- Gives detailed descriptions of double star systems, both northern and southern hemisphere, whereas most books provide only lists and tables
- Includes extensive maps and finding charts, plotted by Mike Swan, so no additional star atlases are needed
- Incorporates stellar distance measurements from the recently published Gaia Data Release 2 catalogue, where available
Modern telescopes of even modest aperture can show thousands of double stars. Many are faint and unremarkable but hundreds are worth searching out. Veteran double-star observer Bob Argyle and his co-authors take a close-up look at their selection of 175 of the night sky's most interesting double and multiple stars.
The history of each system is laid out from the original discovery to what we know at the present time about the stars. Wide-field finder charts are presented for each system along with plots of the apparent orbits and predicted future positions for the orbital systems. Recent measurements of each system are included which will help you to decide whether they can be seen in your telescope, as well as giving advice on the aperture needed.
Double star observers of all levels of experience will treasure the level of detail in this guide to these jewels of the night sky.
Table of Contents:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Observing double stars
- 3. Measurement techniques
- 4. Observational double star groups
- 5. Double star online resources
- 6. Biographies of visual double star observers
- 7. Myths, mysteries and one-offs
- 8. A selection of double stars
- 9. Double star catalogue in constellation order
- 10. Introduction to the Catalogue
- The Catalogue 1-175
About the Authors:
Bob Argyle has observed double stars since 1966. He writes monthly columns on double stars for Astronomy Now and the Webb Society. He is a Fellow of Royal Astronomical Society, a Member of the International Astronomical Union and Editor of Observatory magazine.
Mike Swan worked for the Ordnance Survey in England. He has extensive experience in computer graphics and uranography and was solely responsible for the Webb Deep-Sky Society Star Atlas. In this volume he produced the finder charts, the all-sky charts and orbital plots.
Andrew James has been interested in double stars since the late 1970s. His interests include the historical backgrounds and works of various discoverers of southern double stars.
