1 March 2010

EST     EDT modified NightCal graphics

---

Observing Location	World Financial Center
Observational Period	1300-1315 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 46° F Wind Gentle Breeze gusting to Stiff Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.70" Hg Steady Feels Like Cold Transparency Excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

It was supposed to rain some and be cloudy today but any clouds are up to the north. It looks clear. I haven’t seen anything to be able to judge seeing but with all the wind have to assume that it is not great.

Target Venus Constellation Aqr Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100301:1315 EST Comments Object Class Classical Planet Elongation 11.84° E % Illuminated 98%% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 1.67 AU 13m 52s Distance (from Sun) 0.726 AU Angular Size 10.1" Magnitude -3.9 Altitude 44.85° Meridian graphic Not Seen I tried offsetting from the sun but was not able to see any points of light. Flare from the Sun was a problem which leads me to believe that my binocular does not have sufficient internal baffling.

---

Observing Location	World Financial Center
Observational Period	1715-1830 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Isolated Temperature 45° F Wind Moderate Breeze gusting to Stiff Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.73" Hg Rising Feels Like Cold Transparency Excellent Seeing I
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Looking at the few clouds out over NJ which were being lit from below and behind by the setting Sun. I could see rain falling from their base which I assumed was virga since it was only visible about a third of the way from the cloud’s base to the ground. On the way home I could see a deck of cloud up to the north but don’t know if it was over northern Manhattan or the Bronx.

1746 EST

Sunset
Civil Twilight begins

Target Venus Constellation Aqr Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100301.1804 EST Comments Object Class Classical Planet Elongation 11.88° E % Illuminated 98.0%% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 1.67 AU 13m 52s Distance (from Sun) 0.726 AU Angular Size 10.1" Magnitude -3.9 Altitude 6.77° Meridian graphic I tried again to find Venus before the Sun set but no matter how low it got I could not do it even with the binocular. It wasn’t until 1804 EST that I found her naked eye.

1813 EST

Civil Twilight ends
Nautical Twilight begins

Target Uranus Constellation Psc Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100301.1830 EST Comments Not Seen Object Class Classical Planet Elongation 14.46° E Distance Light Time (from Earth) 21.1 AU 2 h 55m Distance (from Sun) 20.1 AU Angular Size 3.33" Magnitude 5.9- Altitude 4.62° Cartes du Ciel graphic By 1830 EDT Venus was sinking into a dirty orange region of the horizon and none of the guide stars I needed to find Uranus were visible yet so I gave up on her.

1845 EST

Nuatical Twilight ends
Astronomical Twilight begins

There was an ISS visible pass at 1914 EST that was low on the southern horizon where it would have been screened from this location by Financial Center skyscrapers. It wasn't a terribly bright event, -0.9, so I didn't bother walking down to South Ferry to observe it. When the alarm went off in the Palm along the way home I checked to the south but couldn't see low enough to make it worth while stopping to try to observe it.

1917 EST

Astronomical Twilight ends