Solar Neighborhood
Naked Eye and Binocular Certifications
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Solar Neighborhood Naked Eye Star Certification
To obtain the Naked-Eye certification, you must observe any 10 stars on the list. The sketches for any naked-eye observations must show roughly where in the particular constellation the observed star resides.
Solar Neighborhood Naked Eye Stars by Constellation (13)
The naked eye observations below were all done at Brommelsiek Park (38.723N, 90.815W, elevation 644 ft) on the evening of 8/21/2022. Seeing was 4/5 and transparency was measured at 19.82 magnitudes per square arcsecond with a Unihedron Sky Quality Meter (SQM). The SQM reading meant that I should have had a Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude of about 5.6.
I am severely red/green color blind so no attempt to estimate star color was attempted.
The sketches for the naked eye stars below were done with MicroSoft Paint from notes and rough sketches I took while observing.
The brighter stars were directly visible but homemade 2x50 binoculars were sometimes used to help locate the actual position of the dimmer stars.
Solar Neighborhood Binocular Certification
To obtain the binocular certification, you must observe any 30 stars on the list. The observations may be done with binoculars or naked-eye and may include those used for the Naked-Eye certification. Your certificate will be sent to you through email and may be printed. The sketches for binocular observations must show stars in the field of view as available, but 6 should be your goal, if possible.
The binocular observations were done over three nights from Brommelsiek Park in St. Charles County, Missouri (38.723N, 90.815W, elevation 644 ft).
The night I did the Naked Eye Certification stars I also sketched them through Orion 10x50 binoculars. The first thirteen stars below are those that were also seen via naked eye.
Based on the SQM Meter reading of 19.82 the binocular limiting magnitude for the first night was 10.2.
Based on the SQM Meter reading of 19.62 the binocular limiting magnitude for the second night was 9.9.
Based on the SQM Meter reading of 19.96 the binocular limiting magnitude for the third night was 10.2.
About the sketches:
My scanner wouldn't connect to my laptop so the first night sketches were photographed. Between the first and second nights I managed to connect the scanner to a second printer. Even so, the scanner has issues that I haven't been able to fix.
Once again my red/green color blindness prevents me from even remotely estimating color.
# Sketched: 1/30
AL data:
AL #: 66
System Name: 70 Oph
Common Name:
HD: HD 165341 A
HIP: HIP 88601
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 18:5:27
Dec: 2.50015 degrees
Parallax: 195.56735456 msec
Distance: 16.669448781 ly
Spectral Type: K0
Magnitude: 4.03
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:06 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 2/30
AL data:
AL #: 91
System Name: 36 Oph
Common Name: Guniibuu
HD: HD 155886
HIP:
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 17:15:20
Dec: -26.6017 degrees
Parallax: 168.13027794 msec
Distance: 19.389725872 ly
Spectral Type: K2
Magnitude: 5.08
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:06 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 3/30
AL data:
AL #: 288
System Name: 12 Oph
Common Name:
HD: HD 149661
HIP: HIP 81300
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 16:36:21
Dec: -2.324589 degrees
Parallax: 101.07188812 msec
Distance: 32.254270309 ly
Spectral Type: K1
Magnitude: 5.77
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:06 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 4/30
AL data:
AL #: 142
System Name: HD 156384
Common Name:
HD: HD 156384 A
HIP: HIP 84709
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 17:18:57
Dec: -34.98976 degrees
Parallax: 138.06627411 msec
Distance: 23.611848881 ly
Spectral Type: K3
Magnitude: 5.89
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:24 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 5/30
AL data:
AL #: 191
System Name: mu. Her
Common Name:
HD: HD 161797 Aa
HIP: HIP 86974
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 17:46:27
Dec: 27.72056 degrees
Parallax: 119.92480848 msec
Distance: 27.183699863 ly
Spectral Type: G5
Magnitude: 3.42
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:35 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 6/30
AL data:
AL #: 124
System Name: ksi Boo
Common Name:
HD: HD 131156 A
HIP:
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 14:51:23
Dec: 19.10045 degrees
Parallax: 148.06949945 msec
Distance: 22.016688191 ly
Spectral Type: G7
Magnitude: 4.68
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:40 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 7/30
AL data:
AL #: 68
System Name: alf Aql
Common Name: Altair
HD: HD 187642
HIP: HIP 97649
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 19:50:46
Dec: 8.86832 degrees
Parallax: 194.95 msec
Distance: 16.722236471 ly
Spectral Type: A7
Magnitude: 0.76
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:45 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 8/30
AL data:
AL #: 159
System Name: alf Lyr
Common Name: Vega
HD: HD 172167
HIP: HIP 91262
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 18:36:56
Dec: 38.78369 degrees
Parallax: 130.23 msec
Distance: 25.03263457 ly
Spectral Type: A0
Magnitude: .03
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 09:50 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 9/30
AL data:
AL #: 17
System Name: 61 Cyg
Common Name:
HD: HD 201091
HIP:
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 21:6:53
Dec: 38.74942 degrees
Parallax: 285.9949483 msec
Distance: 11.398802739 ly
Spectral Type: K5
Magnitude: 5.21
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 10:00 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 10/30
AL data:
AL #: 151
System Name: mu. Cas
Common Name: Marfak
HD: HD 6582 A
HIP: HIP 5336
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 1:8:16
Dec: 54.92016 degrees
Parallax: 130.28806977 msec
Distance: 25.021477452 ly
Spectral Type: G5
Magnitude: 5.17
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 10:15 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 11/30
AL data:
AL #: 89
System Name: eta Cas
Common Name: Achird
HD: HD 4614 A
HIP: HIP 3821
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 0:49:6
Dec: 57.81518 degrees
Parallax: 168.83216034 msec
Distance: 19.309117371 ly
Spectral Type: F9
Magnitude: 3.44
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 10:15 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 12/30
AL data:
AL #: 175
System Name: chi Dra
Common Name:
HD: HD 170153 A
HIP: HIP 89937
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 18:21:3
Dec: 72.732847 degrees
Parallax: 124.11 msec
Distance: 26.267021191 ly
Spectral Type: F7
Magnitude: 3.58
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 10:35 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 13/30
AL data:
AL #: 79
System Name: sig Dra
Common Name: Alsafi
HD: HD 185144
HIP: HIP 96100
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 19:32:21
Dec: 69.66118 degrees
Parallax: 173.49391002 msec
Distance: 18.790284914 ly
Spectral Type: G9
Magnitude: 4.68
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/21/2022
Time: 10:35 pm CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.82
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 14/30
AL data:
AL #: 87
System Name: HD 180617
Common Name: V1428 Aql
HD: HD 180617
HIP: HIP 94761
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 19:16:55
Dec: 5.1689 degrees
Parallax: 169.06150528 msec
Distance: 19.282923067 ly
Spectral Type: M3
Magnitude: 9.11
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 08:38:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 15/30
AL data:
AL #: 116
System Name: HD 152751
Common Name: V1054 Oph
HD: HD 152751 A
HIP: HIP 82817
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 16:55:25
Dec: -8.32258 degrees
Parallax: 153.9658652 msec
Distance: 21.173524377 ly
Spectral Type: M3e
Magnitude: 9.02
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 09:05:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 16/30
AL data:
AL #: 4
System Name: Barnard's Star
Common Name: Barnard's Star
HD:
HIP: HIP 87937
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 17:57:48
Dec: 4.69336 degrees
Parallax: 546.97593973 msec
Distance: 5.9600427792 ly
Spectral Type: M3.5
Magnitude: 9.511
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 09:10:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 17/30
AL data:
AL #: 161
System Name: HD 157881
Common Name:
HD: HD 157881
HIP: HIP 85295
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 17:25:45
Dec: 2.11142 degrees
Parallax: 129.645882 msec
Distance: 25.14541881 ly
Spectral Type: K7
Magnitude: 7.56
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 09:16:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 18/30
AL data:
AL #: 283
System Name: HD 151288
Common Name:
HD: HD 151288
HIP: HIP 82003
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 16:45:6
Dec: 33.509229 degrees
Parallax: 101.5614865 msec
Distance: 32.098781855 ly
Spectral Type: K5
Magnitude: 8.11
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 09:43:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 19/30
AL data:
AL #: 72
System Name: HD 119850
Common Name: Wolf 498
HD: HD 119850
HIP: HIP 67155
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 13:45:43
Dec: 14.89152 degrees
Parallax: 183.99619525 msec
Distance: 17.717757671 ly
Spectral Type: M1.5
Magnitude: 8.5
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 09:48:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 20/30
AL data:
AL #: 163
System Name: HD 165222
Common Name:
HD: HD 165222
HIP: HIP 88574
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 18:5:7
Dec: -3.03132 degrees
Parallax: 129.21844953 msec
Distance: 25.228595544 ly
Spectral Type: M0
Magnitude: 9.36
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 09:55:00 UT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 21/30
AL data:
AL #: 284
System Name: BD+61 195
Common Name: Wolf 46
HD:
HIP: HIP 4872
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 1:2:38
Dec: 62.345044 degrees
Parallax: 101.4237953 msec
Distance: 32.14235861 ly
Spectral Type: M1.5
Magnitude: 9.60
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 10:06:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 22/30
AL data:
AL #: 135
System Name: HD 199305
Common Name:
HD: HD 199305
HIP: HIP 103096
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 20:53:19
Dec: 62.15439 degrees
Parallax: 142.05428461 msec
Distance: 22.948973407 ly
Spectral Type: M1e
Magnitude: 8.60
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 10:15:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 23/30
AL data:
AL #: 34
System Name: HD 239960
Common Name: Kruger 60 A
HD: HD 239960 A
HIP:
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 22:27:59
Dec: 57.69502 degrees
Parallax: 249.3926 msec
Distance: 13.071759146 ly
Spectral Type: M3
Magnitude: 9.79
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/26/2022
Time: 10:20:00 pm CDT
From: Bromelsiek
Seeing: 3/5
Transparency: 19.62
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 24/30
AL data:
AL #: 149
System Name: alf PsA
Common Name: Fomalhaut B
HD: HD 216803
HIP: HIP 113283
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 22:56:24
Dec: -31.56556 degrees
Parallax: 131.55250925 msec
Distance: 24.780979235 ly
Spectral Type: K4
Magnitude: 6.5
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/31/2022
Time: 2:48:00 am CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.96
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
Fomalhaut is 148, 149, and 150
Zooming in a far as possible in SkySafari only shows primary and says B is mag 24.60. Stellarium doesn't think it is a double.
Stella Doppie shows only three observations with the last in 1998 and the separation is 999.9 This makes me doubt that Fomalhaut is really a multiple star system.
# Sketched: 25/30
AL data:
AL #: 188
System Name: HD 217357
Common Name:
HD: HD 217357
HIP: HIP 113576
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 23:0:16
Dec: -22.524348 degrees
Parallax: 121.47236139 msec
Distance: 26.837380641 ly
Spectral Type: K7
Magnitude: 7.9
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/31/2022
Time: 2:55:00 am CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.96
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 26/30
AL data:
AL #: 14
System Name: HD 217987
Common Name: Lacaille 9352
HD: HD 217987
HIP: HIP 114046
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 23:5:52
Dec: -35.85307 degrees
Parallax: 304.1353692 msec
Distance: 10.71891115 ly
Spectral Type: M2
Magnitude: 7.3
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/31/2022
Time: 3:00:00 am CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.96
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 27/30
AL data:
AL #: 145
System Name: HD 4628
Common Name:
HD: HD 4628
HIP: HIP 3765
Star type: *
RA (h:m:s): 0:48:22
Dec: 5.28061 degrees
Parallax: 134.49484769 msec
Distance: 24.238846737 ly
Spectral Type: K2.5
Magnitude: 5.7
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/31/2022
Time: 3:06:00 am CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.96
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 28/30
AL data:
AL #: 86
System Name: BR Psc
Common Name:
HD:
HIP: HIP 117473
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 23:49:12
Dec: 2.40122 degrees
Parallax: 169.21632962 msec
Distance: 19.265280173 ly
Spectral Type: M1
Magnitude: 9.0
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/31/2022
Time: 3:15:00 am CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.96
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 29/30
AL data:
AL #: 132
System Name: HD 216899
Common Name: Ross 671
HD: HD 216899
HIP: HIP 113296
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 22:56:34
Dec: 16.553431 degrees
Parallax: 145.6234101 msec
Distance: 22.386510504 ly
Spectral Type: M1.5e
Magnitude: 8.6
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/31/2022
Time: 3:24:00 am CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.96
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
# Sketched: 30/30
AL data:
AL #: 290
System Name: HD 232979
Common Name:
HD: HD 232979
HIP: HIP 21553
Star type: LM
RA (h:m:s): 4:37:40
Dec: 52.893614 degrees
Parallax: 100.91605993 msec
Distance: 32.30407531 ly
Spectral Type: M0
Magnitude: 8.6
Viewing data:
Date viewed: 8/31/2022
Time: 3:34:00 am CDT
From: Brommelsiek
Seeing: 4/5
Transparency: 19.96
Binoculars: Orion 10x50
FOV: 6.5 degrees
Solar Neighborhood Imaging Program
To obtain your certificate and pin for the Telescopic or Imaging level of this Observing Program (visually or through imaging), you are required to observe or image 100 of the stars on the list. The observations may be done naked-eye, binoculars, or telescope (visual and imaging), and may include those used for the Naked-Eye and Binocular certifications. For visual observations, simple drawings of the field around each star are required – artistry is not. At least 6 other stars must be shown in each drawing or image. If you prefer to image the stars, please identify the nearby stars in your image. You must also complete the three additional tasks for the complete certification. .
The observer completing the full certification is also required to perform three additional tasks. These observations will be easiest at higher magnifications.
1) Observe Barnard’s Star at least 3 times over 12 months and plot its position against other field stars for each observation. At least a magnification of 200x is recommended in order to make the small positional change of Barnard’s Star more apparent. A chart of the star field is provided in Appendix A.
2) Make an occulting eyepiece using a bar, disk, or half circle and observe the white dwarf companion of either Sirius or Procyon. Make a drawing and try to estimate the separation and position angle to 45 degrees (e.g. north, northeast, east, etc.). At least a magnification of 200x is recommended in order make the small separation of the much fainter secondary star from the primary easier to see (2 – 10 seconds for Sirius and 5 seconds for Procyon). A procedure for modifying an eyepiece to make it an occulting eyepiece is provided in Appendix B.
3) Observe the sun using pinhole projection. Sketch or image any detail you see on the projection.
I'll get around to adding my imaging data for the telescopic stars once I complete the Binocular part of the program. For the time being the 88 stars I've done so far with labeled fields are below. A sample for the final page layout can be found below the images in the directory.
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