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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