Observations of wide binary pairs in the far southern sky

Astrometric CCD observations have been made of wide (approximately 3 to 80 arcsec) southern binary pairs using the 0.6 m telescope at Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatory (MSSSO). Separations rho and position angles (PA) have been calibrated against known astrometric pairs, and have rms uncertainties of 0.16 arcsec and 7.8/rho degrees (rho in arcsec) respectively. These stars have not been well studied; typically they have not been measured since approximately 1930, and 52% of them have been observed only once prior to our observations. A comparison has been made with values published in the Washington Double Star (WDS) catalogue. Of the 304 pairs measured in the declination range -60 degs to -70 degs, 82% show no evidence of motion since the last observation.