14 August 2010

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Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	2100-0100 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear to Scattered Cloud Temperature ° F Wind Wind Chill Effect Heat Index ° F Humidity Barometric Pressure " Hg KNYC METAR Feels Like Cool Transparency Fair Seeing II
Instruments	Celestron Outland 8x42 binocular- Charlie Takahashi 22x60 binocular - Peter Nikon 8x42 binocular - Veshakha
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Peter Tagatac Veshakha Apte

I entered The Great Lawn from the Delacort Theater path and walked counterclockwise around the Lawn to try to see if I could see any of the planets. Venus was at about 7° elevation at that time and I think we have previously determined that out local horizon is around 5° so at least Venus should have been visible. I can't tell if there were clouds in the way or if it was behind a building or tree but it doesn't much matter as no planets were visible.

Target M7, Ptolemy's Cluster, NGC 6475 Constellation Sco Category DSO: OC Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100814.2155 EDT Luminosity 2,616 Sols Magnitude 3.3 Surface Brightness 12/sq' Size 75x75' 18x18 ly Shape Circular Difficulty 6 Distance 820 ly Age 298.5 my Location Where is M13 graphicSky Voyager graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 127, 171, 175 Stars and Planets: Binocular Highlights: The Observer’s Sky Atlas: Comments A large loose open cluster. I see three levels of brightness. It looks like an airplane with stubby wings

Target M6, Butterfly Cluster, NGC 6405 Constellation Sco Category DSO: OC Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100814.2234 EDT Luminosity 3,822 Sols Magnitude 4.2 Surface Brightness 10/sq' Size 25x25 11x11 ly' Shape Circular Difficulty 6 Distance 1,500 ly Age 94.2 my Location Where is M13 graphicSky Voyager graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 126-127 Stars and Planets: 319 Celestial Sights, Celestial Splendors: 319 Binocular Highlights: The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E18 Comments Easily seen. No notes on what it looked like.

Target Mizar & Alcor Constellation UMa Category Double Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100814.2240 EDT Comments Alcor was not seen naked-eye.

Target M13, Herculese Cluster, NGC 6205 Constellation Her Category DSO: GC Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100814.2245 EDT Luminosity 223,583 Sols Magnitude 5.9 Surface Brightness 12/sq' Size 20x20' 146x146 ly Shape Circular Difficulty 5 Distance 25,100 ly Location Where is M13 graphicSky Voyager graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 44, 47, 78, 79-80, 81, 82, 176 Stars and Planets: 31, 32, 159, 190, 192, 260 Celestial Sights, Celestial Splendors 96-97 Binocular Highlights: 55 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: N14 Comments Faint and fuzzy. Makes a very shallow triangle with the adjacent stars.

Target M92 Constellation Her Category DSO: GC Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100814.2255 EDT Luminosity 145,584 Sols Magnitude 6.5 Surface Brightness 11/sq' Size 14x14' 109x109 ly Shape Circular Difficulty 5 Distance 26,700 ly Location Where is M13 graphicStar Voyager graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 80, 81 Stars and Planets: 190, 260 Cekestial Sights, Celestial Splendors: 108-109 Binocular Highlights: The Observer’s Sky Atlas: N14 Comments Appeared as a defocused spot a little smaller than a pea. I didn't see the stars that Peter and V saw. It was hard to get in the exit pupil of the binocular with my glasses when it was pointed that high in the sky.

Target M11, Wild Duck Cluster, NGC 6705, Cr 391 Constellation Sct Category DSO: OC Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100814.2335 EDT Luminosity 14,958 Sols Magnitude 5.8 Surface Brightness 11/sq' Size 11x11' 20x20 ly Shape Circular Difficulty 5 Distance 6,200 ly Age 200.4 my Location Where is M13 graphicStar Voyager graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 91, 110, 113, 114, 128, 176 Stars and Planets: 162, 190, 296 Celestial Siights, Celestial Splendors 40-41 Binocular Highlights: 66 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E19 Comments A nondescript faint patch of sky adjacent to a bright star.

Target M26, NGC 6853, Cr 389 Constellation Sct Category DSO: OC Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100814.2355 EDT 48-49 Binocular Highlights: The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E19 Luminosity 1,387 Sols Magnitude 8.0 Surface Brightness 12/sq' Size 10x10' 15x15 ly Shape Circular Difficulty 3 Distance 5,200 ly Age 85.3 my Location Where is M13 graphicStar Voyager graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 128 Stars and Planets: 296 Celestial Sights, Celestial Splendors: Comments Not Seen This one wasn't seen by anyone although we were right on it. It didn't even make it into my notes

Target Jupiter Constellation Vir Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100815.0015 EDT       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 ° Sky Voyager graphic Comments I could see three moons out on one sie of the planet and one on the other side. The NEB was not visible at all and the SEB did not stretch to the edges of the disc.

M31, Andromeda Galaxy, NGC 224 Target Constellation And Category DSO: Gal,Sb Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100815.0020 EDT Luminosity 5,600,000,000 Sols Magnitude 4.8 Surface Brightness 13/sq' Size 178x63' 12,412x43,980 ly Shape Ellipse Difficulty [6] Distance 240,000 ly Location Where is M13 graphicStar Voyager graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 11, 16, 18, 42, 47, 49, 50, 53-55, 74, 75, 77, 146 Stars and Planets: 30, 40, 171, 172, 190, 193, 244 Celestial Sights, Celestial Splendors: 148-149 Binocular Highlights: 88, 89 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E22 Comments Saw it in my own hand-held binocular. I wasn't steady enough to describe what I saw. Light clouds were passing in front of it but you could see it through them.

Target Uranus Constellation Vir Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100815.2030 EDT       Object Class Classical Planet Elongation ° Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU h m Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size " Magnitude - Altitude ° Star Voyager graphic Comments It is in the same FoV with Jupiter in my binocular. It did not appear planetary at this magnification. I did not detect any color.

Target M57, Ring Nebula, NGC 6720 Constellation Lyr Category DSO: PN Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100815.0040 EDT Luminosity 35 Sols Magnitude 8.5 Surface Brightness 9/sq' Size 1x1' 0.6x0.4 ly Shape Nearly Circular Difficulty 3 Distance 1,500 ly Location Where is M13 graphic Star Voyager graphics References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 148, 150-151 Stars and Planets: 150, 190, 193, 262, 264, A5 Celestial Sights, Celestial Splendors: Binocular Highlights: 61 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: N13 Comments I couldn't ven detect it with averted vision. I rarely see the Ring in binoculars.

6 August 2010

Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	2045-0100 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Light haze Temperature 77° F Wind Light Breeze Wind Chill Effect Heat Index ° F Humidity low Barometric Pressure 29.81" Hg Rising (2) KNYC METAR KNYC 062351Z AUTO VRB06G15KT 10SM CLR 27/08 A2981 RMK AO2 SLP083 T02670078 10322 20267 53024 Feels Like Warm Transparency Seeing II
Instruments	Celestron Outland 842 binocular- Charlie Benro MP-98M8 monopod single axis head Teleport 10" Donsonisn reflector – Peter 2" Pentax 40mm, 70° FoV, 31.8x 2" TeleVue Nagler 17mm, 82° FoV, 74.7x 1.25" TeleVue Nagler 13mm, 82° FoV, 97.7x 1.25" TeleVue Plossl 7mm, 82° FoV, 181.4x
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Peter Tagatac

Target Mercury Constellation Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2045 EDT          Object Class Classical Planet Phase Elongation ° % Illuminated % Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU m s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size " Magnitude Altitude ° Meridian graphic Comments Mercury was still above the horizon but low and not above my local horizon. I walked all the way around the eastern side of The Great Lawn looking through all the gaps in the trees and buildings but didn't see anything.

< !--VENUS-->

Target Venus Constellation Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2045 EDT       Object Class Classical Planet Phase Elongation ° % Illuminated % Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU m s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size " Magnitude Altitude ° Meridian graphic Comments

< !--MARS-->

Target Mars Constellation Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2045 EDT       Object Class Classical Planet Elongation ° Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU m s Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size " Magnitude Central Meridian ° Altitude ° Meridian graphic Comments

Target Saturn Constellation Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2045 EDT    Object Class Classical Planet Elongation ° Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU h m Distance (from Sun) AU Angular Size "x" Ring Angular Size "x" Ring Inclination ° Magnitude Altitude ° Starry Night Starter graphic Comments I don't see any separation between the rings and the disk. Titan was leading the rings.

Target Constellation Sco Category Double Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2100 EDT Location Catres du Ciel graphic Magnitude 2.6/4.9 Color -0.1/0.0 Separation 13.7" Difficulty 2 References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 139 Stars and Planets: 189, 191 Observer’s Handbook 2010: 290 Binocular Highlights: 73 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E18 Comments I had a lot of trouble finding information on this double star. I searched for Grafius and Graffius but didn't think to try GraffiAs. And even when I found it in Stellarium it is called Acrab. A wide double and very unequal. White and yellow.

Target M57, the Ring Nebula Constellation Lyr Category DSO: PlNeb Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2120 EDT Magnitude 8.5 Surface Brightness 9/sq' Size 1.5' Shape Circular Difficulty 3 Distance 1,800 ly Location Where is M13 graphicCatres du Ciel graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 96, 104-105, 123 Stars and Planets: 150, 190, 193, 262, 264, A5 Binocular Highlights: 61 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: N18 Celestial Sites, Celestial Splendors: 114-15 Comments Tonight it appeared to me to be more of as disk than a donut.

Target Mizar and Alcor Constellation UMa Category Double Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2127 EDT Location Catres du Ciel graphic Magnitude 2.23/3.99 Color 0.0/0.1 Separation 720" 12' Visibility 2 References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 136-137 Stars and Planets: 9, 236 Observer’s Handbook 2010: 287 Binocular Highlights: 175 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: N10 Comments Alcor was visible to the naked eye.

Target Al Nyat, __σ Sco Constellation Sco Category Double Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2135 EDT Location Stelarium graphic Magnitude Color Separation " References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: Stars and Planets: Observer’s Handbook 2010: Binocular Highlights: The Observer’s Sky Atlas: Comments At low power all I saw was a bright star. At high power a fainter star split off at 11:00. Back at low power I could see the secondary that I had missed previously but it was getting lost in the flare from the brighter primary. This one isn't listed in any of the books.

Target Iridium 30 Flare Constellation UMa-Lyn Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2140 EDT ° Heavens Above CalSky Time EDT 2141:40 EDT Alt. ° Az. ° Mag. Surface Comments

Target Coathanger, Brochi's Cluster, Cr 399 Constellation Vul Category Asterism Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2150 EDT Comments References Binocular Highlights: 64 Deep Sky Observer's Guide: 131-132, Stars and Planets: 265 The Coathanger was easy to find about half way between Alberio and the bright star of Aquila, &zetz; Aql, and also about half way between Alberio and the fletchings of the arrow of Sagita. It looks nice hanging upside down on a angle from 7:00 to 1:00.

Target M80, NGC 6093 Constellation Sco Category DSO: GCl Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2200 EDT Magnitude 7.5 Surface Brightness 11/sq' Size 5' Shape Circular Difficulty 4 Distance 32,000 ly Location Where is M13 graphicCatres du Ciel graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: Stars and Planets: Binocular Highlights: 74 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E18 Comments Not the typical faint fuzzy. This one was more diffuse. More like a cloud than a dust bunny. The field contained a shallow triangle of brighter stars with the cluster on the base closer to the lower corner star.

Target M22, NGC 6656 Constellation Sco Category DSO: GCl Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2230 EDT Magnitude 5.1 Surface Brightness /sq' Size 17.3' Shape Circular Difficulty 5 Distance ly Location Where is M13 graphicCatres du Ciel graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 77-28 Stars and Planets: 163, 190, 324 Binocular Highlights: 77 Celestial Sites, Celestial Splendors 10-101 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: Comments Large and diffuse, barely seen

Target Perseids Meteor Constellation Sct,Sgr ?? Category Meteor Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2239 EDT Comments A fast bright meteor that may have had a slightly yellow color streaked to the south 20-40° up when I saw it.

Target Unknown Satellite Constellation Boo ?? Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2258 EDT Comments A tight satellite appeared in the W moving to S disappearing into Earth's penumbra in Mahnattan S.

Target M13, Herculese Cluster, NGC 6205 Constellation Her Category DSO: GCl Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2300 EDT Magnitude 6 Surface Brightness 12/sq' Size 15' Shape Nearly Circular Difficulty 5 Distance 25,000 ly Location Where is M13 graphicCatres du Ciel graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 79-80 Stars and Planets: 31, 32, 159, 190, 192, 260 Binocular Highlights: 55 Celestial Sites, Celestial Splendors 96-97 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: N14 Comments

Target M71, NGC 6838 Constellation Sge Category DSO: GCl Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2335 EDT Magnitude 8.5 Surface Brightness 12/sq' Size 5' Shape Circular Difficulty 3 Distance 13,000 ly Location Where is M13 graphicCatres du Ciel graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 90-91 Stars and Planets: 163, 298 Binocular Highlights: 62 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E21 Comments I thought I had seen it listed in one of my iPad planetaria as an open cluster and that is how it appeared to me. The area of the sky is faint and splotchy but I am seeing a few resolved stars in the area.

Vul Target M27, Dunbbell Nebula, NGC 6853 Constellation Category DSO: PlNeb Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100806.2350 EDT Magnitude Surface Brightness /sq' Size ' Shape Difficulty Distance ly Location Where is M13 graphicCatres du Ciel graphic References Deep Sky Observer’s Guide: 27, 148, 149-150, 159 Stars and Planets: 151, 190, 193, 262, A5 Binocular Highlights: 63 Celestial Sights, Celestial Splendors 112-113 The Observer’s Sky Atlas: E21 Comments A large bright area of sky with no definition. Not a dust bunny. We used a nebula filter and that increased the contrast greatly. With the filter it looks more like a dust bunny. It appears to me to be elongated diagonally 11:00 to 5:00 with a waist. At times it looks like it is C shaped or a backwards J, like a fetus. There appear to be threads coming off of it in numerous places that remind me of a diatom.

Target Jupiter Constellation Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 2010 EDT       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 ° Starry Night Starter graphic Comments I looked at Jupiter in my binocular mounted on the monopod. I saw one moon ahead of the planet and one trailing and thought I might have seen a third moon above the plane and close to the planet. Peter confirmed the two in-plane moons but did not see the third. It turns out the moon closest to the planet was actually Io and Europe either gong into or coming out of an occultation.

9 August 2010

1 August 2010

18 July 2010

I was supposed to have backed out some past observing reports this weekend. Unfortunately my laptop died during the week and we think it is beyond resuscitation. It was an old machine. I have a new, to me anyway, MacBook on order but it may not arrive until the end of the month. Then it is going to take a while to set it up. Some of my astronomy software is PC only so I am going to have to run a virtual machine and install Windows and the PC programs on it. I had been doing nightly backups of most of my data so I probably haven't lost much. But the back out I had started last weekend was saved to the desktop and that doesn't get backed up. And each time I entered the data into the blog template I deleted it from the Palm log so half of that nights Observations may have been lost forever.

11 July 2010

2 July 2010

Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	2000-2330 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 74° F Wind Calm Wind Chill Effect Heat Index ° F Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.15" Hg Steady (4) KNYC METAR 022351Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/09 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP208 T02330089 10278 20233 55005 Feels Like Warm Transparency Very Good approaching excellent Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye – Charlie Celestron Outland 8.42 binocular – Charlie Naked-eye - Peter
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Peter Tagatac

The weather tonight was a lot worse than NOAA or any of my other weather resources had predicted. Peter had brought the TelePort but never bothered to set it up. We did a little naked-eye observing but mainly talked since it has been a couple of weeks since we have seen each other..

Target Venus Constellation Leo Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100702.2030 EDT Object Class Classical Planet Phase Waning Gibbous Elongation 40.57° % Illuminated 70.1% Distance Light Time (from Earth) 1.06 AU 8m 50s Distance (from Sun) 0.722 AU Angular Size 15.8" Magnitude -4.1 Altitude 25.42° Meridian graphic Comments Saw it naked-eye at 2030 EDT. I can’t detect any phase in the binocular. Later in the evening when Venus dropped into more atmosphere it lit up a ring of haze around it. This effect is very prohounced in the binocular but visible to the naked eye.

Target Arcturus Constellation Boo Category Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100702.2050 EDT Comments Arcturus was the next object to become visible.

Target Mars Constellation Leo Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100702.2050 EDT Object Class Classical Planet Elongation 63.09° Distance Light Time (from Earth) 1.81 AU 15m 2s Distance (from Sun) 1.62 AU Angular Size 5.18" Magnitude 1.4 Central Meridian 50 ° Altitude 31.63° Meridian graphic Comments Mars was next to appear, faint with a slight orange tinge.

Target Saturn Constellation Vir Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100702.2107 EDT Object Class Classical Planet Elongation 77.73° Distance Light Time (from Earth) 9.70 AU 1 h 21m Distance (from Sun) 9.53 AU Angular Size 17.1"x15.2" Ring Angular Size 38.7"x1.5" Ring Inclination -2.22° Magnitude 1.1 Altitude 35.5° Starry Night Starter graphic Comments Saturn was the last of the planets to be seen naked-eye. I thought I got an indication of rings in the binocular but it doesn’t seem to me that I should be seeing them in an 8x hand-held instrument.

Target Regulus Constellation Leo Category Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100702.2109 EDT Comments I located Regulus (mag 1.36) but had to use the binocular to do it.

Target Spica Constellation Vir Category Star Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20100702.2117 EDT Comments Spica is now visible naked-eye.