I had a short session out with Big Blue last night. Seeing was rather poor so I abandoned the close double finders for the CDSA. Most at 270x
STT 66: light orange equal magnitude, split with seeing, close ~1"
03H 52M 04.69S +40° 47' 50.7" P.A. 145 SEP 1 MAG 8.11,8.54 SP A2 DIST. 236.41 PC (771.17 L.Y.)
STT 64: Light orange star with 3-4 delta mag, ~3" separated companion; white [AB seen; four stars in system]
03H 49M 58.06S +23° 50' 55.3" P.A. 235 SEP 3.3 MAG 6.81,10.15 SP B9.5VP DIST. 146.84 PC (478.99 L.Y.)
STF 483: Yellow-orange star, very close, 1", 2 delta mag.
04H 04M 07.10S +39° 30' 35.0" P.A. 51.8 SEP 1.61 MAG 7.38,9.35 SP G5 DIST. 32.36 PC (105.56 L.Y.)
STF 3114: Pretty light yellow star with 2 delta mag orangish B, ~3"
04H 09M 10.26S +40° 09' 40.5" P.A. 158 SEP 2.9 MAG 7.71,9.59 SP F8V DIST. 61.35 PC (200.12 L.Y.)
BU 310: Nothing close in; my guess is the pair is one or both of two faint widly separated stars, makes a triangle. A is light orange.
04H 22M 00.26S +39° 56' 03.3" P.A. 173 SEP 18.9 MAG 7.10,12.62 SP F8 DIST. 54.56 PC (177.97 L.Y.)
STT 531: May include the finder split; the fainter of these has another star split 4", 2-3 delta mag. A bit hazy. [AC is the finder pair; AB is the closer pair]
04H 07M 34.35S +38° 04' 28.3" P.A. 350.2 SEP 2.58 MAG 7.32,9.69 SP K1V DIST. 20.38 PC (66.48 L.Y.)
STF 448: 2 delta mag 5" white and a little green-blue B?
03H 47M 52.66S +33° 35' 59.5" P.A. 13 SEP 3.5 MAG 6.68,9.36 SP B2.5V DIST. 325.73 PC (1062.53 L.Y.)
I spent some time looking at M45, then M42 in wide fields, then went over to Sirius to see if B was visible -- it was not, too hazy and maybe in diffraction spike. So wrapped it up.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
clear night perseus doubles
Finally a (relatively) clear night after weeks of clouds. Transparency was actually poor, 2/5, but seeing was a good 6-7/10. I used Big Blue to continue going after doubles in Perseus before it begins to set. 553x unless otherwise noted.
STT 51: Very fine clean split at the finest moments, which is once every 10 seconds. 0.5", equal mag.
03H 12M 57.08S +44° 17' 14.7" P.A. 349.9 SEP 0.53 MAG 8.51,8.74 SP G0 DIST. 115.61 PC (377.12 L.Y.)
ES 558: Yellow-orange star with very faint bluish companion, 5", 2-3 delta mag.
03H 06M 47.76S +45° 45' 02.8" SEP 8.5 MAG 7.65,10.62 SP B9 DIST. 170.36 PC (555.71 L.Y.)
BU 1293. Uncertain. Seems a brightening persistent on one side of the diffraction but nothing resolves when A resolves with seeing.
02H 54M 00.98S +47° 09' 39.2" P.A. 349 SEP 2 MAG 6.81,10.45 SP B9 DIST. 194.55 PC (634.62 L.Y.)
BU 521. Bulging heart shape (if seen from slightly below and to the side), even at 885x, but no split. Light yellow-orange. [somehow I thought the split was much closer]
02H 43M 01.98S +48° 15' 54.9" P.A. 162 SEP 5.3 MAG 6.28,11.60 SP G5II DIST. 400 PC (1304.8 L.Y.)
STT 48: Yellow-orange with bluish round haze above it; the haze brightens with seeing and averted vision but does not resolve to point even at 885x.
02H 53M 21.07S +48° 34' 11.9" P.A. 317 SEP 6.6 MAG 6.37,10.55 SP G5IAB: DIST. 540.54 PC (1763.24 L.Y.)
While using Alpha Persi to start a star hop I happened to switch magnifications back down to 553x and saw the star test image, which clearly showed bent and sagging edges indicative of tube currents and mirror thermal in-equilibrium. Sure enough, when I turned on the fan the image tightened up.
STF 388: Pretty blue and a little red pair, 1.5 delta mag. On the northern edge of Stock 1.
03H 28M 40.39S +50° 26' 10.8" P.A. 215 SEP 2.8 MAG 8.04,9.01 SP F0 DIST. 130.04 PC (424.19 L.Y.)
BU 1179: Uncertain but can't resolve even at 885x.
03H 29M 22.05S +49° 30' 32.2" P.A. 146 SEP 0.6 MAG 4.72,7.34 SP B3V DIST. 165.29 PC (539.18 L.Y.)
BU 787: Slightly orange star with B flashing to view with averted vision at 885x. 1". -- Checking the chart, turns out this faint one is not the pair. There is a slight distortion to A but not resolved.
03H 34M 12.97S +48° 37' 02.9" P.A. 294.3 SEP 4.8 MAG 7.38,11.90 SP B9.5V DIST. 261.1 PC (851.71 L.Y.)
STT 63: Nice white disk with slightly blue haze not resolved to point.
03H 48M 18.08S +50° 44' 12.4" P.A. 269 SEP 6.7 MAG 6.19,11.20 SP B8VNE DIST. 250.63 PC (817.56 L.Y.)
STT 68: Pretty, close split in finder. Nice & wide 1 delta mag in scope. [IQ Per; AB seen; AC too faint]
03H 59M 44.66S +48° 09' 04.6" P.A. 176 SEP 39.1 MAG 7.78,9.22 SP B9 DIST. 259.74 PC (847.27 L.Y.)
Sigma Orionis AB: Seeing too poor, transparency poor at this elevation. Trying to see the elongation in this, but not this night.
STT 51: Very fine clean split at the finest moments, which is once every 10 seconds. 0.5", equal mag.
03H 12M 57.08S +44° 17' 14.7" P.A. 349.9 SEP 0.53 MAG 8.51,8.74 SP G0 DIST. 115.61 PC (377.12 L.Y.)
ES 558: Yellow-orange star with very faint bluish companion, 5", 2-3 delta mag.
03H 06M 47.76S +45° 45' 02.8" SEP 8.5 MAG 7.65,10.62 SP B9 DIST. 170.36 PC (555.71 L.Y.)
BU 1293. Uncertain. Seems a brightening persistent on one side of the diffraction but nothing resolves when A resolves with seeing.
02H 54M 00.98S +47° 09' 39.2" P.A. 349 SEP 2 MAG 6.81,10.45 SP B9 DIST. 194.55 PC (634.62 L.Y.)
BU 521. Bulging heart shape (if seen from slightly below and to the side), even at 885x, but no split. Light yellow-orange. [somehow I thought the split was much closer]
02H 43M 01.98S +48° 15' 54.9" P.A. 162 SEP 5.3 MAG 6.28,11.60 SP G5II DIST. 400 PC (1304.8 L.Y.)
STT 48: Yellow-orange with bluish round haze above it; the haze brightens with seeing and averted vision but does not resolve to point even at 885x.
02H 53M 21.07S +48° 34' 11.9" P.A. 317 SEP 6.6 MAG 6.37,10.55 SP G5IAB: DIST. 540.54 PC (1763.24 L.Y.)
While using Alpha Persi to start a star hop I happened to switch magnifications back down to 553x and saw the star test image, which clearly showed bent and sagging edges indicative of tube currents and mirror thermal in-equilibrium. Sure enough, when I turned on the fan the image tightened up.
STF 388: Pretty blue and a little red pair, 1.5 delta mag. On the northern edge of Stock 1.
03H 28M 40.39S +50° 26' 10.8" P.A. 215 SEP 2.8 MAG 8.04,9.01 SP F0 DIST. 130.04 PC (424.19 L.Y.)
BU 1179: Uncertain but can't resolve even at 885x.
03H 29M 22.05S +49° 30' 32.2" P.A. 146 SEP 0.6 MAG 4.72,7.34 SP B3V DIST. 165.29 PC (539.18 L.Y.)
BU 787: Slightly orange star with B flashing to view with averted vision at 885x. 1". -- Checking the chart, turns out this faint one is not the pair. There is a slight distortion to A but not resolved.
03H 34M 12.97S +48° 37' 02.9" P.A. 294.3 SEP 4.8 MAG 7.38,11.90 SP B9.5V DIST. 261.1 PC (851.71 L.Y.)
STT 63: Nice white disk with slightly blue haze not resolved to point.
03H 48M 18.08S +50° 44' 12.4" P.A. 269 SEP 6.7 MAG 6.19,11.20 SP B8VNE DIST. 250.63 PC (817.56 L.Y.)
STT 68: Pretty, close split in finder. Nice & wide 1 delta mag in scope. [IQ Per; AB seen; AC too faint]
03H 59M 44.66S +48° 09' 04.6" P.A. 176 SEP 39.1 MAG 7.78,9.22 SP B9 DIST. 259.74 PC (847.27 L.Y.)
Sigma Orionis AB: Seeing too poor, transparency poor at this elevation. Trying to see the elongation in this, but not this night.
Monday, January 21, 2019
peeks at the moon
The last couple of weeks have had persistent cloud cover. But Saturday night there were some gaps, and I went out to the back yard to have a look. The moon was nearly full and illuminated dramatic and rapidly changing scenes of clouds rushing in front of it. There were high thin clouds giving a pervasive glow, medium height puffy clouds adding structure, and fast dark low clouds adding dynamism. From time to time a bright star would appear in a gap but it would quickly close. The clouds seemed to give good training for viewing nebula, with the varying shapes and strengths of wisps and tendrils, and the varying illuminations depending on proximity to the light source. I viewed with my eye and also the 2.1x42 Vixens mounted to a monopod.
When the moon was visible I noticed a line of brighter craters sheathing the lower half. The four or five craters looked like the beads which form on a Monarch butterfly chrysalis. I had not noticed it before, but once I did it was so very plain to see. They were comprised of Tycho, a bright wall of Mare Cognitum, Kepler, and Aristarchus.
The following night was a full lunar eclipse, but I caught the briefest look through a mere thinning of clouds (round, reddish with some whitening on one end) before the sky closed up entirely and it started to rain.
When the moon was visible I noticed a line of brighter craters sheathing the lower half. The four or five craters looked like the beads which form on a Monarch butterfly chrysalis. I had not noticed it before, but once I did it was so very plain to see. They were comprised of Tycho, a bright wall of Mare Cognitum, Kepler, and Aristarchus.
The following night was a full lunar eclipse, but I caught the briefest look through a mere thinning of clouds (round, reddish with some whitening on one end) before the sky closed up entirely and it started to rain.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
perseus doubles
Had a clear-ish night last night, so chased down doubles in Perseus. Transparency was poor -- in fact, a large cloud was slowly moving out of the area when I began -- and seeing a variable from 6-7/10. Still good enough to make a night of it. Strangely no dew formed, but it was quite cold and I wish I dressed more warmly. All with Big Blue at 557x
A 2906: This is the brighter of the STF 314 pair; I have a feeling it is slightly elongated but nothing certain. STF 314 itself is a nice half delta mag pair ~3".
02H 52M 52.03S +52° 59' 50.6" P.A. 120 SEP 0.2 MAG 7.26,8.78 SP B8III DIST. 307.69 PC (1003.68 L.Y.)
02H 52M 52.03S +52° 59' 50.6" P.A. 315 SEP 1.6 MAG 6.95,7.26 SP B8III DIST. 307.69 PC (1003.68 L.Y.)
A 1279: Can just see the star in the finder. In the scope it is a hazy elongated smear which resolves to two equal points with seeing. 2". Very nice!
02H 40M 25.95S +55° 18' 33.4" P.A. 306 SEP 2.2 MAG 10.12,10.12 SP A0
STF 297: Arc of three stars, each a different mag and color (blue-white, reddish, and the faintest bluish). I believe the brightest, in the middle, the reddish one, is the 0.9" pair, but I can't see any split. [Something may be incorrect in the Carro listing or in my finder chart as there are three stars in the set with the PAs in an arc, but nothing at 0.9"]
02H 45M 24.74S +56° 33' 49.3" P.A. 279 SEP 15.8 MAG 8.55,8.87 SP A0V DIST. 193.42 PC (630.94 L.Y.)
BU 1314: Orange star, but faint pair not seen due to haze. [Six stars in the system most too faint]
02H 31M 53.38S +57° 41' 51.5" P.A. 123 SEP 4 MAG 6.98,12.90 SP B6IA DIST. 8333.33 PC (27183.32 L.Y.)
HLD 7: Challenging due to the haze but no doubt, a 3 delta mag pair in the diffraction, 1.5"
02H 25M 25.96S +58° 12' 09.3" P.A. 182 SEP 1.7 MAG 7.98,9.86 SP A3V DIST. 150.38 PC (490.54 L.Y.)
STF 230: I see a wide split pair but my finder chart says it should be 1.9"? [Finder is wrong]
02H 14M 57.07S +58° 29' 26.0" P.A. 259 SEP 23.8 MAG 7.87,9.37 SP B8III
BLL 7: Wide near equal pair; wonder how they know it's binary? [FWIW WDS says nature of the pair is uncertain.]
02H 22M 51.72S +58° 35' 11.5" P.A. 21 SEP 69.3 MAG 10.76,11.39 SP M3IAEV DIST. 602.41 PC (1965.06 L.Y.)
Stock 2 in the finder; nice faint & loose but rich cluster.
7 Per = BU 1170: Near the Double Cluster. Pretty orange-yellow star; B star is distant and faint -- how know binary? The B star feels elongated with averted vision. [BC is 11.50/11.70 0.3", not likely I saw it.]
02H 18M 04.58S +57° 30' 58.7" P.A. 358 SEP 68.7 MAG 6.11,12.29 SP G7III DIST. 251.26 PC (819.61 L.Y.)
5 Per = BU 874: A couple of faint stars as possibilities, but too distant than what my finder says it should be...
02H 11M 29.19S +57° 38' 44.0" P.A. 266 SEP 5.3 MAG 6.44,12.40 SP B5IA DIST. 1785.71 PC (5824.99 L.Y.)
9 Per = BU 875: Can't see the faint B for the haze. A is a pretty yellow star.
02H 22M 21.43S +55° 50' 44.4" P.A. 175 SEP 12.3 MAG 5.24,12.00 SP A2IA DIST. 1000 PC (3262 L.Y.)
STF 235: A very close pair 2" near equal. But not what my finder says it should be? [Finder likely incorrect, based on the data I did see the pair]
02H 17M 10.70S +55° 54' 53.9" P.A. 49 SEP 1.9 MAG 9.60,9.81 SP F8
BU 1373: B too faint to see.
02H 23M 51.75S +55° 21' 53.5" P.A. 130 SEP 10.9 MAG 6.29,14.60 SP F7IB DIST. 934.58 PC (3048.6 L.Y.)
STF 268: Yellow-orange star making an arc with two others. [Is only a double. Did not see since the separation is fairly close, closer than the sketch I made.]
02H 29M 24.96S +55° 32' 10.5" P.A. 130 SEP 2.8 MAG 6.72,8.50 SP A2PSHELL DIST. 162.87 PC (531.28 L.Y.)
STF 270: Nice orange star with wide B [5 stars in the system but others too faint to see]
02H 30M 50.65S +55° 32' 54.2" P.A. 306 SEP 21.3 MAG 7.00,9.66 SP F4V DIST. 54.7 PC (178.43 L.Y.)
ALI 765: No go. There's a correct mag star in the field but it's too far out.
03H 00M 05.70S +39° 11' 24.9" P.A. 11 SEP 12.2 MAG 9.63,11.99 SP A3V DIST. 420.17 PC (1370.59 L.Y.)
STT 44: !! In M34 open cluster! Close near equal pair, 1.5", very nice! The cluster is pretty, loose, and jangly with stars of varying magnitudes. What a treat.
02H 42M 13.13S +42° 41' 57.2" P.A. 55 SEP 1.4 MAG 8.46,8.96 SP B9VP DIST. 248.14 PC (809.43 L.Y.)
20 Per = STF 318 & BU 524: Wide 2 delta mag; no sign of elongation of BU
02H 53M 42.58S +38° 20' 15.6" P.A. 237 SEP 14 MAG 5.39,9.68 SP F4IV DIST. 70.67 PC (230.53 L.Y.)
02H 53M 42.58S +38° 20' 15.6" P.A. 277 SEP 0.19 MAG 5.79,6.80 SP F4IV DIST. 70.67 PC (230.53 L.Y.)
STF 316: Wide near equal
02H 52M 05.13S +37° 17' 45.7" P.A. 136 SEP 14.2 MAG 9.46,9.74 SP F8
I spent the rest of the night, for about 15 minutes, looking at M42. It was remarkably textured and showed green and rose colors. I used 86x and 170x, just enjoying the view. Only 5 stars showed in the Trapezium; transparency was ok but seeing not as good.
And this morning I noted the much thinner moon, very bright Venus, and another bright object near the moon -- which I found out later is Jupiter. Sky very clear and calm, I wish I had a telescope out. It is to be cloudy and rainy for the next week, sadly.
A 2906: This is the brighter of the STF 314 pair; I have a feeling it is slightly elongated but nothing certain. STF 314 itself is a nice half delta mag pair ~3".
02H 52M 52.03S +52° 59' 50.6" P.A. 120 SEP 0.2 MAG 7.26,8.78 SP B8III DIST. 307.69 PC (1003.68 L.Y.)
02H 52M 52.03S +52° 59' 50.6" P.A. 315 SEP 1.6 MAG 6.95,7.26 SP B8III DIST. 307.69 PC (1003.68 L.Y.)
A 1279: Can just see the star in the finder. In the scope it is a hazy elongated smear which resolves to two equal points with seeing. 2". Very nice!
02H 40M 25.95S +55° 18' 33.4" P.A. 306 SEP 2.2 MAG 10.12,10.12 SP A0
STF 297: Arc of three stars, each a different mag and color (blue-white, reddish, and the faintest bluish). I believe the brightest, in the middle, the reddish one, is the 0.9" pair, but I can't see any split. [Something may be incorrect in the Carro listing or in my finder chart as there are three stars in the set with the PAs in an arc, but nothing at 0.9"]
02H 45M 24.74S +56° 33' 49.3" P.A. 279 SEP 15.8 MAG 8.55,8.87 SP A0V DIST. 193.42 PC (630.94 L.Y.)
BU 1314: Orange star, but faint pair not seen due to haze. [Six stars in the system most too faint]
02H 31M 53.38S +57° 41' 51.5" P.A. 123 SEP 4 MAG 6.98,12.90 SP B6IA DIST. 8333.33 PC (27183.32 L.Y.)
HLD 7: Challenging due to the haze but no doubt, a 3 delta mag pair in the diffraction, 1.5"
02H 25M 25.96S +58° 12' 09.3" P.A. 182 SEP 1.7 MAG 7.98,9.86 SP A3V DIST. 150.38 PC (490.54 L.Y.)
STF 230: I see a wide split pair but my finder chart says it should be 1.9"? [Finder is wrong]
02H 14M 57.07S +58° 29' 26.0" P.A. 259 SEP 23.8 MAG 7.87,9.37 SP B8III
BLL 7: Wide near equal pair; wonder how they know it's binary? [FWIW WDS says nature of the pair is uncertain.]
02H 22M 51.72S +58° 35' 11.5" P.A. 21 SEP 69.3 MAG 10.76,11.39 SP M3IAEV DIST. 602.41 PC (1965.06 L.Y.)
Stock 2 in the finder; nice faint & loose but rich cluster.
7 Per = BU 1170: Near the Double Cluster. Pretty orange-yellow star; B star is distant and faint -- how know binary? The B star feels elongated with averted vision. [BC is 11.50/11.70 0.3", not likely I saw it.]
02H 18M 04.58S +57° 30' 58.7" P.A. 358 SEP 68.7 MAG 6.11,12.29 SP G7III DIST. 251.26 PC (819.61 L.Y.)
5 Per = BU 874: A couple of faint stars as possibilities, but too distant than what my finder says it should be...
02H 11M 29.19S +57° 38' 44.0" P.A. 266 SEP 5.3 MAG 6.44,12.40 SP B5IA DIST. 1785.71 PC (5824.99 L.Y.)
9 Per = BU 875: Can't see the faint B for the haze. A is a pretty yellow star.
02H 22M 21.43S +55° 50' 44.4" P.A. 175 SEP 12.3 MAG 5.24,12.00 SP A2IA DIST. 1000 PC (3262 L.Y.)
STF 235: A very close pair 2" near equal. But not what my finder says it should be? [Finder likely incorrect, based on the data I did see the pair]
02H 17M 10.70S +55° 54' 53.9" P.A. 49 SEP 1.9 MAG 9.60,9.81 SP F8
BU 1373: B too faint to see.
02H 23M 51.75S +55° 21' 53.5" P.A. 130 SEP 10.9 MAG 6.29,14.60 SP F7IB DIST. 934.58 PC (3048.6 L.Y.)
STF 268: Yellow-orange star making an arc with two others. [Is only a double. Did not see since the separation is fairly close, closer than the sketch I made.]
02H 29M 24.96S +55° 32' 10.5" P.A. 130 SEP 2.8 MAG 6.72,8.50 SP A2PSHELL DIST. 162.87 PC (531.28 L.Y.)
STF 270: Nice orange star with wide B [5 stars in the system but others too faint to see]
02H 30M 50.65S +55° 32' 54.2" P.A. 306 SEP 21.3 MAG 7.00,9.66 SP F4V DIST. 54.7 PC (178.43 L.Y.)
ALI 765: No go. There's a correct mag star in the field but it's too far out.
03H 00M 05.70S +39° 11' 24.9" P.A. 11 SEP 12.2 MAG 9.63,11.99 SP A3V DIST. 420.17 PC (1370.59 L.Y.)
STT 44: !! In M34 open cluster! Close near equal pair, 1.5", very nice! The cluster is pretty, loose, and jangly with stars of varying magnitudes. What a treat.
02H 42M 13.13S +42° 41' 57.2" P.A. 55 SEP 1.4 MAG 8.46,8.96 SP B9VP DIST. 248.14 PC (809.43 L.Y.)
20 Per = STF 318 & BU 524: Wide 2 delta mag; no sign of elongation of BU
02H 53M 42.58S +38° 20' 15.6" P.A. 237 SEP 14 MAG 5.39,9.68 SP F4IV DIST. 70.67 PC (230.53 L.Y.)
02H 53M 42.58S +38° 20' 15.6" P.A. 277 SEP 0.19 MAG 5.79,6.80 SP F4IV DIST. 70.67 PC (230.53 L.Y.)
STF 316: Wide near equal
02H 52M 05.13S +37° 17' 45.7" P.A. 136 SEP 14.2 MAG 9.46,9.74 SP F8
I spent the rest of the night, for about 15 minutes, looking at M42. It was remarkably textured and showed green and rose colors. I used 86x and 170x, just enjoying the view. Only 5 stars showed in the Trapezium; transparency was ok but seeing not as good.
And this morning I noted the much thinner moon, very bright Venus, and another bright object near the moon -- which I found out later is Jupiter. Sky very clear and calm, I wish I had a telescope out. It is to be cloudy and rainy for the next week, sadly.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
venus, again
I woke up a bit early, 6:15, and peeked out the window. It was still mostly dark; the moon was a thin crescent showing a bit of earthshine; Venus was very bright. I took a measure and it was one fist (held at arm's length) width to the west, in a line with the moon's horns. I intended to use that measure to try to find Venus during the daytime, and brought my binoculars and monopod to work for that purpose.
I arrived at work at 8:30 and took a moment in the parking lot to find Venus, which was dimmer but still an easy white point.
I went out during my lunch hour and this time stood in the shade of the building to look. The sky was hazy, transparency 2/5. I needed a couple of minutes to find the moon, and once I did I swept the sky with the binoculars to find Venus. I did soon enough, a nice white point. Next, I tried to see naked eye by cupping my hands around my eyes to block the light, leaving a small slit to peer through. This time I couldn't see anything for a couple minutes until I noticed a small brightening with averted vision. I checked my binoculars again to confirm, then thought to use the branches of a nearby tree to give me some guide posts (eg. formed a triangle with two branches). I looked again naked eye and could confirm. There was some haze/fog blowing through and sometimes it was certain and others less certain, but I am sure I saw it.
I shared the binocular view with a couple of other employees out for their lunchtime walk so they wouldn't think I was some weirdo... They appreciated the view.
It was very refreshing to take in a view like that and take my mind off my regular work.
I arrived at work at 8:30 and took a moment in the parking lot to find Venus, which was dimmer but still an easy white point.
I went out during my lunch hour and this time stood in the shade of the building to look. The sky was hazy, transparency 2/5. I needed a couple of minutes to find the moon, and once I did I swept the sky with the binoculars to find Venus. I did soon enough, a nice white point. Next, I tried to see naked eye by cupping my hands around my eyes to block the light, leaving a small slit to peer through. This time I couldn't see anything for a couple minutes until I noticed a small brightening with averted vision. I checked my binoculars again to confirm, then thought to use the branches of a nearby tree to give me some guide posts (eg. formed a triangle with two branches). I looked again naked eye and could confirm. There was some haze/fog blowing through and sometimes it was certain and others less certain, but I am sure I saw it.
I shared the binocular view with a couple of other employees out for their lunchtime walk so they wouldn't think I was some weirdo... They appreciated the view.
It was very refreshing to take in a view like that and take my mind off my regular work.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
moon venus conjuntion
An email on TAC alerted me to a close conjunction of the moon and venus going on in the morning. What was more, it was visible naked eye even in the mid-morning (it was 9:30 when I read the email). So I took my 8x56 binos into the chilly backyard (still in my PJs and bathrobe) to have a look. There were high thin clouds of varying densities hindering the view, but after a quick scan around the moon, I could see Venus easily. I called the family out for a look. Then I thought to open up the observatory to have a closer look with Big Blue. The observatory was still in the shade of the meridian tree, and the moon was passed meridian, so it was no problem. The two were on either end of the 3.5 degree FOV of the ST80 finder. I put the 13mm Ethos in the ST80 and could see Venus in half-phase along with the 1/8th waning moon. The illuminated sides of each orb were towards the sun, proving their separateness and that Venus is an inner planet orbiting the sun. In the scope at 170x Venus was just waning phase, shimmery in the seeing, and showed the contrast effects which make it look like clouds are near the terminator. The moon loomed large and mysterious.
I closed up after a half hour but kept coming out through the rest of the morning, and each time I was able to see Venus naked eye -- except from 11am and after when I needed to sit in shade and cup my hands around my eyes to block out all local light and the relative brightness of the sky, leaving a small gap to look through, in order to see the small light of the planet. If the sky was clearer I would not need to do this, since I think the low inclination of the winter sun meant the sky was not as blindingly bright as it could have been. I brought out the Astroscan and looked at the pair in the same FOV at 28x.
It was a very auspicious and satisfying start to the 2019 observing season. Nice to observe to the sound of a bird chorus instead of crickets, for a change.
I closed up after a half hour but kept coming out through the rest of the morning, and each time I was able to see Venus naked eye -- except from 11am and after when I needed to sit in shade and cup my hands around my eyes to block out all local light and the relative brightness of the sky, leaving a small gap to look through, in order to see the small light of the planet. If the sky was clearer I would not need to do this, since I think the low inclination of the winter sun meant the sky was not as blindingly bright as it could have been. I brought out the Astroscan and looked at the pair in the same FOV at 28x.
It was a very auspicious and satisfying start to the 2019 observing season. Nice to observe to the sound of a bird chorus instead of crickets, for a change.
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