3 March 2004

Observing Location	Valhalla Cemetery, Valhalla, NY This appeared to be the easiest of three possible locations to view the occultation from on the eastern side of the Hudson River. I didn't think we would actually get into the cemetery but it turns out to be a through road that is used as a shortcut by locals. Not knowing where we were going to got there the hard way but were in plenty of time to get set up for the event. We chose a place along the road just south of the mausoleum because it was fairly dark and the trees afforded some shelter from the wind. Getting there by train is easy but there are not many trains back so it isn't really a good location for summer observing since it would be time to pack up as soon as you got set up. To get there from the Metro North Station walk south to the end of the station and cross to the east side of the tracks and highway. Walk north uphill to the bridge over the highway and tracks (fire station on the right) and go left across the bridge and uphill again to the first road on the right which is the entrance to the cemetery.
Atmospheric Conditions	Clear and mild although a bit windy.
Observing Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized Binoculars - Charlie TeveVue TV76 - Ben
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Ben Cacace

Target	2 ω Cancri
Time	3Mar04; 00:06 EST
Category	Occultation
Comments	ZC 1206, omega Cancri/Grazing Occultation observed. 2327-2333 local time; moon 85% illuminated; estimated aperture required 50<>100. The occultation began on the dark side and ended on the light side of the northern cusp. I wasn't able to see Omega Cancri until I saw it in Ben's scope. Then I picked it up with difficult several times but totally lost it before the graze. With my equipment I need a brighter star, a darker moon, and a graze behind the darkened limb. This was another test to see what our equipment can do. I had a short wave radio and was able to get a good WWV signal. I also had a mini-cassette tape and MP3 recorder, neither of which worked. Ben recorded audio on his Paln T3.