19 March 2010

Observing Location	DT
Observational Period	2145-2330 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear While technically it was clear it wasn’t really clear. We had thought it was going to be better than it was but there was a high haze or altostratus layer up there that was filtering out the fainter stars. Temperature 64° F Wind Calm We didn’t feel any wind but the flags on top of the Plaza were standing out. Wind Chill Heat Index °F Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 29.88" Hg Rising KNYC METAR Feels Like Mild Transparency Fair Seeing I-II
Instruments	West Marine Raiatea 7x50 binocular – Charlie Celestron 22x70 binocular - Peter
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Peter Tagatac

Target &epsilon Aurigae Constellation Aur Category Variable Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100319.2145 EDT Comments ε Aur was equal to and probably fainter than ζ Aur. Peter could see both of them naked eye but I needed the binocular to see anything other than Capella.

Target Saturn Constellation Vir Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100319.2200 EDT Comments Object Class Classical Planet Elongation 176.70° Distance Light Time (from Earth) 8.51 AU 1 h 11m Distance (from Sun) 9.50 AU Angular Size 19.5"x17.4" Ring Angular Size 44.1"x2.49" Ring Inclination -3.24 ° Magnitude 0.5 Altitude 28.72° Starry Night Starter graphic I thought I was detecting a moon close to the planet and close to the rings on the trailing edge of the planet. When we checked SatMoons on the Palm it indicated that Dione was there. While I was seeing Dione I did not see . I did not see brighter Rhea which is farther from the planet on the other side though.

This was intended to be a short session and environmental conditions did nothing to cause us to want to extend it. The views were not that good and the music coming from the Wollman skating rink was very loud and obnoxious.

Stellarium graphic Stellarium graphic Stellarium graphic Virtual Moon Atlas graphic