Clear skies as astronomical twilight was passing, but transparency not too good and a very bright half moon in the south.  Set up the LX90 with the 17mm Nagler to view some doubles.  First viewed Saturn – very good details, could see space between rings and planet, but not ring separation.  Moved to 24 Comae (SAO-100160), easy separation of the 20.3” separation, but didn’t discern any green tint to the secondary.  Went to Alpha Herculis (Rasalgethi – SAO-102681), easily separated the 4.6” separation, but again no green tint.  Used the 9mm Plossl eyepiece – still no green tint.  Went back to the 17mm eyepiece. Later came back to Rasalgethi, transparency improved somewhat – primary star brighter yellow, and secondary did show a greenish tint as it shimmered.  Made a sketch as it appeared to this observer.

Viewed other doubles in Hercules: Rho Herculis (RA 17hr 23.7min; Dec +37°08’), nice pair (Mag 4.5/5.5, 4.1” separation) – easily split; STF-2063 (RA 16hr 31.8min; Dec +45°35’); Mu Herculis (RA 17hr 46.5min; Dec +27°43’) wide split, but secondary is mag 9.5 – was finally able to see both stars; Kappa Herculis (SAO-101951) easy split – nice blue and yellow colors;  36+37 Herculis (RA 16hr 40.7min; Dec +04°13’) widely separated (69.8”), but nearly equal magnitude (6.0/6.5), blue and red colors.  Moved back to Coma Berenices, and viewed ΣCRb (RA 16hr 14.7min; +33°51’), close together (6.2”), but nearly equal magnitudes (5.0/6.0) and easily separated.  Viewed M-13 briefly before heavy clouds moved in from the south – shut it down about 10:45 pm.

Nice report.  Next time you are hobnobbing with Herc take a look at 95 Herculis (SAO85647).  Just recently I saw this evenly matched 5th magnitude pair with a seperation of 6.3" as a pale green/ red pair: but others have seen all sorts of colours here including blue/silver.

Thanks for the look and the sketch,

L

Thanks for the tip Leo - I've put that on my list for future reference.

George

leo731:

Next time you are hobnobbing with Herc take a look at 95 Herculis (SAO85647).  Just recently I saw this evenly matched 5th magnitude pair with a seperation of 6.3" as a pale green/ red pair: but others have seen all sorts of colours here including blue/silver.

Got a chance last night to view this double.  Was testing the polar alignment procedure for my CG-5 mount with my 80mm Stellarvue scope.  Used the 17mm Nagler eyepiece and viewed some objects in and around Hercules.  Took a look at 95 Herc as you suggested.  Didn't see green, but was struck by the red/blue contrast:

 Nice sketches!

Glad you enjoyed 95 Herc. I just looked at a star map and saw that it is part of the head to my Cat asterism! 

Very nice sketch of a very pretty double star.  Sorry you didn't get the rub o the green but this pair is rather famous for its variable coloration.  Glad you enjoyed it.

L

The only star that has ever looked truly green to my eyes is the spectral class B2.5 companion of Antares, Antares B, and that, of course, is a contrast effect, or so they say. ;)

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n7_v17/ai_18384025

Dave Mitsky