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Re: Eyes, Mind, Sensory Deprivation
-- [ From: Robert Lunsford * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] --
Wayne,
You brought up some interesting comments. I am surprised you saw the
meteor at all while staring at Epsilon Lyrae. If you keep your center
of view perfectly still all but the central area of 10 degrees or so
will begin to "gray out" and disappear. The slightest eye movement will
then restore the dark background. WGN mentioned this in its article
about dark meteors a few issues back. I too also managed to split the
star with the naked eye during a slow session.
Has anyone experieced trouble trying to see faint members of the
Pleiades? I will stare at the cluster and after a brief period it will
seem to vibrate and a sharp focus becomes impossible. This is one
reason I endorse the star count method for determining limiting
magnitude. I find it much easier to sweep an area and count the stars
present rather than stare at a certain spot trying to see that 6th
magnitude star.
Another odd phenomena I have encountered is that my LM's usually get
worse after my initial estimate. You would think that the opposite
should be true. Your LM's should get better as your observing session
progresses. I nearly always observe during the same time frame; the
last 3 or 4 hours before dawn. Perhaps the midnight skies are darker or
I am totally wacko! One point should be made, I drive for 45 minutes on
a fairly deserted freeway before reaching my observing spot in the
mountains. Therefore my eyes are pretty well dark-adapted when I start
observing.
Bob Lunsford