Skyliner 152mm f8 Dobsonian with 10mm eyepiece.
Peter,
A fine color sketch of a very pleasing target.
Frank 🙂