Top 200 most beautiful Double Stars


The Coldfield Observatory

 
The doubles in order of Right Ascension
The doubles in the constellations
The descriptions
 

This Top 200 list gives you the easiest and most beautiful double stars of the night sky, quikly found in your telescope. This is not, like many other lists, an extract from a database filtering the brightest double stars. It is a summary of 200 double stars easily spotted, easily split, and mostly with different and nice colors. All 200 doubles from this list are observed by the author, equiped with a 6 inch f8 Newtonian reflector. The magnification used was never higher than 200x. All doubles are not below the declination of -12.

Double stars are pretty nice objects against the black sky for every observer. A pair of equally bright stars close to each other is very attractive. And different colors make it complete! When there are 3 or even more members, it only becomes more splendid, like the triple Struve 2816 in Cepheus. Some triples appear as a real triangle figure, like Otto Struve 147 in Auriga. And why not to spot the doubles embedded in a rich open star cluster, like Struve 485 in Camelopardalis? This list also contains a few doubles in the Pleiades, and in the Beehive or Praesepe M44.

It's very obvious, photographs never bring the astonishing spectacle, like an observer can feel thru his telescope. You only see gray disks on a photograph, while amazing colored points, not touching each other and with different brightnesses, glitter right in the middle of your ocular. The marvelous double 61 Cygni along the milky way, the first star with a measured parallax, as an example.

Keep in mind, the colors of a double star are very subjective. There are several reasons. When the secondary is much fainter than the primary, the condition of the sky, the color-sensitivity of the observer, and the aperture of the telescope. The colors of bright binaries are best seen thru binoculars. And our eyes are more yellow sensitive since we all look to a big yellow sun.

 
  The 200 double stars from 00h 00m to 23h 59m R.A. :
Name R.A. Dec. Mag. Separ. Pos.ang
 
35 Psc 00 15.0 +08 49 6.0 7.6 11.6 148
38 Psc 00 17.4 +08 53 7.9 7.8 4.3 236
Groombridge 34 (And) 00 18.4 +44 01 8.2 10.6 40.0 62
55 Psc 00 39.9 +21 26 5.4 8.7 6.5 194
Eta Cassiopeiae 00 49.1 +57 49 3.4 7.5 12 307
65 Piscium 00 49.9 +27 43 6.3 6.3 4.4 297
Psi 1 Piscium 01 05.6 +21 28 5.6 5.8 30 159
77 Psc 01 05.8 +04 55 6.8 7.6 33 83
Zeta Piscium 01 13.7 +07 35 5.6 6.5 23 63
100 Psc 01 34.8 +12 34 7.3 8.4 15.5 77
1 Ari 01 50.1 +22 17 6.2 7.2 2.8 166
Struve 163 (Cas) 01 51.3 +64 51 6.8 8.8 34.8 35
Gamma Arietis 01 53.5 +19 18 4.8 4.8 7.8 0
Lambda Arietis 01 57.9 +23 36 4.9 7.7 37 46
Gamma Andromedae 02 03.9 +42 20 2.3 5.5 9.8 63
Iota Trianguli 02 12.4 +30 18 5.3 6.9 3.9 71
66 Cet 02 12.8 -02 24 5.7 7.5 16.5 234
Struve 239 (Tri) 02 17.4 +28 45 7.0 8.0 13.8 211
Struve 270 (Per) 02 30.8 +55 33 7.4 9.2 21.2 303
Alpha Ursa Minoris 02 31.8 +89 16 2.0 9.0 18.4 218
30 Ari 02 37.0 +24 39 6.6 7.4 38.6 274
33 Ari 02 40.7 +27 04 5.5 8.4 28.6 0
Theta Per 02 44.2 +49 14 4.1 9.9 20 305
Struve 304 (Per) 02 48.8 +49 11 7.5 10.7 25 288
Eta Persei 02 50.7 +55 54 3.8 8.5 28.3 300
Struve 326 (Ari) 02 55.6 +26 52 7.6 9.8 5.9 220
Struve 331 (Per) 03 00.9 +52 21 5.3 6.7 12.1 85
Struve 336 (Per) 03 01.5 +32 25 6.9 8.4 8.4 8
Struve 369 (Per) 03 17.2 +40 29 6.7 8.0 3.5 28
Struve 394 (Ari) 03 28.0 +20 28 7.1 8.1 6.8 162
Struve 392 (Per) 03 30.3 +52 54 7.4 9.6 25.8 347
Struve 422 (Tau) 03 36.8 +00 35 5.9 8.8 6.6 265
Struve 434 (Per) 03 44.0 +38 22 7.8 8.6 31 85
Struve 449 (Plei) 03 47.4 +24 39 8.5 11.0 6.9 329
Struve 450 (Plei) 03 47.5 +23 55 7.1 9.1 6.2 264
30 Tau 03 48.3 +11 09 5.1 10.2 9 59
Struve 495 (Tau) 04 07.7 +15 10 6.0 8.8 3.8 221
Struve 485 (Cam) 04 07.9 +62 20 7.0 7.1 18 304
Phi Tau 04 20.4 +27 21 5.0 8.4 52.1 250
Chi Tauri 04 22.6 +25 38 5.5 7.6 19.4 24
Struve 533 (Per) 04 24.4 +34 19 7.3 8.5 19 61
56 Per 04 24.6 +33 58 5.9 8.7 4.2 22
1 Camelopardalis 04 32.0 +53 55 5.7 6.8 10.3 308
Struve 572 (Tau) 04 38.5 +26 56 7.3 7.3 4.0 194
55 Eridani 04 43.6 -08 48 6.7 6.8 9.2 317
Omega Aur 04 59.3 +37 53 5.0 8.0 5.4 359
Struve 644 (Aur) 05 10.3 +37 18 6.8 7.0 1.6 224
14 Aur 05 15.4 +32 31 5.1 7.4 14.6 224
Struve 670 (Tau) 05 16.7 +18 26 7.7 8.2 2.5 164
Struve 698 (Aur) 05 24.2 +34 51 6.6 8.7 31.2 345
118 Tauri 05 29.3 +25 09 5.8 6.6 4.8 204
Delta Orionis 05 32.0 -00 18 2.2 6.3 52.6 359
Struve 747 (Ori) 05 35.0 -06 00 4.8 5.7 35.7 223
Lamda Orionis 05 35.1 +09 56 3.6 5.5 4.4 43
Theta 1 Orionis 05 35.3 -05 23 6.7 7.9 5.1 6.7 8.8/13/21.5 31/132/96
+ Theta 2 Orionis 05 35.4 -05 25 5.2 6.5 52 92
Iota Orionis 05 35.5 -05 55 2.8 6.9 11.3 141
Struve 742 (Tau) 05 36.4 +22 00 7.2 7.8 3.9 270
26 Aur 05 38.6 +30 30 6.0 8.0 12.4 267
Sigma Orionis 05 38.7 -02 36 4.0 7.5 6.5 12.9/43 84/61
Struve 790 (Ori) 05 46.0 -04 16 6.4 8.7 6.9 89
Otto Struve 134 (Gem) 06 09.3 +24 26 7.3 9.1 31 188
Struve 872 (Aur) 06 15.6 +36 09 6.9 7.9 11.3 217
Epsilon Monocerotis 06 23.8 +04 36 4.5 6.5 13.4 27
15 Gem 06 27.8 +20 47 6.6 8.0 27.1 204
Beta Monocerotis 06 28.8 -07 02 4.7 5.2 7.3 132
20 Gem 06 32.3 +17 47 6.3 6.9 20.0 210
Otto Struve 147 (Aur) 06 34.3 +38 05 6.6 10.0 10.6 43/46 73/117
Struve 928 (Aur) 06 34.7 +38 32 7.6 8.2 3.5 133
Struve 929 (Aur) 06 35.4 +37 43 7.4 8.4 6.2 24
12 Lyncis 06 46.2 +59 27 5.4 7.3 8.7 308
Psi 5 Aur 06 46.7 +43 35 5.3 8.3 36.2 31
Struve 958 (Lyn) 06 48.2 +55 42 6.3 6.3 4.8 257
38 Gem 06 54.6 +13 11 4.7 7.7 7.1 145
Delta Geminorum 07 20.1 +21 59 3.5 8.2 6.8 211
19 Lyncis 07 22.9 +55 17 5.6 6.5 14.8 315
Struve 1083 (Gem) 07 25.6 +20 30 7.2 8.3 6.4 44
Struve 1103 (CMi) 07 30.6 +05 15 7.7 9.2 4.4 243
Struve 1108 (Gem) 07 32.8 +22 53 6.6 8.3 11.5 178
Alpha Geminorum 07 34.6 +31 53 1.9 2.9 2.2 171
Kappa Gem 07 44.4 +24 24 3.6 8.1 7.1 240
Struve 1122 (Cam) 07 45.9 +65 09 7.8 7.8 15.4 5
Zeta Cancri 08 12.2 +17 39 5.6 6.0 5.9 89
Phi 2 Cnc 08 26.8 +26 56 6.3 6.3 5.1 218
Struve 1245 (Cnc) 08 35.8 +06 37 6.0 7.2 10.3 25
Struve 1249 (M44) 08 37.7 +19 45 10.8 11.0 25.1 40
SLE 332 (M44) 08 39.2 +18 56 10.4 10.4 21.2 38
SLE 334 (M44) 08 40.1 +20 23 10.8 11.8 28.6 153
Struve 1254 (M44) 08 40.4 +19 40 6.4 10.4 20 54
SLE 337 (M44) 08 41.8 +19 15 10.4 11.8 22.8 346
SLE 336 (M44) 08 41.9 +20 10 8.5 11.1 31.7 329
Iota Cancri 08 46.7 +28 46 4.2 6.6 30 307
Struve 1282 (Lyn) 08 50.7 +35 04 7.5 7.5 3.6 279
Struve 1333 (Lyn) 09 18.4 +35 22 6.4 6.7 1.6 49
Struve 1347 (Hya) 09 23.3 +03 30 7.3 8.6 21.2 311
21 Uma 09 25.6 +54 01 7.8 8.8 5.7 311
Struve 1369 (Lyn) 09 35.4 +39 57 7.0 8.0 24.7 148
Struve 1362 (Dra) 09 37.9 +73 05 7.2 7.2 4.9 129
Gamma Leonis 10 20.0 +19 51 2.2 3.5 4.4 122
35 Sextantis 10 43.3 +04 45 6.3 7.4 6.8 240
54 Leonis 10 55.6 +24 45 4.5 6.3 6.5 110
Struve 1520 (UMa) 11 16.1 +52 46 6.6 7.9 12.7 344
Xi Uma 11 18.2 +31 32 4.3 4.8 1.8 273
2 CVn 12 16.1 +40 40 5.8 8.1 11.4 260
Struve 1625 (Cam) 12 16.2 +80 08 7.3 7.8 14.4 219
24 Comae Berenices 12 35.1 +18 23 5.2 6.7 20.3 271
32 Camelopardalis 12 49.2 +83 25 5.3 5.8 21.6 326
Alpha Canum Venaticorum 12 56.0 +38 19 2.9 5.5 19.4 229
Struve 1695 (UMa) 12 56.3 +54 06 6.0 7.9 3.7 283
Zeta Ursa Majoris 13 23.9 +54 56 2.3 4.0 4.0 14.4/709 152/71
Herschel 2682 (UMi) 13 40.7 +76 51 6.7 9.7 9.0 26.3/45.9 279/316
Kappa Bootis 14 13.5 +51 47 4.6 6.6 13.4 236
Iota Bootis 14 16.2 +51 22 4.9 7.5 38 33
Struve 1825 (Boo) 14 16.5 +20 07 6.5 8.2 4.4 163
Struve 1835 (Boo) 14 23.4 +08 27 5.1 7.6 6.2 192
Pi Bootis 14 40.7 +16 25 4.9 5.8 5.6 108
39 Boo 14 49.6 +48 43 6.2 6.9 2.9 45
Xi Bootis 14 51.4 +19 06 4.7 7.0 6.9 332
SHJ 191 (Boo) 14 59.6 +53 52 6.8 7.4 40.5 342
Struve 1910 (Boo) 15 07.5 +09 14 7.5 7.5 4.3 211
Struve 1919 (Ser) 15 12.7 +19 18 6.7 7.6 23.9 10
Struve 1932 (CrB) 15 18.3 +26 50 7.3 7.4 1.6 259
Pi 1 Umi 15 29.2 +80 27 6.6 7.3 31 80
Delta Serpentis 15 34.8 +10 32 4.2 5.2 3.9 178
Struve 1962 (Lib) 15 38.7 -08 47 6.5 6.6 11.9 188
Zeta Corona Borealis 15 39.4 +36 38 5.1 6.0 6.3 305
Otto Struve 300 (Ser) 15 40.2 +12 03 6.4 9.5 15.3 261
Struve 1999 (Sco) 16 04.0 -11 27 7.4 8.1 11.6 99
Xi Sco 16 04.4 -11 22 4.8 7.3 7.6 51
Kappa Herculis 16 08.1 +17 03 5.3 6.5 28 12
Otto Struve 305 (CrB) 16 11.7 +33 21 6.4 10.2 5.4 263
Sigma Corona Borealis 16 14.7 +33 52 5.6 6.6 6.2 233
Gamma Her 16 21.9 +19 09 3.8 9.8 41.6 233
Struve 2063 (Her) 16 31.8 +45 36 5.7 8.2 16.4 195
16/17 Draconis 16 36.2 +52 55 5.4 6.4 5.5 3.4/90 108/194
56 Her 16 55.0 +25 44 6.1 10.6 18.1 93
Struve 2120 (Her) 17 04.8 +28 05 7.3 10.1 16.3 234
Mu Dra 17 05.3 +54 28 5.6 5.7 1.9 8
Alpha Herculis 17 14.6 +14 23 3.5 5.4 4.7 107
Delta Herculis 17 15.0 +24 50 3.1 8.2 8.9 236
Struve 2155 (Dra) 17 16.1 +60 43 6.8 10.1 9.8 114
Rho Herculis 17 23.7 +37 09 4.6 5.6 4.1 316
Nu Draconis 17 32.2 +55 11 4.9 4.9 62 312
Psi Draconis 17 41.9 +72 09 4.9 6.1 30.3 15
61 Oph 17 44.6 +02 35 6.2 6.6 20.6 93
Mu Her 17 46.5 +27 43 3.4 10.1 33.8 247
40/41 Draconis 18 00.2 +80 00 5.7 6.1 19.3 232
95 Herculis 18 01.5 +21 36 5.0 5.1 6.3 258
70 Ophiuchi 18 05.5 +02 30 4.2 6.0 2.8 72
Struve 2276 (Oph) 18 05.7 +12 00 7.0 7.4 6.9 257
100 Her 18 07.8 +26 06 5.9 6.0 14 183
Struve 2313 (Sct) 18 24.7 -06 36 7.5 8.8 6.1 198
Struve 2348 (Dra) 18 33.9 +52 21 6.1 8.8 25.7 272
Epsilon Lyrae 18 44.3 +39 40 5.0 6.1 5.2 5.5 208/2.6/2.3 357/173/94
Zeta Lyrae 18 44.8 +37 36 4.3 5.9 44 150
Beta Lyrae 18 50.1 +33 22 3.4 8.6 46 149
Struve 2404 (Aql) 18 50.8 +10 59 6.9 8.1 3.6 183
Omi Dra 18 51.2 +59 23 4.8 7.8 34.2 326
Struve 2411 (Her) 18 52.3 +14 32 6.6 9.4 13.5 95
Otto Struve 525 (Lyr) 18 54.9 +33 58 6.0 7.7 45 350
Theta Serpentis 18 56.2 +04 12 4.5 5.4 22.3 104
11 Aql 18 59.1 +13 37 5.2 8.7 17 286
Struve 2426 (Aql) 19 00.0 +12 53 7.4 8.8 16.9 260
Struve 2445 (Vul) 19 04.6 +23 20 7.2 8.9 12.6 263
15 Aql 19 05.0 -04 02 5.5 7.2 38 209
Struve 2449 (Aql) 19 06.4 +07 09 7.2 7.9 8.0 291
Struve 2455 (Vul) 19 06.9 +22 10 7.4 8.5 6.6 40
Struve 2457 (Vul) 19 07.1 +22 35 7.5 9.0 10.3 201
Struve 2470 (Lyr) 19 08.8 +34 46 6.6 8.6 13.4 271
+ Struve 2474 (Lyr) 19 09.1 +34 36 6.7 8.8 16.2 262
Struve 2486 (Cyg) 19 12.1 +49 51 6.6 6.8 7.9 210
Struve 2532 (Aql) 19 30.2 +02 54 6.1 10.3 33.7 5
Beta Cygni 19 30.7 +27 58 3.1 5.1 34.4 54
Struve 2540 (Vul) 19 33.3 +20 25 7.3 8.8 5.1 147
H N 84 (Sge) 19 39.4 +16 34 6.5 8.9 28.2 302
Zeta Sge 19 49.0 +19 09 5.5 8.7 8.6 311
57 Aquilae 19 54.6 -08 14 5.8 6.5 36 170
Otto Struve 394 (Cyg) 20 00.2 +36 25 7.1 9.9 11 294
Struve 2725 (Del) 20 46.2 +15 54 7.6 8.4 5.8 8
Gamma Delphinus 20 46.7 +16 07 4.5 5.5 9.6 268
Eps Equ 20 59.1 +04 18 6.0 7.1 11 70
Lamda Equ 21 02.2 +07 11 7.4 7.4 2.8 218
12 Aqr 21 04.1 -05 49 5.9 7.3 2.8 192
61 Cygni 21 06.9 +38 45 5.2 6.0 28 146
Struve 2786 (Equ) 21 19.7 +09 32 7.2 8.3 2.5 185
Otto Struve 437 (Cyg) 21 20.8 +32 27 6.2 6.9 2.1 28
Struve 2793 (Equ) 21 25.1 +09 23 7.8 8.5 26.6 242
Beta Cephei 21 28.7 +70 34 3.2 7.9 13.3 249
Struve 2816 (Cep) 21 39.0 +57 29 5.6 7.7 7.8 11.7/20 121/339
Struve 2841 (Peg) 21 54.3 +19 43 6.4 7.9 22.3 110
Struve 2848 (Peg) 21 58.0 +05 56 7.2 7.5 10.7 56
Xi Cephei 22 03.8 +64 38 4.4 6.5 7.7 277
Struve 2894 (Lac) 22 18.9 +37 46 6.1 8.3 15.6 194
Struve 2902 (Lac) 22 23.6 +45 21 7.6 8.5 6.4 89
Delta Cephei 22 29.2 +58 25 3.9 6.3 41 192
Struve 3009 (Psc) 23 24.3 +03 43 6.8 8.8 7.0 230
8 Lacerta 22 35.9 +39 38 5.7 6.5 22.4 186
Struve 3007 (Peg) 23 22.8 +20 34 6.6 9.6 5.9 91
Sigma Cassiopeiae 23 59.0 +55 45 5.0 7.1 3 326
Struve 3050 (And) 23 59.5 +33 43 6.6 6.6 1.7 335
 
  The 200 double stars in the constellations :
  
Pisces
 35 Psc
 38 Psc
 55 Psc
 65 Piscium
 Psi 1 Piscium
 77 Psc
 Zeta Piscium
 Struve 3009 (Psc)
 100 Psc
Andromeda
 Groombridge 34 (And)
 Gamma Andromedae
 Struve 3050 (And)
Cetus
 66 Cet
Cassiopeia
 Eta Cassiopeiae
 Struve 163 (Cas)
 Sigma Cassiopeiae
Aries
 1 Ari
 Gamma Arietis
 Lambda Arietis
 30 Ari
 33 Ari
 Struve 394 (Ari)
 Struve 326 (Ari)
Triangulum
 Iota Trianguli
 Struve 239 (Tri)
Ursa Minor
 Alpha Ursa Minoris
 Herschel 2682 (UMi)
 Pi 1 Umi
Perseus
 Theta Per
 Struve 304 (Per)
 Eta Persei
 Struve 331 (Per)
 Struve 369 (Per)
 Struve 533 (Per)
 56 Per
 Struve 270 (Per)
 Struve 392 (Per)
 Struve 336 (Per)
 Struve 434 (Per)
Taurus
 Struve 422 (Tau)
 Struve 449 (Plei)
 Struve 450 (Plei)
 30 Tau
 Struve 495 (Tau)
 Phi Tau
 Chi Tauri
 118 Tauri
 Struve 572 (Tau)
 Struve 742 (Tau)
 Struve 670 (Tau)
Camelopardalis
 Struve 485 (Cam)
 1 Camelopardalis
 Struve 1122 (Cam)
 Struve 1625 (Cam)
 32 Camelopardalis
Eridanus
 55 Eridani
Auriga
 Omega Aur
 Struve 644 (Aur)
 14 Aur
 Struve 698 (Aur)
 26 Aur
 Otto Struve 147 (Aur)
 Struve 928 (Aur)
 Struve 929 (Aur)
 Struve 872 (Aur)
 Psi 5 Aur
Orion
 Delta Orionis
 Struve 747 (Ori)
 Lamda Orionis
 Theta 1 Orionis
 + Theta 2 Orionis
 Iota Orionis
 Sigma Orionis
 Struve 790 (Ori)
Monoceros
 Epsilon Monocerotis
 Beta Monocerotis
Lynx
 12 Lyncis
 19 Lyncis
 Struve 958 (Lyn)
 Struve 1369 (Lyn)
 Struve 1282 (Lyn)
 Struve 1333 (Lyn)
Canis Minor
 Struve 1103 (CMi)
Gemini
 Delta Geminorum
 Alpha Geminorum
 15 Gem
 20 Gem
 38 Gem
 Struve 1108 (Gem)
 Kappa Gem
 Struve 1083 (Gem)
 Otto Struve 134 (Gem)
Cancer
 Zeta Cancri
 Struve 1249 (M44)
 SLE 332 (M44)
 SLE 334 (M44)
 Struve 1254 (M44)
 SLE 337 (M44)
 SLE 336 (M44)
 Iota Cancri
 Phi 2 Cnc
 Struve 1245 (Cnc)
Ursa Major
 21 Uma
 Struve 1520 (UMa)
 Xi Uma
 Struve 1695 (UMa)
 Zeta Ursa Majoris
Draco
 Struve 1362 (Dra)
 16/17 Draconis
 Mu Dra
 Struve 2155 (Dra)
 Nu Draconis
 Psi Draconis
 40/41 Draconis
 Struve 2348 (Dra)
 Omi Dra
Leo
 Gamma Leonis
 54 Leonis
Canes Venatici
 2 CVn
 Alpha Canum Venaticorum
Coma Berenices
 24 Comae Berenices
Bootes
 Kappa Bootis
 Iota Bootis
 Struve 1825 (Boo)
 Struve 1835 (Boo)
 Pi Bootis
 39 Boo
 Xi Bootis
 SHJ 191 (Boo)
 Struve 1910 (Boo)
Serpens
 Struve 1919 (Ser)
 Delta Serpentis
 Otto Struve 300 (Ser)
 Theta Serpentis
Corona Borealis
 Struve 1932 (CrB)
 Zeta Corona Borealis
 Otto Struve 305 (CrB)
 Sigma Corona Borealis
Libra
 Struve 1962 (Lib)
Scorpius
 Struve 1999 (Sco)
 Xi Sco
Hercules
 Kappa Herculis
 Gamma Her
 Struve 2063 (Her)
 56 Her
 Struve 2120 (Her)
 Alpha Herculis
 Delta Herculis
 Rho Herculis
 Mu Her
 95 Herculis
 100 Her
 Struve 2411 (Her)
Ophiuchus
 61 Oph
 70 Ophiuchi
 Struve 2276 (Oph)
Scutum
 Struve 2313 (Sct)
Lyra
 Epsilon Lyrae
 Zeta Lyrae
 Beta Lyrae
 Otto Struve 525 (Lyr)
 Struve 2470 (Lyr)
 + Struve 2474 (Lyr)
Aquila
 Struve 2404 (Aql)
 11 Aql
 Struve 2426 (Aql)
 15 Aql
 Struve 2449 (Aql)
 Struve 2532 (Aql)
 57 Aquilae
Vulpecula
 Struve 2445 (Vul)
 Struve 2455 (Vul)
 Struve 2457 (Vul)
 Struve 2540 (Vul)
Cygnus
 Struve 2486 (Cyg)
 Beta Cygni
 Otto Struve 394 (Cyg)
 61 Cygni
 Otto Struve 437 (Cyg)
Sagitta
 H N 84 (Sge)
 Zeta Sge
Delphinus
 Struve 2725 (Del)
 Gamma Delphinus
Equuleus
 Eps Equ
 Lamda Equ
 Struve 2786 (Equ)
 Struve 2793 (Equ)
Aquarius
 12 Aqr
Cepheus
 Beta Cephei
 Struve 2816 (Cep)
 Xi Cephei
 Delta Cephei
Pegasus
 Struve 2841 (Peg)
 Struve 2848 (Peg)
 Struve 3007 (Peg)
Lacerta
 Struve 2894 (Lac)
 Struve 2902 (Lac)
 8 Lacerta
Sextans
 35 Sextantis
Hydra
 Struve 1347 (Hya)
 
 
 

 
 
  Descriptions
 
Here are the details of the 200 preferred doubles to look for. It contains the technical information, a short description with things to know, and the most reported observed colors.
 
To make it yourself even more convenient, all doubles are rated with a number of stars:
 
*****These are the finest doubles of the night sky. Mostly the well known doubles, with beautiful colors and wide separations, perhaps containing more than 2 members.
****Very nice doubles, sometimes a little effort to split them, or standing in an attractive surrounding star field.
***These doubles are not so famous, maybe missing the brightness, but still easily found, and a great chance to see different colors.
 
A less rating does not tell the double isn't worth spotting it. It still reached the Top 200, remember!
 
             
1 35 Psc
 
  RA: 00 15.0 Dec.: +08 49    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.0 7.6
  Separation: 11.6
  Position Angle: 148
 
  It lies under the most SE star of the square of Pegasus, just right of the other double 38 Psc. It appears as a wide double with a yellow primary and a fainter blue companion.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
2 38 Psc
 
  RA: 00 17.4 Dec.: +08 53    
   
  Magnitudes: 7.9 7.8
  Separation: 4.3
  Position Angle: 236
 
  It lies under the most SE star of the square of Pegasus, just left of the other double 35 Psc. It is a close double of equally bright yellow stars.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + yellow Rate: ****
 
 
             
3 Groombridge 34 (And)
 
  RA: 00 18.4 Dec.: +44 01    
   
  Magnitudes: 8.2 10.6
  Separation: 40.0
  Position Angle: 62
 
  Not so far away from the Andromeda galaxy M31. It is a well known red dwarf binary system lying only 11 lightyears away from our Sun. It moves at 3" per year thru the sky.The double is very wide, with a faint companion. The third star in the same field does not count.
 
  Reported colors: orange + red Rate: ****
 
 
             
4 55 Psc
 
  RA: 00 39.9 Dec.: +21 26    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.4 8.7
  Separation: 6.5
  Position Angle: 194
 
  Lies just left of the square of Pegasus, officially in the Pisces region. It's a close double with a bright orange primary and a much fainter blue secondary.
 
  Reported colors: orange + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
5 Eta Cassiopeiae
 
  RA: 00 49.1 Dec.: +57 49    
   
  Magnitudes: 3.4 7.5
  Separation: 12
  Position Angle: 307
 
  This binary is the most lovely in Cassiopeia. In a period of 500 years, the separation shifts from 5 till 16 arcseconds. It's a wide double with a bright golden star, and a little red star at its side. It is the naked eye star just lying next to Alpha Cas.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + red Rate: *****
 
 
             
6 65 Piscium
 
  RA: 00 49.9 Dec.: +27 43    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.3 6.3
  Separation: 4.4
  Position Angle: 297
 
  It is located left of the most NE star of the square of Pegasus. A nice matching pair of equally bright yellow stars.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + yellow Rate: ****
 
 
             
7 Psi 1 Piscium
 
  RA: 01 05.6 Dec.: +21 28    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.6 5.8
  Separation: 30
  Position Angle: 159
 
  There are three Psi stars in the upper region of Pisces, left of the Pegasus square. Psi 1 contains two equally bright bluish stars, wide separated.
 
  Reported colors: blue + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
8 77 Psc
 
  RA: 01 05.8 Dec.: +04 55    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.8 7.6
  Separation: 33
  Position Angle: 83
 
  It's located just under Epsilon and Delta Psc, at the SE of the Pegasus square. It appears as a wide binary with a yellow primary and a yellow slightly fainter secondary.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + yellow Rate: ****
 
 
             
9 Zeta Piscium
 
  RA: 01 13.7 Dec.: +07 35    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.6 6.5
  Separation: 23
  Position Angle: 63
 
  It's located just left of Epsilon and Delta Psc, at the SE of the Pegasus square. Appearing as a wide double with a white primary and a contrasting yellow slightly fainter companion.
 
  Reported colors: white + yellow Rate: ****
 
 
             
10 1 Ari
 
  RA: 01 50.1 Dec.: +22 17    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.2 7.2
  Separation: 2.8
  Position Angle: 166
 
  This attractive double lies just right of Alpha and Beta Ari. The double Lambda Ari stands also in that region. It has a yellow primary and close to it a fainter blue companion.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
11 Struve 163 (Cas)
 
  RA: 01 51.3 Dec.: +64 51    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.8 8.8
  Separation: 34.8
  Position Angle: 35
 
  A wide binary with beautiful colors, lying just above the most NE star of the "W" figure. The main star is nicely orange colored, while the faint secondary is bluish.
 
  Reported colors: orange + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
12 Gamma Arietis
 
  RA: 01 53.5 Dec.: +19 18    
   
  Magnitudes: 4.8 4.8
  Separation: 7.8
  Position Angle: 0
 
  The third star of the "arc" of Aries, contains two equal bluish stars close to each other.
 
  Reported colors: white + white Rate: ****
 
 
             
13 Lambda Arietis
 
  RA: 01 57.9 Dec.: +23 36    
   
  Magnitudes: 4.9 7.7
  Separation: 37
  Position Angle: 46
 
  As the double 1 Ari, it lies just right of Alpha and Beta Ari. A bright yellow main star and widely a little blue one.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
14 Gamma Andromedae
 
  RA: 02 03.9 Dec.: +42 20    
   
  Magnitudes: 2.3 5.5
  Separation: 9.8
  Position Angle: 63
 
  A splendid double, the easternmost naked eye star of the "arc" of Andromeda, with the name Almach. It has a bright golden primary and not so far from it a greenish fainter secondary. The secondary itself is double, but only 0.5 arcseconds split.
 
  Reported colors: gold + green Rate: *****
 
 
             
15 Iota Trianguli
 
  RA: 02 12.4 Dec.: +30 18    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.3 6.9
  Separation: 3.9
  Position Angle: 71
 
  It lies just under the triangle. A binary with a yellow and a fainter blue star, nearly touching each other.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
16 Struve 239 (Tri)
 
  RA: 02 17.4 Dec.: +28 45    
   
  Magnitudes: 7.0 8.0
  Separation: 13.8
  Position Angle: 211
 
  Like the double Iota Tri, this one also lies just under the triangle. It is a pretty pair of blue and yellow stars.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
17 Alpha Ursa Minoris
 
  RA: 02 31.8 Dec.: +89 16    
   
  Magnitudes: 2.0 9.0
  Separation: 18.4
  Position Angle: 218
 
  Yes, our polar star also is a nice double, with a yellowish main star and a much fainter white companion, but easily seen thanks to the fairly wide separation. The companion was first spotted in 1780.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + white Rate: ****
 
 
             
18 30 Ari
 
  RA: 02 37.0 Dec.: +24 39    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.6 7.4
  Separation: 38.6
  Position Angle: 274
 
  As 33 Ari, this double lies E of Alpha Ari. It's a yellowish pair with only a slightly fainter companion, and a highly wide separation.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + yellow Rate: ****
 
 
             
19 33 Ari
 
  RA: 02 40.7 Dec.: +27 04    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.5 8.4
  Separation: 28.6
  Position Angle: 0
 
  As 30 Ari, this double lies E of Alpha Ari. It includes a yellow primary and a much fainter blue companion, easily split.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
20 Theta Per
 
  RA: 02 44.2 Dec.: +49 14    
   
  Magnitudes: 4.1 9.9
  Separation: 20
  Position Angle: 305
 
  The binary is located W of Alpha Per. A brilliant golden main star and fairly wide next to it a little blue gem. At its east lies the double Struve 304.
 
  Reported colors: gold + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
21 Struve 304 (Per)
 
  RA: 02 48.8 Dec.: +49 11    
   
  Magnitudes: 7.5 10.7
  Separation: 25
  Position Angle: 288
 
  It lies just E of the other double Theta Per. It includes a white primary with a fainter blue secondary fairly separated.
 
  Reported colors: white + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
22 Eta Persei
 
  RA: 02 50.7 Dec.: +55 54    
   
  Magnitudes: 3.8 8.5
  Separation: 28.3
  Position Angle: 300
 
  This is the topmost star of Perseus. It's a marvelous bright gold and little blue double, easily separated. A lot of stars glitter in this area.
 
  Reported colors: gold + blue Rate: *****
 
 
             
23 Struve 331 (Per)
 
  RA: 03 00.9 Dec.: +52 21    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.3 6.7
  Separation: 12.1
  Position Angle: 85
 
  Lies just under Gamma Per, at the NW of Alpha Per. It's a fairly close double with a white primary and a slightly fainter blue secondary. A semicircle of little stars lies NE.
 
  Reported colors: white + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
24 Struve 369 (Per)
 
  RA: 03 17.2 Dec.: +40 29    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.7 8.0
  Separation: 3.5
  Position Angle: 28
 
  The binary lies just E of Algol. It's a rather close binary with a yellow primary and a moderately fainter blue companion.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
25 Struve 394 (Ari)
 
  RA: 03 28.0 Dec.: +20 28    
   
  Magnitudes: 7.1 8.1
  Separation: 6.8
  Position Angle: 162
 
  It's located in the far east of the constellation, SW of the Pleiades. A fairly close double with a yellow star and a fainter blue brother next to it.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
26 Struve 422 (Tau)
 
  RA: 03 36.8 Dec.: +00 35    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.9 8.8
  Separation: 6.6
  Position Angle: 265
 
  The pretty nice double lies just above 10 Tau, this is at the very SW border of the constellation, so it rather lies closer to Alpha Cet. It has a main yellow star, with fairly close to it a little blue one.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
27 Struve 449 (Plei)
 
  RA: 03 47.4 Dec.: +24 39    
   
  Magnitudes: 8.5 11.0
  Separation: 6.9
  Position Angle: 329
 
  This is one of the doubles in the Pleiades. A little white brother is standing fairly close to the main white star.
 
  Reported colors: white + white Rate: ***
 
 
             
28 Struve 450 (Plei)
 
  RA: 03 47.5 Dec.: +23 55    
   
  Magnitudes: 7.1 9.1
  Separation: 6.2
  Position Angle: 264
 
  This is one of the doubles in the Pleiades. A white primary with a slightly fainter white secondary close to it.
 
  Reported colors: white + white Rate: ***
 
 
             
29 30 Tau
 
  RA: 03 48.3 Dec.: +11 09    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.1 10.2
  Separation: 9
  Position Angle: 59
 
  It's located deep under the Pleiades, W of the main figure of the Bull. The main star is bluish, while the companion is reddish. The companion is strongly fainter, but still easily separated by the moderately wide gap between them.
 
  Reported colors: blue + red Rate: ***
 
 
             
30 Struve 495 (Tau)
 
  RA: 04 07.7 Dec.: +15 10    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.0 8.8
  Separation: 3.8
  Position Angle: 221
 
  It lies just W of the main figure of the Bull. Two yellow stars, the second one is fainter, are pretty close to each other.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + yellow Rate: ***
 
 
             
31 Struve 485 (Cam)
 
  RA: 04 07.9 Dec.: +62 20    
   
  Magnitudes: 7.0 7.1
  Separation: 18
  Position Angle: 304
 
  In the inconspicuous area of Camelopardalis, lies highly above Capella, the marvelous open cluster NGC 1502. This little group of stars stands at the end of the asterism chain of Kemble's Cascade. Right in the middle of this cluster appears a pretty white close double of nearly equally bright stars. The slightly fainter companion is a variable star, bouncing between magnitude 7.0 and 7.3 in a period of only 2 days.
 
  Reported colors: blue + white Rate: ****
 
 
             
32 Phi Tau
 
  RA: 04 20.4 Dec.: +27 21    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.0 8.4
  Separation: 52.1
  Position Angle: 250
 
  It's a very wide double with a yellow primary star and a fainter blue attendant. It's located N of the main figure of the Bull, or E of the Pleiades. It stands just N of the other double Chi Tau. At its east lies 15 arcminutes from it an obvious reddish star.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
33 Chi Tauri
 
  RA: 04 22.6 Dec.: +25 38    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.5 7.6
  Separation: 19.4
  Position Angle: 24
 
  It's located N of the main figure of the Bull, or E of the Pleiades. It stands just S of the other double Phi Tau. It contains a white main star and a fainter blue companion, moderately split.
 
  Reported colors: white + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
34 Struve 533 (Per)
 
  RA: 04 24.4 Dec.: +34 19    
   
  Magnitudes: 7.3 8.5
  Separation: 19
  Position Angle: 61
 
  East of Zeta Per, the southernmost star of Perseus, lies a triplet of 3 stars in one line. The southernmost is the other double 56 Per. The northernmost is Struve 533. It can be glimpsed as a deep yellow star and not so far from it a little blue attendant.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****
 
 
             
35 56 Per
 
  RA: 04 24.6 Dec.: +33 58    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.9 8.7
  Separation: 4.2
  Position Angle: 22
 
  East of Zeta Per, the southernmost star of Perseus, lies a triplet of 3 stars in one line. The northernmost is the other double Struve 533. The southernmost is 56 Per. A bright yellow star is touched by a fainter yellow secondary.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + yellow Rate: ****
 
 
             
36 1 Camelopardalis
 
  RA: 04 32.0 Dec.: +53 55    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.7 6.8
  Separation: 10.3
  Position Angle: 308
 
  At the NW of Capella, but in the area of Camelopardalis, lies this pair. It's only surrounded by tiny stars at its W and E. The double itself contains a white main star, and moderately away from it a slightly fainter bluish friend.
 
  Reported colors: white + blue Rate: ***
 
 
             
37 55 Eridani
 
  RA: 04 43.6 Dec.: -08 48    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.7 6.8
  Separation: 9.2
  Position Angle: 317
 
  In the most NE portion of the huge Eridanus, just right of the brilliant Rigel, lies a double with a deep yellow main star and an equally bright pale yellow companion, fairly close to each other.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + yellow Rate: ****
 
 
             
38 Omega Aur
 
  RA: 04 59.3 Dec.: +37 53    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.0 8.0
  Separation: 5.4
  Position Angle: 359
 
  This pair lies below the small triangle figure ("the little goats") south of Capella. At its SE lies the other double Struve 644. An orangish faint star twinkles close to the pale yellow primary.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + orange Rate: ***
 
 
             
39 Struve 644 (Aur)
 
  RA: 05 10.3 Dec.: +37 18    
   
  Magnitudes: 6.8 7.0
  Separation: 1.6
  Position Angle: 224
 
  It lies just SE of the other double Omega Aur. It's a nice challenge to see the equally bright stars detached, a deep yellow and blue gem.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ***
 
 
<
             
40 14 Aur
 
  RA: 05 15.4 Dec.: +32 31    
   
  Magnitudes: 5.1 7.4
  Separation: 14.6
  Position Angle: 224
 
  It's located in the lower part of the pentagon, where you can find many stars. The double appears as an easy pair of a yellow main star and a moderately fainter blue one. Struve 698 stands also in this area.
 
  Reported colors: yellow + blue Rate: ****