Gemini

Alpha Geminorum (Castor) is actually a triple system, with a faint 9.8 magnitude component which is not visible in this photo of the A-B pair. Each of the three main stars has its own spectroscopic companion making Alpha Geminorum a sextuple system. The AB pair shines with a combined magnitude of 1.6.
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Although designated as the “Beta” Star in the constellation of Gemini, Pollux is actually brighter than Alpha Geminorum – “Castor” (see above).
Pollux has 8 stellar companions catalogued with it, but all have been shown to be merely optical associations.
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When first discovered in 1881 the separation of this pair was 1.08 arc-seconds which has widened to its current 1.6 arc-seconds. The stars have an estimated orbital period of 474 years. The Mass of the primary is ~2.5 times that of the Sun.
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20 & 21 Gemini is a physical pair just beyond the limit of naked eye visibility.
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The double star systems J1953 & J1954 make up what I like to call “The Double-Triple”. The mirror image symmetry centered about the optical pair FYM 596 is striking. The “C” components for both systems are not physically bound though the A-B components for each system are.
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This star field located just south of J 1953 & 1954 shown in the previous photo contains an interesting string of four optical pairs; J 1956, J1958, J1959 & J1960.
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One of the most photogenic of systems is STT 173 which is beautifully framed by an arc of faint stars. The AC pair is physical.
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