| Observing Location | PSC |
|---|
| Observational Period | 1145-1200 EST |
|---|
| Atmospheric Conditions |
| Cloud Cover | Clear |
|---|
| Temperature | 39°F |
|---|
| Wind | 27 MPH
gusting to
35 MPH |
|---|
| Humidity | Low |
|---|
| Barometric Pressure | 29.82" Hg
Falling |
|---|
| Feels Like | Cold and blustery
Wind Chill 28°F |
|---|
The sky is a deep blue. There is light boiling on the Sun’s limb.
| Transparency | Excellent |
|---|
| Seeing | II |
|---|
|
|---|
| Instruments | Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie |
|---|
| Observing Party | Charlie Ridgway
|
|---|
| Target | Sunspots |
|---|
| Constellation | Aqr |
|---|
| Category | Solar |
|---|
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm | 20080219.1145 EST |
|---|
| Comments |
Distance
Light Time | 0.988 AU
8m 13s |
|---|
| Angular Size | 32' 24.7" |
|---|
| Altitude | 38.4° |
|---|
Heliographic Latitude
(B0) | -6.99° |
|---|
Heliographic Longitude
(L0) | 26.75° |
|---|
Parallactic Angle
(P) | -18.71° |
|---|
Carrington rotation number
(CR) | 2066 |
|---|
Nothing Seen
| | Groups | Spots | R |
|---|
| North | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| South | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| R = (Groups * 10) + Spots) |
|
|---|
|
In a news story I read over the weekend it sounded like NASA was doing something unusual by having two landing sights online for an early Wednesday morning landing of the Shuttle so it is on the ground to allow the Navy to try to shoot down the failed spy satellite USA 193. Today I see an article on CNN saying that the first attempt will occur Wednesday night. I was out over the weekend to see a bright pass but I missed it. Last night it was raining at the time of the brightest pass. Thre is a pass tonight that is supposed to be visible but it is supposed to be partly cloudy and snow showers tonight. Weather is also supposed to be bad tomorrow night for the lunar eclispe.
Space Weather says the strike will be timed with the middle of the Lunar Eclipse and make reentering debris invisible from the west coast of the USA.
I would have expected that the BBC would be publishing reports of British scientists saying the US has finally woken up since they have been bif on shooting down asteroids where we have not been. But there has been little reported on the BBC web page and no mention of it on BBC radio.
Links
NOTAM restricting airspace west of Hawaii at the time of the proposed attack
NASA is reported in BraveNet News to have revised the target dates for upcoming shuttle launches as a result of the delay in the lanuch of STS-122. The new dates are:
| STS-123 | 11Mar08 | unchanged |
|---|
| STS-124 | 24Apr08 | unchanged |
|---|
| STS-125 | 28Aug08 | HST servicing mission |
|---|
| STS-126 | 16Oct08 |
|---|
| STS-119 | 4Dec08 |
|---|
The STS-123 and STS-124 missions may be adjusted after NASA sees if the Navy dies hit the spy satellite and how much debris that creates.
| Observing Location | McGraw Ave @ White Plains Rd, Bronx, NY |
|---|
| Observational Period | 1745-1830 EST |
|---|
| Atmospheric Conditions |
| Cloud Cover | Scattered Clouds |
|---|
| Temperature | 38°F |
|---|
| Wind | Light Breeze
gusting to
Moderate Breeze |
|---|
| Humidity | Moderate |
|---|
| Barometric Pressure | 29.84" Hg
Rising |
|---|
| Feels Like | Very Cold
Wind Chill 31&def;F |
|---|
My arms are getting cold from the crutches compressing the blood vessels and nerves in my armpits.
|
|---|
| Instruments | Naked-eye - Charlie |
|---|
| Observing Party | Charlie Ridgway
|
|---|
| 1733 EST | Sunset
Civil Twilight begins |
|---|
| Target | Iridium 3 Flare |
|---|
| Constellation | Eri |
|---|
| Category | Satellite |
|---|
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm | 20080219.1750 EST |
|---|
| Comments | The flare was bright white in a dark blue sky. It appeared to be falling and was a very fast flare due to the brightness of the sky.
| Alt. | 43° |
|---|
| Az. | 193°
SSW |
|---|
| Mag. | -4 |
|---|
|
|---|
|
| 1801 EST | Civil Twilight ends
Nautical Twilight begins |
|---|
| Target | USA 193 Visible Pass |
|---|
| Constellation | |
|---|
| Category | Satellite |
|---|
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm | 20080219.1816 EST |
|---|
| Comments | Not Seen
The sky was dark enough and the satellite bright enough that it should have been visible. I saw the stars of Cassiopeia (Mag. 2-Mag. 3).
| | Mag. | 1.8 |
|---|
| Start | Time | 1816 EST |
|---|
| Alt. | 10° |
|---|
| Az. | SW |
|---|
| Max. Alt. | Time | 1820 EST |
|---|
| Alt. | 60° |
|---|
| Az. | NW |
|---|
| Ends | Time | 1820 EST |
|---|
| Alt. | 10° |
|---|
| Az. | NE |
|---|
|
|---|
|
| 1833 EST | Nautical Twilight ends
Astronomical Twilight begins |
|---|
| 1905 EST | Astronomical Twilight ends |
|---|
The Moon looks crisp and full.
