Saturday, February 16, 2008

16 February 2008

Observing LocationPSC
Observational Period1245-1300 EST
Atmospheric Conditions
Cloud CoverClear
Temperature32°F
WindCalm
HumidityLow
Barometric Pressure30.32" Hg
Falling
Feels LikeCold

TransparencyExcellent
SeeingI
Instruments Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing PartyCharlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots
Constellation
CategorySolar
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm		20080216.1245 EST
Comments
Distance
Light Time		0.988 AU
8m 13s
Angular Size32' 25.9"
Altitude37.0°
Heliographic Latitude
(B0)		 -6.88°
Heliographic Longitude
(L0)		 65.71°
Parallactic Angle
(P)		 -17.76°
Carrington rotation number
(CR)		2066

Nothing Seen

 Groups SpotsR
North0 0 0
South0 0 0
Total0 0 0
R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)


The Shuttle is now scheduled for a Wednesday landing. That means a Tuesday undocking before sunrise here. There is a STS-122 pass that CalSky reports as visible but it occurs before sunset and is only a Mag +0.8 pass. My experience has been that brighter passes in twilight are hard to locate so I don't hold much hope of seeing the ISS and Shuttle flying in close porximity before landing.


Spaceflight Now is showing STS-123 scheduled for liftoff on 11Mar08 at 0231 EDT. That means it should be visible passing NYC at MECO at 0239 EST. All that assumes no delays in the launch and good weather.


Observing LocationMcGraw Ave @ White Plains Rd, Bronx, NY
Observational Period1800-1845 EST
Atmospheric Conditions
Cloud CoverClear
Temperature34°F
WindGentle Breeze
HumidityLow
Barometric Pressure30.32" Hg
Rising
Feels LikeCold
Wind Chill 29°F

It doesn’t feel too bad until the wind starts to blow. My hands were getting cold in the thin handball gloves.

I calculated the wind chill temperature on the NOAA web site and in the same page they spell the term as "Wind Chill" and "Windchill". I filled out their contact form pointing out the inconsistency and they replied back that either spelling is correct. The person who replied said that her personal preference is two words and that she will edit the page to insure consistence. Given her preference and that it is spelled as two words in the graphics and most often as one word in text I suspect that it will be changed to two words throught. It only appears in their glossary as Wind Chill and there they refer to the Wind Chill Temperature (from the Wind Chill web page) as Wind Chill Factor.

TransparencyExcellent
Seeing
InstrumentsNaked-eye - Charlie
Observing PartyCharlie Ridgway

Mars was half way between Capella and Betelgeus. &beta Tau is just above Mars and the Moon a short distance below and to the left of Mars.


Starry Night Starter Edition graphic

I only saw 3 of the Pleiades. The street lamps here are really bothersome.

1730 ESTSunset
Civil Twilight begins
1758 ESTCivil Twilight ends
Nautical Twilight begins
1830 ESTNautical Twilight ends
Astronomical Twilight begins

TargetUSA 193 (NROL-21) Visible Pass
Constellation
CategorySatellite
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm		20080216.1835 EST
CommentsNot Seen
Since the ISS appeared to be running late maybe I stopped looking for this satellite too soon.

 Mag.3.2
StartTime1835:16 EST
Alt.10°
Az.S
Max. Alt.Time1836:33 EST
Alt.19°
Az.SE
EndsTime1836:33 EST
Alt.19°
Az.SE

TargetISS Visible Pass
Constellation
CategorySatellite
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm		20080216.1835 EST
CommentsI think the satellite was 1-2 minutes late in culminating from what was predicted by CalSky. I know my watch is slow by only 7 seconds.

StartTime1835:56 EST
Alt.horizon
Az.WSW
Mag.1.4
Max. Alt.Time1840:37 EST
Alt.32°
Az.SW
Mag.-2.4
EndsTime1843:20 EST
Alt.9°
Az.SSE
Mag.-1.7

1902 ESTAstronomical Twilight ends
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