Monday, July 21, 2008

21 July 2008

Observing LocationCDLD
Observational Period0830-0945 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions
Cloud CoverBroken
Temperature72° F
WindLight Breeze
HumidityModerate
Barometric Pressure30.04" Hg
Rising
Feels LikeH3

Lots of clouds around and haze where there aren’t. It is already humid. It rained lightly overnight but it is so humid that the sidewalks are still wet.

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

I got out of the house early this morning so spent more time counting cicada calls.

StartEndDuration
08:38:0408:38:0602
08:38:3908:38:4304
08:39:0408:39:1410
08:39:3408:39:3905
08:40:0908:40:1506
08:40:2008:40:2606
08:40:2008:40:2606
08:41:0908:41:1708
08:41:0908:41:1708
08:41:3508:41:4207
08:41:5508:42:0308
08:42:1708:42:2508
08:43:0608:43:1307
08:50:0008:50:0606
09:13:2609:13:3206
09:17:5409:18:0006
09:18:1709:18:2306
09:18:3709:18:4306
09:19:0109:19:0605
09:19:2009:19:2404
09:19:5009:19:5303
09:20:1609:20:2105
09:20:4809:20:5406
09:21:5109:21:5504
09:22:4009:22:4404
09:22:5909:23:0405
09:23:2709:23:3306
09:23:5409:23:5905
09:24:2109:24:2605
09:25:0509:25:1308
09:26:2409:26:3107
09:26:5409:27:0309
09:27:4709:27:5407
09:28:4709:28:5407
09:29:2009:29:2707
09:30:3009:38:3505
09:31:2809:31:3305
09:33:2709:33:3306
09:34:1209:34:1907
09:34:1909:34:2607
09:34:3909:34:4405
09:34:4409:34:5208
09:35:0809:35:1507
09:35:3109:35:3504
09:36:5009:36:5505
09:38:0009:38:0404
09:38:1509:38:2510
09:38:5409:39:0511
09:39:2009:39:3212
09:39:4409:39:5107
09:40:1009:40:1707
09:40:2509:40:2904
Average Duration00:00:06

I also observed an ant colony that happened to be at my feet. The colony was composed of tiny ants that were nesting in a mass of seeds that had been blown up against a concrete boarder to a macadam sidewalk. The nest must be confined to the mass of seeds, which wasn't very thick, and be more horizontal than vertical. The tiny ants were busy trying to get a large piece of detritus into the small colony opening. A couple of large ants approached the nest from different directions and went as far as the pile of seeds but not onto it while they thoroughly explored adjacent seed piles. A horsefly landed on the margin of the seed pile and did not molest nor was it molested by the ants. Later a smaller fly landed right at the entrance to the colony and seemed to be looking for ants to eat but they kept on working, apparently oblivious to it.

Target Sunspots
ConstellationCnc
CategorySolar
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm		20080721.0940 EDT
Comments
Distance
Light Time		1.02 AU
8m 27 s
Angular Size31' 32.1"
Altitude42.8°
Heliographic Latitude
(B0)		 4.96°
Heliographic Longitude
(L0)		 166.98°
Parallactic Angle
(P)		 6.63°
Carrington rotation number
(CR)		2072

Nothing Seen
Space Weather is no longer showing any spots but Group 1000 is still being shown on Active Regions Explorer.

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


Another Dwarf Planet. The IAU has just given the object 2005 FY9 the name Makemake, (the Polynesian fertility god). It is the fourth dwarf planet. Makemake is a little smaller and fainter than Pluto (too small and faint for my optics but possibly within reach of Peter's 10" Teleport). It is a transneutoinian object is also classified as a plutoid (the third, the other two being Pluto and Eris).

That name seemed very familiar to me, but it wasn't until I read the article that it connected with my visit to Easter Island.

Spaceflight Now story


Observing LocationPSC
Observational Period2045-2245 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions
Cloud CoverIsolated Clouds
Temperature86° F
WindCalm
HumidityModerate
Barometric Pressure29.80" Hg
Steady
Feels LikeHot

The air doesn’t feel humid but it is still hot.

TransparencyExcellent
Seeing 
InstrumentsNaked Eye - Charlie
Observing PartyCharlie Ridgway

2022 EDTSunset
Civil Twilight begins
2054 EDTCivil Twilight ends
Nautical Twilight begins

TargetISS Visible Pass
ConstellationVir-Leo-UMa-Dra-Cam-Cep-Cas-And
CategorySatellite
Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm		20080721.2120 EDT
CommentsThe ISS rose from behind a building and tracked across the sky passing between Alpheca and Merac and then between Megrez and Dubhe before passing below Polaris.
  StartsMax. Alt.Ends
H A
e b
a o
v v
e e
n  
s  		Time2120:57 EDT2123:45 EDT2126:36 EDT
Alt.10°44°10°
Az.WSWNNWNE
Mag-1.0
C
a
l
S
k
y		Time2122:54 EDT2127:39 EDT2132:27 EDT
Alt.horizon39.9°horizon
Az.248.6°
WSW		329.2°
NNW		49.8°
NE
Mag+0.3-2.5-0.5

2134 EDTNautical Twilight ends
Astronomical Twilight begins
2207 EDTMoon rises
2219 EDTAstronomical Twilight ends

There was an Iridium flare at 2142 but it was only at 11° altitude and only a Mag 0 event so wasn’t worth moving to try to catch it.

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