Just south of the Orion Nebula, for example, is double star Iota (ι) Orionis, which we were able to split nicely. This all-in-one telescope and mount package is another great entry-level option for amateur astronomers.ĭuring our test we found we were not only able to get good views of bright deep-sky targets like the Orion Nebulaand the Pleiades but we were able to locate the central bulge of the Andromeda Galaxy and a good selection of bright double stars too. Read our full National Geographic 90mm automatic telescope review. We tested out its double star capabilities on Albireo in Cygnus and found it was gorgeous, showing a great contrast between the sky blue and yellow-orange components. It features a computerised Go-To mount and comes with a handset controller offering a database of 272,000 celestial targets that you can automatically slew to, including deep-sky objects, planets, double stars and variable stars. This National Geographic telescope may seem like a basic instrument to experienced practical observers, but it's a great option for beginners. Sky-Watcher Evostar 150ED DS-Pro refractor This is a tight triple star and we were able to split it using our 25mm eyepiece and a 5x Powermate lens. We were not disappointed the gold and blue components both looked superb.Ī tougher test, though, was Iota Cassiopeiae. To test the VX8's double star capabilities we used our 10mm eyepiece and swung round to double star Albireo. Included are a straight-through 8x50 finderscope, ACU-2S 2-inch (50.8mm) Crayford focuser with a 1.25- to 2-inch adaptor and a cooling fan at the base. The VX8 from Orion Optics is another great starter telescope: it's relatively affordable as far as quality telescopes go, it's lightweight - making it easy to set up and good for travelling to dark sky sites in the hunt for double stars - and without accessories weighs just 7kg. Orion Optics VX8 f/4.5 Newtonian reflector Read our full Celestron 114LCM computerised telescope review. We tested out the 114 LCM on Albireo (Beta (β) Cygni), a great late-summer/early-autumn target, and found the gold and sky-blue components of this striking double were clearly separated and very colourful. This includes Solar System targets, Messier Catalogue, NGC and Caldwell Catalogue objects, along with double stars, variable stars and more. The hand controller enables you to align and operate the telescope at the touch of a button and features a database of 4,000 targets to which you can instantly slew. The Celestron 114's NexStar LCM hand controller is a great addition to this great-value telescope, which would make a good first instrument for astronomy newcomers. Best telescopes for observing double stars Celestron 114LCM computerised telescope We've tested and reviewed a range of telescopes over the years, some of which are ideal for double star observing. This instrument has a wide aperture and a long focal length of around 1,500mm in a short physical length and would be an excellent choice within your budget. Unfortunately, large aperture refractors can be quite costly, so a very popular, lower-cost alternative instrument for double star observing is a 5-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain. Long focal length refractors require a substantial mount to counter the effects of wind shear in particular. Larger apertures will reveal fainter companions but, just as importantly, they will have a higher resolution allowing you to split closer doubles. Equipment: Altair Astro RC 250, Focal Reducer, QHY9SM, Baader filtersĪ 6-inch reflector, for example, will produce some great views of double stars but a good refractor is likely to give a better observing experience as there is no spider vane to create diffraction spikes, which can cause issues with very close doubles.Ī long focal length refractor will give excellent views and make focus easier to achieve, but this needs to be combined with as large an aperture as you can afford. On the hunt for your first scope? Read our guides to choosing your first telescope and our pick of the best beginner telescopes. If you're going to be taking time to view some of the wonderful double stars on offer in our night sky like Albireo, Mizar, Theta Tauri or Antares, to name just a few, it'll pay to know what type of telescope is best for that purpose. Observational data is vital for increasing our understanding of stellar evolution, so amateurs can carry out real science as well as enjoying the wonderful sights. Observing double stars is a very popular aspect of astronomy and an area where amateurs can contribute greatly, as very few professional observatories make such observations these days.
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