8 February 2009

Observing Location	Pier 17
Observational Period	0330-0430 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 23° F Wind Gentle Breeze gusting to Moderate Breeze Wind Chill Effect 12° F Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.91" Hg Steady Feels Like Very Cold Transparency Excellent Seeing Excellent
Instruments	West Marine 7x50 Raiatea binocular - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

The temperature is a little warmer than it was yesterday morning but the humidity is also a little higher so it feels colder.

While waiting for the Shuttle launch I observed two bright stars on either side of a tall building with illuminated antenna mast. As bright as they were I knew they must have a name but didn’t recognize them. Then I saw Mars a little to the left and knew that they were Castor and Pollus. I observed Mars and M44 in the binocular.

Stellarium graphic To the east of Mars was a string of bright stars that kind or reminded me of Hydra and I did recognize Corvus beneath it but thought Corvus and Crater were above Hydra. Now that I see a star chart I know that I missed seeing Leo and Saturn. Stellarium graphic I had a finder made up for M80, M4, M6 and M7 but didn’t want to use the Palm until after all my Shuttle launch alarms had gone off and by then I was cold enough and sore enough that I wanted to go home.

OBSERVED

Time	Launch Probablility
1953 EST 7Feb10	weather currently No Go
2043 EST	40% weather currently No Go
2114 EST	weather currently Go
2345 EST	weather currently Go
0145 EST 8Feb10	weather currently No Go
0218 EST	weather currently No Go
0312 EST	weather at all three European abort landing strips is No Go
0321 EST	local weather currently Go European abort sites No Go
0340 EST	local weather currently Go
0351 EST	abort sites weather No Go
0400 EST	local weather currently Go Zaragoza abort site weather acceptable
0401 EST	Go for launch
0414:17 EST	Liftoff

I had just about given up on a launch this morning when I saw something bright over NJ. I watched for a while and finally decided that it must be a plane or helicopter even though I couldn't see any navigation lights. It didn't change direction and was not where I expected the Shuttle to come from. As I turned around to check the time on the Watchtower clock across the river I saw something bright and golden moving north beneath the Moon. That was at 0422 EST according to the Watchtower clock. I knew it had to be the shuttle and worked to get it into my binoculat FoV. Just after I found it the engines cut off then flared again briefly. During that time the alarm for MECO that was set for 0422 EST went off. I continued to track the anticipated trajectory of the Shuttle and saw several flashes of white light which were the RCS jets firing to increase separation from the ET and control Shuttle orientation. MECO was confirmed by Endeavout at 0422 EST.

Target Moon Constellation Oph Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100208.0425 EST Comments Lunation 1077 Phase Waning Crescent Age 24d 2h 12m Distance Light Time (from earth) 397,450 km 1.32s Elongation 62.30° W % Illuminated 26.9% Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) 201.2° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) 21.2° Libration in Latitude 4° 24' Libration in Longitude 6° 57' Magnitude -8.9 Angular Size 30.07' Altitude 8° 2' Virtual Moon Atlas graphic In Sunlight Feature In Shadow <<< Promontorium Laplace     Copernicus >>> <<< Wilhelm   <<< Longomontanus   The Moon never rose tonight until close to time for the Shuttle launch. I observed it quickly before leaving. The terminator was passing down through the middle of Mare Imbrium.