10 January 2004

Observing Location	Turtle Pond, Central Park, New York, NY
Atmospheric Conditions	Cold and clear
Observing Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized Binoculars - Charlie TeleVue TV76 - Ben
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Ben Cacace

Target	42 Leon, eta Leonis
Time	10Jan04; 23:50 EST
Category	Occultation
Comments	I found that this star was a grazing occultation in Atlantic Co, NJ and a total occultation in Central Park. Ben Cacace and I met at turtle pond to validate the limiting magnitude charts produced by WinOccult. I was not able to see the star at all in my 15x50 binoculars with or without image stabilization. In Ben's TV76 we were able to see the star with either of the two eyepieces used. It was hard to acquire but once found was persistent. It appeared remarkably small and faint beside the Moon. Ben observed and timed its disappearance but is uncertain if he saw it at the moment of reappearance or a short time after.

Target	Jupiter
Time	10Jan04; 23:55 EST
Category	Planets
Comments	While observing the occultation of eta Leonis with Ben cacace at Turtle pond we observed Jupiter in his TV76. The equatorial bands were strong. One moon was on the western side of the planet and the other three to the east. The farthest out moon to the east was slightly out of line with the other three, an indication that it is behind the plane of the planet and the other moons.