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(meteorobs) Observing Report
From Astronomical Logbook.
Pre-Comments:
These are observations I had on February 19/20, 1996. The was
shifted between clear and cloudy during the day. At 22:50 LMT I
realized that the sky was 85% clear, so I made some observations.
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Observation Number-6
Date, LMT, UT Correction-2/19/1997, 17:30-18:00, -5:00
Notes:I observed the moon. I encountered 85% clouds at the start of
my observation, and the moon [was] easily seen[It was in the clear
part of my sky]. At 17:33 I lost it[The Moon], both Naked eye and in
the telescope[due to clouds]. One interesting thing was that several
flocks of [Canadian] geese were flying over my location in the
direction of east. At 17:40 a huge flock traveled, spannaning an
apparent 60d. This happened again at 17:42. This may mean that
there is terrible weather in the west[not good]. The cloud type
appears to be heavy cumulus. At 17:53 a huge flock appeared and
lasted for 2 minutes and spanned 50d. The moon was recovered at
17:55 by naked-eye, but only for a second. The moon was recovered
again at 17:57, [with my] naked eye and telescope. I was going to
track it until it disappeared, which unfourtantly happened at 17:59.
I recovered the moon for the last time at 17:59[I had to eat supper
now}. Telescope:6" Dob., 1219 F.L., 47x. Weather:67dF[tied for an
all-time high for
February 19 for the city of Wilmington], winds:gusts to 15 mph,
clouds:varied, 75%-85%.
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Observation Number-7
Date, LMT, UT Correction-2/19/1997, 21:03-21:07, -5:00
Notes:The clouds did not clear up, so I went outside to put my
telescope away. I was in shock:it had tipped over due to gusts to
25mph! I inspected the mirror, which was thankfully unbroken.
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Observation Number-8
Date, LMT, UT Correction-2/19/1997, 22:55-23:23, -5:00
Notes:Here is my Sirius Observation[see below]. Binoculars, 7x35's,
LM[through binoculars]5.5, wind:?, clouds:0% I observed through my
bedroom window. Reflection is due to the window[see below].
Image:Description-The drawing shows Sirius, which is covered with
reflections, appears very blue. Three stars were were an unknown
star, Mirzam, and Gamma Canis Majoris. Positions:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Name Position Seperation from Sirius PA
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
??????????? 06h40m -14d 3d 30d
Mirzam 06h23m -18d 6d 102d
Gamma Canis Majoris 07h03m -16d 5d 298d
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Observation Number-9
Date, LMT, UT Correction-2/19/1997, 23:27-23:39, -5:00
Notes:Here is my Orion's Belt Observation[see below]. Binoculars-
7x35's, LM-5.5[through binoculars], wind:?, clouds:0%. I observed
through my bedroom window. Reflections[see below]are due to window.
A few stars were blocked due to a pine tree.
Image:Description-The drawing shows the belt of Orion. The three
main stars have reflections. There were 9 stars. Positions:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Name Position Seperation from middle star PA
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alnitak 5h40m -4d 2d 228d
Mintaka 5h32m 0d 2d 51d
? Spect. Type-K 5h34m -3d 3d 251d
? Spect. Type-B 5h40m -2d 2d 268d
Sigma Orionis 5h38m -5d 3d 210d
C A N N O T B E I D E N T I F I E D approx. 190d
C A N N O T B E I D E N T I F I E D approx. 180d
51 Orionis 5h42m +2d 4d 320d
C A N N O T B E I D E N T I F I E D approx. 20d
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Observation Number-10
Date, LMT, UT Correction-2/20/1997, 06:03-06:07, -5:00
Notes:Here is an image[see below]of Mars with binoculars out-of-focus.
In the drawing, the dark region in the Southern Hemisphere is
unknown. Binoculars:7x35's,wind:? Clouds:0%. Mars was only 25d
above the horizon and I observed through my bedroom window.
Image:Description-The globe of Mars was Ruddy Red, of course. There
was a dark splatch in the Southern Hemisphere that was setting, which
as I have said before is unknown. The dark area covered 15% of Mars.
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Observation Number-11
Date, LMT, UT Correction-2/20/1997, 06:10-06:27, -5:00
Notes:Here is a drawing of Mars[see below; it was my first telescopic
view of the Red Planet]. I could have seen more, but I was rushing
to record this information, and the sun had rose[risen;Mars was the
only celestial object visible]. The dark region in the Northern
Hemisphere is Niliacus Lacus, one of the most prominent features in
the Northern Hemisphere. I did not look for ice caps because I
forgot. I did not use any filters. Oops! Telescope:6" Dob., F.L.
1219mm, weather:temperature:40dF, winds:Calm, clouds:0%. Martian
Colongtude:100d. ALPO scale:Seeing 7;Transparency:0.
Image:Description:My drawing showed the Martian globe at 98%, and the
planet was only 15d abov ethe horizon. I could only see Niliacus
Lacus. The diameter was smaller than I expected. I am expecting to
receive my barlow with 7 days, which will enable me to harness 244x
observing power.
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Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com)
http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm