Struve 572 is a nice binary star in the constellation Taurus, the Bull. Taurus is most prominent during winter evenings in the Northern Hemisphere. The next time you’re out under winter skies, be sure to visit this tight pair first observed by astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve in 1822.
This binary star features two white-yellow stars close in magnitude. The primary star with a magnitude of +7.2 is slightly brighter than its companion star with a magnitude of +7.4. Both stars have the same white-yellow stellar classification of F2V. Modest backyard scopes should be able to split the two stars, which are only separated by 4.5 arcseconds. The two stars are physically related so they orbit a common center of mass as illustrated on the stelledoppie site and lie 203 light years away from Earth.
My Observations
| Date | November 23, 2023 |
| Time | 10:20 p.m. |
| Location | Seattle, WA |
| Magnification | 169x |
| Scope | Meade 8″ SCT |
| Eyepiece | 12mm |
| Seeing | Above Average |
| Transparency | Above Average |
I love this type of binary star featuring two close stars of similar brightness. The stars are like a pair of eyes staring back at me. While some observers see a yellow tint in these stars, they both appear white to me. My 12mm eyepiece, through the 8-inch SCT scope, is enough power to separate the pair nicely.
Key Stats
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Best Viewing | Winter |
| Visual Magnitude | +7.2 | +7.4 |
| Separation | 4.5″ |
| Position Angle | 188° |
| Spectral Class | F2V & F2V |
| Milky Way Location | Orion Spur |
| My Viewing Grade | B |
| Designations | STF 572, SAO 76682, HR 1470, HD 29364 |
Sources and Notes
Banner adapted from an illustration created by Pablo Budassi. The illustration is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Full details here.
04385+2656 STF 572 AB (NSV1676). WDS 04385+2656 STF 572 AB (NSV1676). (n.d.). https://www.stelledoppie.it/index2.php?iddoppia=16156
Sketch by Wayne McGraw
The Garden Astronomer 