found a bunch of errors

As I was working on the Coloured Double Stars list for SkyTools 3 (that Stu and I started a while ago), I found a number of errors in the new RASC Observer's Handbook (2012 edition), the hard copy, on pages 298 and 299. I also found a lot of mistakes in the additional new companion PDF document, on the RASC national web site supplemental section.

I sent a note to the new OH editor, David.

I also note the errors here, for your records... Some are minor typos, some more severe, and some very confusing.

From the hard copy, i.e. the book proper...

SPRING

• A minor nit. "Σ 1327 Uma" should show Ursa Majoris as "UMa".
• "35 Sex" is very wrong. Or maybe the wrong star? The declination for 35 Sextantis is 4° 45'. The AB star separation is 7" and the AC sep is 334"... So, I don't know what to suggest. I also searched for widely separated stars in the area and didn't see a candidate. So this is just confusing. [ed: Confirmed 4° 45' and 7.]

SUMMER

• Another minor nit. "K Her" shows kappa in upper case. This should be lower, as per convention. kappa Gem in the Winter list is fine. [ed: Confirmed.]

AUTUMN

• 2 Peg is also strange. Wrong star or wrong data? The B star is mag 11.8 and sep is 30". [ed: Should be denoted as h 1647 with Dec 22° 11'.]

From the supplemental document on the web site...

WINTER

• 476 Per is missing Σ (Sigma upper), i.e. for the Struve double star catalog. [ed: Corrected.]

SPRING

• This looks like a minor issue but maybe merits a closer look. Σ 1327 Cnc has a AB sep of 6" with mags of 8.6 and 10.6.
• 1604 Crv is also missing Σ. [ed: Corrected.]
• The row below 1604, Crv is missing δ (delta). [ed: Corrected.]

SUMMER

• The first row, Oph, is missing ο (omicron). [ed: Corrected.]

FALL

• The "Fall" itself label not consistent with book. Minor. Book uses Autumn. [ed: Corrected.]
• The "O 252 Peg" appears to be missing Σ for the Otto Struve catalog, i.e. should show as "OΣ 252 Peg." [ed: Changed, but not correctly.]

SOUTHERN

• The first instance of Cru (at 12 26) is missing α (alpha). [ed: Corrected.]
• Then here's the second instance of Cru (at 12 31). It's in wrong order in the list, should come up one row. And it's missing γ (gamma). [ed: Corrected.]

That's pretty significant, the number of errors. And some are serious.
The corrections or "updates" to the 2012 RASC OH normally go online. Nothing there yet...

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Heard back from editor.

Blake:  thanks for the detailed analysis.   I will have to refer them to the author for action!

Quick!

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The supplement was updated 9 days later...

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Supplements section moved...
http://www.rasc.ca/handbook/supplements

Updates section moved...
http://www.rasc.ca/updates