Friday, 13 February 2009

Observing Location	Tompkins Square Library, W 10 St, New York, NY Lat.: Long.:
Observational Period	1500-1530 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 42° F Wind Gentle Breeze gusting to Moderate Breeze Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 29.88" Hg Falling Feels Like Blustery Cold It seems like it would be really pleasant out if it were not for the wind. Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090213.1500 EST Comments Object Class Classical Planet Phase Elongation 42.80° E 32.1% Illuminated % Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.4671872 AU 3m 53.15s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 35.70" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 54.1312°

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Observing Location	Bowery @ Great Jones St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1800-1815 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 38° F Wind Light Breeze gusting to Moderate Breeze Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 29.96" Hg Rising Rapidly Feels Like Cold The wind isn’t as bad as earlier in the day but the gusts would make telescopic observations problematic. Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090213.1800 EST Comments Not Seen Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 42.76° E % Illuminated 32.0% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.4664183 AU 8m 52.77s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 35.76" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 32.7055°

Target Iridium 62 Flare Constellation Cam Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090213.1810 EDT Comments I thought this was going to be a Mag -7 flare but it turns out that is the one early tomorrow morning, this one is only -1. I picked it up falling nearly vertically past what I think was Dubhe and Merak. The flare occurred early and quickly and the satellite was visible for about a minute thereafter. Alt. 59° Az. 27° NNE Mag. -1 Surface MMA2

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Observing Location	E 3 St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1930-1945 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 36° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.00" Hg Rising Feels Like Cold It is still cold out but the wind seems to have abated and is not gusting. Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Taurus Constellation Tau Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090213.1930 EDT Comments I found the Pleiades tonight. It was hard to see them with the glare of the street lights coming from all directions. I saw 5 stars for sure and I think 6.

Target Orion Constellation Ori Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090213.1930 EDT Comments I saw the shoulders, belt and left foot. I wasn't able to locate the sword.

Target Gemini Constellation Gem Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090213.1930 EDT Comments I remember seeing Castor, Pollux, and Pollux's foot but nothing else.