Confirmation of Star Name?

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Mardon - 27 Jan 2008 22:34 GMT

Last week I took the following photo with only the moon for lighting:

http://www.JustPhotos.ca/galleries/sky/images/ME1D013792.jpg

I think that the bright star in the photo is Alpha Lyra but I'd like
confirmation, or correction if I'm wrong. Here's a view of the same
area of sky, taken at the same time and place, that shows more stars.
The red dashed line in this image represents the top edge of the
previous photo. The time and position data are shown on this photo:

http://www.JustPhotos.ca/post/ME1D013794.jpg

I've checked my photos against sky charts and that's why I'm pretty
sure that the bright star is Alpha Lyra. On the other hand, I find
comparing a photo with sky charts is not as easy as one might think it
would be. In addition, I'm puzzled by the two bright stars that are
very close together, above and to the left of the really bright one that
I think is Alpha Lyra. These stars are only visable in the second photo
because the first one does not show altitudes that are that high. I
can not find anything on the sky charts to match these two stars.
That's another reason I want to make sure I'm correct about Alpha.
I'm also hoping to learn the ID for the stars that are close together.

Thanks.

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Mike Ruskai - 28 Jan 2008 03:19 GMT

>Last week I took the following photo with only the moon for lighting:
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
>Thanks.

You're correct about that being Alpha Lyrae (aka Vega). Here's a
screenshot of Cartes du Ciel showing the relevant portion of the sky:

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8357/vegacartesnl7.png

In all likelihood, what you were using was either using a limited
catalog, or was zoomed out too far, and didn't show the fainter
(compared to Vega) Eta 1 and Eta 2.

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Mardon - 29 Jan 2008 01:12 GMT

> You're correct about that being Alpha Lyrae (aka Vega). Here's a
> screenshot of Cartes du Ciel showing the relevant portion of the sky:
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> catalog, or was zoomed out too far, and didn't show the fainter
> (compared to Vega) Eta 1 and Eta 2.

Thank you, Mike, for your help. I was actually using Cartes du Ciel. I
find it a fabulous program but I'm still not very good at understanding all
the features and settings. You were right in suggesting that I was zoomed
out too far. I can see all the stars fine now and match them tomy photo.

Reply to this Message

Saul Levy - 30 Jan 2008 00:56 GMT

Your example also labels epsilon 1 and 2 Lyra (the double star). Blow
up the image to see it better.

Saul Levy

>>Last week I took the following photo with only the moon for lighting:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>catalog, or was zoomed out too far, and didn't show the fainter
>(compared to Vega) Eta 1 and Eta 2.

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Odysseus - 28 Jan 2008 07:22 GMT

<snip>

> http://www.JustPhotos.ca/galleries/sky/images/ME1D013792.jpg
> http://www.JustPhotos.ca/post/ME1D013794.jpg
>
> I've checked my photos against sky charts and that's why I'm pretty
> sure that the bright star is Alpha Lyra.

So am I: top centre, with Zeta just to the left of it, and Beta and
Gamma lower above the trees further to the left. Starry Night Backyard
tells me that Vega's altitude was about 12° at the time -- the details
you provided were helpful. Clarenville, Newfoundland, eh? ;)

> On the other hand, I find comparing a photo with sky charts is not as
> easy as one might think it would be. In addition, I'm puzzled by the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> sure I'm correct about Alpha. I'm also hoping to learn the ID for the
> stars that are close together.

Those are Epsilon-1 and Epsilon-2 Lyrae, comprising the famous "Double
Double" system; each is a close binary, and the two pairs are slowly
orbiting each other. The more widely separated (and physically
unrelated) pair just above the dashed line, near the left-hand edge of
the close-up photo, would be Delta-1 and Delta-2, showing nice colour
distinction (the latter is a red giant).

Signature

Odysseus

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Mardon - 29 Jan 2008 01:15 GMT

> So am I: top centre, with Zeta just to the left of it, and Beta and
> Gamma lower above the trees further to the left. Starry Night Backyard
> tells me that Vega's altitude was about 12ø at the time -- the details
> you provided were helpful. Clarenville, Newfoundland, eh? ;)

Thanks for you confirmation. Yes, I was in Clarenville. To be specific, I
was in the parking lot of the tourist chalet next to the Trans-Canada
Highway. You can see the parking lot quite well on Google Earth. Too bad
it's all snow-covered now. I like summer better! :)

> Those are Epsilon-1 and Epsilon-2 Lyrae, comprising the famous "Double
> Double" system; each is a close binary, and the two pairs are slowly
> orbiting each other. The more widely separated (and physically
> unrelated) pair just above the dashed line, near the left-hand edge of
> the close-up photo, would be Delta-1 and Delta-2, showing nice colour
> distinction (the latter is a red giant).

Thanks for all this detail. It's much appreciated.

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Saul Levy - 30 Jan 2008 00:53 GMT

That's what it looks like to me, Mardon. The star name is Vega with a
long e. Vayga is the car.

The double star is epsilon Lyra. A wide double star.

You can always ask the WartPlugs since they claim to be experts on
astronomy. But be warned they will make up some total lie in reply!
They are uneducated buffoons!

Saul Levy

>Last week I took the following photo with only the moon for lighting:
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
>Thanks.

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Space Forum / Astronomy / January 2008

Confirmation of Star Name?