28 February 2009

Sunspots Observed

I was not able to do any solar observing this month.

Observing Hours for the Year 2009

	Day			Night			Total
	Hours	Days	Avg	Hours	Days	Avg	Hours	Days	Avg
Jan	0.50	2	0.25	0.25	1	0.25	0.75	2	0.38
Feb	2.75	11	0.25	2.50	9	0.28	2.25	14	0.38
TOTAL	3.25	13	0.25	2.75	10	0.28	6.00	16	0.38

26 February 2009

NASA has established 2054 EDT on 12Mar09 as the new target launch date for STS-119. There will be an executive level meeting on 4Mar09 to set the official launch date.

That will make the flyby and MECO visible from NYC, weather permitting. There will not be any ISS visible passes on 11 or 12Mar09. Docking would occur on 14Mar09 so there would be an opportunity to see a dual pass on 13Mar09 at 2102 EDT.

If they can't launch on 12Mar09 they have a launch window on 13Mar09 after which they will have to stand down until 7Apr09 because of the launch of a Soyuz Progress ship carrying the Expedition 19 crew.

• Spaceflight Now article
• Launch windows
• Master Flight Plan

25 February 2009

The STS-119 Flight Readiness Review is to continue today. In a story published last night Spaceflight Now says that the shuttle could not fly before 12Mar09 and can't fly between 13Mar09 and 7Apr09 due to the presence of the Progress craft carrying Expedition 19. NASA has decided to swap out the Discovery Hydrogen Flow Control valves for similar valves that have less flight time and have had better results in the tests performed on them. Later today they are to announce what their plan is for getting Discovery off the ground and what it will mean for other craft in the fleet.

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Observing Location	Washington Square Park, New York, NY
Observational Period	1545-1600 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 42° F Wind Calm Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 30.40" Hg Steady Feels Like Cool It feels like an early spring day. There are still ice puddles in the streets. There are no clouds and the sky is light blue. Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1545 EST Comments Venus was very faint and I wasn’t sure I was seeing it but it didn’t move in the sky when I moved my head. I even changed my location twice and was able to recover it each time. Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 36.92° E % Illuminated 21.9% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.3884111 AU 3m 13.84s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 42.94" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 53.8765°

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Observing Location	Bowery @ Great Jones St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1900-1915 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear (?) Temperature 35° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.41" Hg Steady Feels Like Cool I can’t be sure of it but I get the impression that there may be some light cirrus clouds or at least haze up there. Transparency Good Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Capella Constellation Aur Category Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1905 EST Comments Capella was at zenith and very bright.

Target Cassiopeia Constellation Cas Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1910 EST Comments I could only locate the α and β stars of Cas, both Mag 2.2x.

Target Iridium 3 Flare Constellation Cam Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1910 EST Comments This was the strangest Iridium flare I have ever seen. It did not appear to come from where it should have (based on my understanding of directions at this location) and didn’t really flare. I had checked in CalSky and determined that the satellite would be moving on a S to N track and should pass through the bowl of the little dipper then flare just NE of Polaris. I observed it as it passed under Shedar and Navi in Cas appearing to come out of the WSW-W and go to the ENE-E passing above Dhube and Merak in UMa before it began to fade. Until it began to fade its brightness appeared to be constant and it was brighter than Shedar and Navi. It was more like an ISS pass than an Iridium flare. I checked CalSky to see what other satellites would be on that track at that time of night and only came up with TRMM which went in the right direction but was farther down on the southern horizon and was fainter than Shedar and Navi. Alt. 41° Az. 14° NNE Mag. -1 Surface MMA2

Target Castor and Pollux Constellation Gem Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1915 EST Comments The only stars I could pick out in Gemini tonight were α Gem and β Gem.

Target Orion Constellation Ori Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1915 EST Comments I saw the three bright corner stars and the belt but not the sword, shield or club.

Target Taurus Constellation Tau Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1915 EST Comments I saw Aldeberan and some twinkling where the Pliades would be but I could not make out individual stars in M45.

Target Sirius Constellation CMa Category Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090225.1915 EST Comments Sirisu is low on the horizon and often hidden by buildings. It is very bright, especially for its altitude - or lack thereof - in the sky.

24 February 2009

Observing Location	Bowery @ E 3 St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1545-1600 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 37° F Wind Calm Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 30.28" Hg Steady Feels Like Cool Blue sky, no clouds, low humidity. There is still ice in the streets where water has pooled at the kerb. Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090224.1545 EST Comments Not Seen Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 37.55° E % Illuminated 22.8% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.3945593 AU 3m 16.91s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 42.27" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 54.0256°

21 February 2009

Spaceflight Now is reporting that the Flight Readiness Review team was not able to agree to launch the Shuttle and will not meet to consider the matter again before next Wednesday, 25Feb09. They have to get the Shuttle launched in early March or stand down until mid-April to avoid conflicts with the scheduled progress flight to deliver Expedition 19 to ISS.

Space.com article

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Observing Location	Bowery @ Houston St
Observational Period	1515-1530 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 40° F Wind Calm Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 30.20" Hg Falling Feels Like Cool Nice clear blue sky Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090221.1515 EST Comments Not Seen Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 39.29° E % Illuminated 25.5% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.4136521 AU 3m 26.44s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 40.32" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 56.8251°

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Observing Location	Bowery @ E 3 St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1715-1730 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Scattered Clouds Temperature 39° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.21" Hg Rising Feels Like Cool There are cirrus clouds building in from the SW. It feels cooler and a little moister than it did before sunset. Transparency Fair Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090221.1715 EST Comments Venus was hard to find and was difficult to recover once I lost it. It did shine through the thickest bands of cloud. Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 39.24° E % Illuminated 25.4% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.4131156 AU 3m 26.17s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 40.37" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 41.3003°

20 February 2009

Spaceweather today says that the orbits of the Iridium and Cosmos satellite collision have been refined and that some of the Cosmos debris is in an orbit that spans that of the ISS. It says that ISS is not in any immediate danger and that the low point (perigee) for that debris is over the South Pole.

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With NASA meeting at KSC for another Flight Readiness Review Spaceflight Now is reporting disagreement among the parties as to the appropriate action to take regarding the 27Feb09 launch of STS-119 due to continued concern over hydrogen flow valves in the Shuttle.

There are reported to be three trains of thought:

1. it is safe to launch as is and nothing further needs to be done
2. it is not safe to launch and will not be until the valves have been redesigned
3. the risk is minimal so it is safe to launch but work should be initiated to redesign the valves for future flights.

Given NASA's prior performance my feeling is that the launch will go off as scheduled with a possible redesign for future flights.

Delaying the launch will place ISS completion before Shuttle retirement in 2010 in jeopardy. I have not heard that the Obama administration has eased the retirement deadline pressure and they have not appointed a new administrator for the agency yet.

Of option three some of the review board are reported to express the opinion that if it is safe to launch this flight with the current inventory of valves than there it is safe to use them in future flights and there is no need to redesign them.

19 February 2009

ESA has announced that the name of its next Automated Transfer Vehicle will be Johannes Kepler. That ATV is not scheduled to fly until 2010. ESA press release

15 February 2009

Observing Location	Essex St & Grand St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1515-1530 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 42° F Wind Calm Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 30.02" Hg Steady Feels Like Cool It is a nice day, early spring if it were a little later in the year. Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090215.1515 EDT Comments Not Seen I had the ephemeris information and the sky is pretty blue but I still can’t see the planet. Object Class Classical Planet Phase Elongation ° % Illuminated % Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU m s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size " Magnitude -4.6 Altitude ° Meridian graphic

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Observing Location	Bowery @ E 3 St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1615-1630 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 39° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 30.03" Hg Steady Feels Like Cool It is a little cooler but still reasonable comfortable for the time of the year. The sky is darker than before but the Sun is still above the horizon. Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090215.1615 EDT Comments Not Seen The sky has gotten a little darker but it still isn’t dark enough for me to find the planet. Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation ° % Illuminated % Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU m s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size " Magnitude -4.6 Altitude ° Meridian graphic

14 February 2009

After meeting on Friday to discuss progress on the Shuttle valve problem NASA announced a Flight Readiness Review meeting for 20Feb09 with an announcement of a launch date planned at a press conference after the meeting. For planning purposes the date is currently set for no earlier than 27Feb09. The continued slippage of the launch of this mission is not supposed to have an impact on any future missions or the on-time completion of the ISS.

Spaceflight Now story

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.

12 February 2008

Yesterday, at about noon EDT, a defunct Russian communications satellite and the active US Iridium 33 communications satellite collided over Siberia. Both satellites were destroyed and about 600 pieces of space junk have so far been identified. The space junk was injected into orbits extending out in all directions from the point of impact but most of it is believed to be in similar orbits to the two satellites. This means that there may be a risk of it colliding with other Iridium satellites. Some of the junk which was projected downward has or will pass through the plane of orbit if the ISS but there have not been any impacts on the station yet and NASA believes they can move the station if tracking indicates a potential collision. They say it will take several more days to get a complete picture of the debris field.

A search of the blog does not indicate that I have ever observed a flare from Iridium 33.

News Stories:

• Spaceflight Now
• BBC News
• Space.com and here
• Space.com and here
• Spaceweather (pull up archive files for 12-18Feb09
• Associated Press
• Reuters UK
• Bravenet News and here
• CNN
• Spaceflight Now
• Space.com

10 February 2009

In a Spaceflight Now story that I missed on 6Feb09 it was reported that NASA has again delayed the launch of STS-119. The new target is no no earlier than 22Feb09. They now plan to hold a meeting on 13Feb09 to decide whether or not to hold a meeting on 18Feb09 to set the launch date.

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I might have seen Venus tonight. I was at the PATH station at the World Trade Center heading to the World Financial Center to see a silent film. I saw the Moon, which still looked full, above a stripe of cloud and later shining through clouds. When I got to the PATH station there was a bright light shining just off the cornice of one of the WFC buildings. It looked like a helicopter light. I stood there for a while watching it and it didn't move at all although it did dim, assumedly due to passing clouds.

9 February 2009

Observing Location	Washington Square Park, New York, NY
Observational Period	1515-1530 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Isolated Clouds Temperature 45° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.35" Hg Steady Feels Like Chilly Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090209.1515 EDT Comments Not Seen Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 44.06° E % Illuminated 35.1% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.4952940 AU 4m 7.18s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 33.67" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 53.5547° I had the elongation and elevation and a nice clear sky but couldn’t find the planet.

8 February 2009

Observing Location	1 Ave @ Grand St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1530-1545 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 48° F Wind Gentle Breeze gusting to Fresh Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.06" Hg Feels Like Cool The wind is making it feel cooler than it actually is Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090208.1530 EDT Comments Not Seen I had looked up the elongation and altitude so knew roughly where to look but may have been looking a little low due to remembering the altitude incorrectly. Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 44.33° % Illuminated 35.9% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.5023262 AU 4m 10.69s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 30.20" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 52.59°

6 February 2009

In an article on Bravenet News it was announced that the international partners in the ISS have agreed to extend the mission from 2015 to 2020.

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Observing Location	Bowery @ E 3 St
Observational Period	1645-1700 EDT & 1730-1745 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Calm   1645 EDT 1730 EDT Cloud Cover Scattered Clouds Scattered Clouds Temperature 29° F 30° F Wind Calm Humidity Moderate Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.36" Hg Steady 30.38" Hg Rising Feels Like Cold Cold Cirrus clouds building in from the west. Today was supposed to have been above freezing but it didn’t seem like it ever got there. Between the temperature, humidity and wind it felt very cold most of the day. Transparency Good Good Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Moon Constellation Gem Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090206.1645 EDT & 1730 EDT Comments 11.57634d Lunation 1065 Phase Waxing Gibbous Age Distance Light Time (from earth) 362,180.4 km 1.21s Elongation 142.53° E % Illuminated 89.7% Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) ° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) ° Libration in Latitude ° Libration in Longitude ° Magnitude -11.7 Angular Size 32' 59.73" Altitude 28.1891° Virtual Moon Atlas graphic The very gibbous Moon is high in the east again. It will probably start to appear full by tomorrow. There was still nice contrast making the maria visible.

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090206.1645 EDT & 20090206.1730 EDT Comments Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 44.81° E % Illuminated 37.2% Distance Light Time (from Earth) .5160324 AU 4m 17.53s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 32.32" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 38.8771° Meridian graphic I couldn’t find Venus when I checked before dinner. I may not have been looking far enough west, but there were also clouds over there so there might not have been sufficient contrast in the pre-sunset sky. Venus was easily visible by 1730 EDT and now I have a landmark to find it again but it looks like it will probably be cloudy tomorrow.

5 February 2008

I have done some checking and it looks like there may be some early morning opportunities to see ISS and the Shuttle flying in tandem before docking, the best being a short pass about 0506 EDT on 20Feb09, assuming the launch does occur on 19Feb09. If the launch does occur on that day it should be at 0441 EDT, before the start of Astronomical Twilight, which would make the flyby and MECO visible from NYC.

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Observing Location	Bowery @ E 3 St, New York, NY
Observational Period	1600-1615 EDT & 1730-1745 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	1600 EDT 1730 EDT Cloud Cover Clear clear Temperature 22° F 21° F Wind Gentle Breeze Gentle Breeze Humidity Moderate Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.29" Hg Rising 30.33" Hg Rising Feels Like Very Cold Very Cold Transparency Excellent Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Moon Constellation Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090205.1600 EDT & 20090205.1730 EDT Comments Lunation 1065 Phase Waxing Gibbous Age 10.60780d Distance Light Time (from earth) 364,166.2 km 1.21s Elongation 129.22° East % Illuminated 81.7% Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) ° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) ° Libration in Latitude ° Libration in Longitude ° Magnitude -11.3 Angular Size 32' 48.97" Altitude 49.0119° Virtual Moon Atlas graphic The gibbous moon is about 45° up in the eastern sky. At 1730 EDT, with the Moon at about 55° altitude, there was good contrast on the surface of the Moon and between the Moon and the early twilight sky. I could make out Mare Imbrium, Oceanus Procelarum, Mare Crisium and Mare Tranquilitatis.

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090205.1600 EDT & 20090205.1730 EDT Comments Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Crescent Elongation 45.03° East % Illuminated 37.9% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 0.5232247 AU 4m 21.12s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 31.88" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 38.6773° Meridian graphic At 1600 EDT I was not able to locate Venus. I don’t know if the sky was too white where it was or if I just wasn’t picking it out. At 1730 EDT Venus was very bright against the twilight sky and was at about 37° altitude.

Nothing else was visible.

4 February 2009

NASA announced last week that it is delaying the flight of STS-119 by at least a week. They had replaced fuel valves and are not happy with the results so far so want more time to assess the situation. There will be another announcement of the launch date on 12Dec09 but it will not be prior to 19Feb09. The launch has previously been delayed from 6Nov08 to 4Dec08 and then to 12Feb09.

2 February 2009

Observing Location	Bowery @ E 3 St, New York, NY Lat.: 40d 43m 33.8s Long.: -73d 59m 29.9s
Observational Period	0545-0600 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 41° F Wind Calm Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.94" Hg Steady Feels Like Mild Transparency Good Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Iridium 80 Flare Constellation Cam Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090202.0600 EDT Comments Alt. 50° Az. 353° N Mag. -8 I don’t have a compass to know where to look for these things and don’t know how to figure azimuths in Google Maps so had to punt on this one. I figured that Manhattan North is about 29° east of Magnetic North and the flare was to occur at 7° west of Magnetic North so if I looked about 37° or one span + 1 fist + 4 fingers west of Manhattan North I should be in the neighborhood. When I got out there I could see the entire Big Dipper and Polaris and the Guardian Stars of the Little Dipper so thought I was looking too far to the west. I know where Camelopardalus is relative to Cassiopeia, which I could not see, but not relative to the dippers so just started scanning the sky in a stripe from where my math told me I should look to the building limiting my eastern view. I picked up the satellite falling nearly vertically past the handle of the Little Dipper. As it fell it quickly flared to a very bright golden light about 1° west of the line of the handle of the Little Dipper then quickly faded. I tracked it until it was about 4° below the altitude of Polaris. I think it was probably about 5° east of the location I was expecting it to be in.

Target Big Dipper Constellation UMa Category Asterism Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090202.0545 EDT Comments I could see all of the stars of the Big Dipper but didn't look for the Three Leaps of the Gazelle. I didn't try to split Mizar and Alcor. Name Bayer Mag Alkaid η UMa 1.9 Mizar ζ UMa 2.1 Alioth ε UMa 1.8 Megrez δ UMa 3.3 Dhube α UMa 1.8 Mirak β UMa 2.4 Phad γ UMa 2.4

Target Little Dipper Constellation UMi Category Asterism Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090202.0545 EDT Comments The only stars I could make out in the Little Dipper were the Guardians and Polaris. Name Bayer Mag Polaris &alpha UMi 2.0 (var) Kochab β UMi 2.1 Pherkad γ UMi 30.

Target Lyra Constellation Lyr Category Constellation Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090202.0600 EDT Comments I saw Vega and the two bottom stars of the lyre. Name Bayer Mag Vega α Lyr 0.0 Sheliak β Lyr 4.3 Sulaphat γ Lyr 3.2

Target Jupiter? Constellation Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090202.0600 EDT Comments Object Class Classical Planet Elongation ° Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU m s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size "x" Magnitude - Central Meridian I/II °/° Altitude ° Moons Starry Night Starter graphic At first I thought I was seeing Lyra. There was one bright star with two fainter stars on a line like the bottom of the paralellogram of the lyre and another star on the other side of the bright star that might have been the γ Lyr double. But the pair of stars were too far away from the bright star and the possible γ Lyr was also too far away and in the wrong place relative to the bottom of the lyre. I think I was seeing Castor and Pollux along with Jupiter but need to get to a star chart to confirm that. I was looking Manhattan South and probably about 40° altitude. [Might I have been seeing Castor, Pollux, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix? The spatial relationship appears to match what I remember. But I think Orion whould be farther along the ecliptic by that time in the morning.]

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Groundhog Day

I don't know about any of the various area rodent prognosticators, but I saw my shadow today so it looks like we will indeed have another six weeks of winter. The TV weather man this morning said that it is going to get cloudy and start to cool off and that we will get 1-3" of snow tomorrow.

1 February 2009

Observing Location	Grand Street @ Essex St, New York, NY Lat.: 40d 43m 00.7s Long.: -73d 59m 21.2s
Observational Period	1545-1600 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 51° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.86" Hg Rising Feels Like Mild Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Moon Constellation Ari Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090201.1545 EDT Comments Lunation 1065 Phase Waxing Crescent Age 6.53475d Distance Light Time (from earth) 380,079.6 km s Elongation 76.14° E % Illuminated 38.1% Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) ° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) ° Libration in Latitude ° Libration in Longitude ° Magnitude -9.2 Angular Size 31' 26.57" Altitude 61.38° Virtual Moon Atlas graphic The Moon is not yet at First Quarter. There is nice contrast between the Moon and the sky and some maria are visible on the illuminated surface.

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090201.1545 EDT Comments Object Class Classical Planet Phase Elongation 45.81° E % Illuminated % Distance Light Time (from Earth) .5527626 AU 4m 35.86s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size 30.17" Magnitude -4.6 Altitude 49.16° Meridian graphic Venus was visible ~25° ;-30° ; down the ecliptic from the Moon. It looks like a pinprick in the celestial sphere that is allowing light to shine through. It took a bit of looking to find Venus and then to recover it each time I changed location and tried for another look

31 January 2009

Observing Location	Washington Square Park Lat.: 40.7314052287371° Long.: -73.9968037605286°
Observational Period	1545-1600 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 27° F Wind Gentle Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.98" Hg Rising Feels Like Cool Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Venus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090131.1545 EDT Comments Object Class Classical Planet Phase Elongation 45.99° % Illuminated 41.5% Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU 4m 40.27s Distance (from Sun) 0.5615858 AU Angular Size 29.7" Magnitude -4.5 Altitude 60.72° Meridian graphic I didn’t know exactly where to look for Venus but, based on my experience last week, judged that it should be between the Moon and the Sun, close to the Moon. The ecliptic was very steep. I looked along an ark from the Sun to the Moon and beyond but didn’t see any small points of light.

Target Moon Constellation Psc Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20090131.1545 EDT Comments Lunation 1065 Phase Waxing Crescent Age 5.32635d Distance Light Time (from earth) 385,154.4 km 1.28s Elongation 61.36° % Illuminated 26.1% Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) ° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) ° Libration in Latitude ° Libration in Longitude ° Magnitude -8.6 Angular Size 31' 1.69" Altitude 60.2595° Virtual Moon Atlas graphic The Moon was up high, probably greater than 60°, when I left the library. The terminator was still concaved so it hasn’t reached First Quarter yet.

Sunspots Observed

I was not able to do any solar observing this month.

Observing Hours for the Year 2009

	Day			Night			Total
	Hours	Days	Avg	Hours	Days	Avg	Hours	Days	Avg
Jan	0.50	2	0.25	0.25	1	0.25	0.75	2	0.38
TOTAL	0.50	2	0.25	0.25	1	0.25	0.75	2	0.38