Double Star - Mintaka (Delta Orionis)

-Scope: Edu-Sci 50mm refractor



If you look up at the constellation, Orion, the three stars that form the belt is easily recognisable. To spot the star Mintaka, it is the faintest of the three stars.. If you take the above photo as a reference, Mintaka is the star on the right. (although the above pic do not show Mintaka as the fainter of the three stars)

Mintaka is actually a multiple star system that is beyond a 50mm scope. But its an easy double to spot because it has such a wide separation of 52 arc seconds! What's interesting about this double is the difference in magnitude between Mintaka (A) and its 6.8th mag companion(C), Mintaka itself is about 2.2 mag. Try it and see for yourself, make sure you do not overlook the fainter double!

*Note: The above visual companion is referred as the C component.

Messier 41 and 47

-Scope: Edu-Sci 50mm refractor

Messier 41 - Canis Major



After a heavy downpour this evening, the sky cleared up enough for me to spot this easy object, M41 in Canis Major,
and very near to the star, Sirius.

This is a loosely packed open cluster, very easy for small scopes, a beautiful object you would love to show off to your
grandma. If you are lucky to be staying in a dark site and with good eyesight, you may be able to spot this with your naked
eyes. Sir John Herschel described it as a "coarse collection of stars".

Messier 47 - Puppis



This is another loosely packed 'coarse' open cluster, it doesn't appears to be as impressive as M41 with my telescope. This cluster can be partially resolved with a pair of binoculars.

I didn't have the opportunity to take a second look before the clouds moved in.. 

16 Nov 2010
Had a second view of M47 again tonight, condition is slightly hazy with
temp at 26 degree celsius. Relatively few stars observable and not
exactly an impressive object with a 50mm scope.