| Observing Location | MetOval |
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| Observational Period | 2045-2130 EDT |
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| Atmospheric Conditions |
| Cloud Cover | Scattered Clouds |
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| Temperature | 44°F |
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| Wind | Calm |
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| Humidity | Low |
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| Barometric Pressure | 30.22" Hg
Rising |
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| Feels Like | Cool |
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The weather was saying partly cloudy at Central Park so I went out. There were times when the seeing got soft due to light cloud passing in front of Sirius, but I could always see the star.
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| Instruments | Golden Gate 7x35 binocular - Charlie |
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| Observing Party | Charlie Ridgway
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| Target | ISS may occult Sirius |
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| Constellation | CMa |
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| Category | Occultation; Satellite |
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Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm | 20080324.2117 EDT |
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| Comments | Not Seen
CalSky alerted me to this event and advised that MetOval was right on the centerline (map) so I gave it a try. This was not an ISS visible pass, the station was in earth’s shadow. Given the configuration of ISS I was expecting some twinkling or maybe dimming like a graze of a double star. The event was to take place at 2117:51.89 EDT. I watched from 2115 until 2121 EDT and didn’t see anything |
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|
| Target | Saturn |
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| Constellation | Leo |
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| Category | Planet |
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Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm | 20080324.2050 EDT |
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| Comments | Saturn is a creamy, butter yellow and not as bright as Mars in the binocular although brighter naked-eye.
Object
Class | Classical Planet |
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| Elongation | 148.1° E |
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Distance
Light Time
(from Earth) | 8.49 AU
21h 43.1m |
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Distance
(from Sun) | 9.29 AU |
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| Angular Size | 19.6"x17.5" |
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Ring
Angular
Size | 44.5"x7.28" |
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Ring
Inclination | 9.4° |
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| Magnitude | 0.3 |
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| Altitude | 49° |
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|
Starry Night Starter graphic |
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|
| Target | Mars |
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| Constellation | Gem |
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| Category | Planet |
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Time
yyyymmdd.hhmm | 20080324.2100 EDT |
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| Comments | Mars, near Castor’s hip, is a bright, transparent orange in color.
Object
Class | Classical Planet |
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| Elongation | 92.9° |
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Distance
Light Time
(from Earth) | 1.27 AU
10m 34s |
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Distance
(from Sun) | 1.65 AU |
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| Angular Size | 7.37" |
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| Magnitude | 0.7 |
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| Central Meridian | 119° |
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| Altitude | 64.4° |
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The Hyades looks nice next to Aldeberan, but the Pleiades are very subdued with only the brightest stars visible in the binocular and not seen at all naked-eye.
