Zeta Aquarii, a binary star system in Aquarius, is about 92 light-years away. First identified by William Herschel in 1777, it appears as a single point to the naked eye. Both stars are similar F-type main-sequence stars, orbiting each other every 587 years, exhibiting complexity beneath their apparent simplicity. This post explores the star and illustrates what it looks like in the telescope. Also known as: STF 2909, SAO 146108, HIP 110960, GC 31398, HR 8558, Zet1 Aqr, 55 Aquarii, HD 213052, 55 Aqr
Category Archives: Double/Multiple Stars
Delta¹ and Delta² Gruis: An Optical Double Star
Explore Delta¹ and Delta² Gruis, a striking optical double star in Grus, with viewing tips and a detailed Seestar image.
Anser: A Warm Double Star in Vulpecula
Anser is a bright optical double star in the constellation Vulpecula. It is a member of the Arcturus stream, meaning the Milky Way stole the star from a dwarf galaxy in the past.
VV Cephei: The Colossal Supergiant of Cepheus
Explore VV Cephei, a massive red / orange supergiant in Cepheus. Find viewing tips, photos, and sketches for this rare and fascinating star.
Struve 331: A Binary of White and Blue-Green in Perseus
Struve 331 (HD 18537) is an optical double star in the constellation Perseus, bet viewed in Autumn. The pair of stars feature a bright white primary and a secondary fainter star that’s blue. Backyard astronomers should be able to split the double easily with most scopes to find that the bright white contrasted against the blue star makes for a pretty enchanting pair.
This double is also known as STF 331 and SAO 23763.
SHJ 282 (STT 525): A Multiple System of Orange and Blue in Lyra
Otto Struve 525 (aka STT 525) is a triple-star system that features a golden primary (Star A) with two companions (stars B & C) in the constellation Lyra. The Star C is a pretty blue color. Also known as SAO 67566.
Marsic (Kappa Herculis): A Garnet and Topaz Double Star
Learn about Marsic (Kappa Herculis) and see how it looks through an 8-inch SCT scope when viewed from a suburban location. Marsic is an optical double star in the constellation Hercules and best viewed in summer.
T Coronae Borealis (The Blaze Star): Observing Before Explosion in 2024
The binary star T Coronae Borealis is expected to go nova in 2024. To prepare for this stellar event, I share why it’s special and share how the star appears before it explodes using an astrophoto and a sketch taken from my backyard in Seattle in June 2024. The binary is also registered as T CrB, SAO 84129, HR 5958, HD 143454, HIP 78322.
The Garden Astronomer 