| Observing Location | Bowery @ E 3 St., New York, NY |
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| Observational Period | 2100-2130 EDT |
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| Atmospheric Conditions |
| Cloud Cover | Clear |
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| Temperature | 74° F |
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| Wind | Calm
gusting to
Moderate Breeze |
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| Humidity | Moderate |
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| Barometric Pressure | 29.83" Hg
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| Feels Like | Warm |
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| Instruments | Naked-eye - Charlie |
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| Observing Party | Charlie Ridgway
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It was early twilight when I saw a star up near zenith to the south that I assumed must be Vega, being the first star visible, but my memory tells me that Vega should be farther north at this time of year. I got out the Japanese astronomy diary Peter gave me which has a mini planisphere in it and it looked like it might have been Arcturus, but not reading Japanese or having used a planisphere in a while and not having sufficient light to read the few English characters on the small dial I couldn’t be sure. After a while the bright star on the left side of the diamond (ε Boo) appeared then finally the kite’s tail star (η Boo) which confirmed the ID for me. I arced back and found the handle stars of the Big Dipper and the pointers then Polaris and the guardian stars of UMi. Dropping down from Arcturus I found Spica. Then I saw something bright up north with 2 dim stars (β Lyr and γ Lyr) a way off that which I IDed as Lyra but it wasn’t as high in the sky as I remember it. Even lower was Deneb, the center of the Northern Cross (γ Cyg) and the brightest stars of the breaks of the wings (ε Cyg and δ Cyg) of Cygnus. Way out and very faint was Altair.
