Binaries in Nebulae: Recent Observations of John Herschel's List

Previous abstract Next abstract

Session 86 -- Double Stars
Display presentation, Friday, January 14, 9:30-6:45, Salons I/II Room (Crystal Gateway)

[86.02] Binaries in Nebulae: Recent Observations of John Herschel's List

R.L. Walker (USNO Flagstaff Station)

During the 19th century John Herschel observed double stars from England and his Feldhausen Station in South Africa, using a 5-inch refractor and an 18-inch reflector, ``The 20-ft". A few of his discoveries were annotated ``nebulosity" in his 1874 catalog. Most of these ``nebulous binaries'' have been examined recently at the U.S. Naval Observatory's Flagstaff Station using the 1-m telescope equipped with a CCD. A few objects were added from lists by S. W. Burnham and W.H. van den Bos. This study began as an exploratory project to detect possible morphological connections between binaries and nebulosities, but it was soon apparent that Herschel's keen eyesight had originally detected more than double stars. The application of Aitken's criterion indicates few of the objects are physical binaries. Galaxy and gas-dust configurations are more descriptive of the nature of these objects.

Friday program listing