14 October 2004

Observing Location	Marconi National Historic Site, Glace Bay, Cape Breton, NS, Canada 46.213134 N, 59.953942 W
Atmospheric Conditions	When I left the Gaelic College in St Ann's I could see some stars overhead so I stopped at Bras-d'Or Lookoff along the Trans-Canada Highway, Highway 105, to see if it might be possible to see the zodiacle light. It looked like the sky was clear at the horizon in a generally easterly direction, then there was a deck of clouds, and it was clear above. So I figured it was worth a shot and drove over to Glace Bay where I thought I would have a good view to the east. I waited in the car until 0450 and then went up to the bluff but found that it was clear to the horizon to the north but was completely overcast to the east so I packed it in. I was able to see some stars through the car window on Highway 4 between Glace Bay and Sydney in the area of the Sydney airport and from my hotel parking lot in Sydney.
Instruments	Naked-eye Observing
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Zodiacal Light
Time	14Oct04; 0450 ADT
Category	Atmospheric Phenomena
Comments	Zodiacl light is a reflection phenomenon caused by light scattering from a lane of dust dispersed in space by comets. The phenomenon is only seen at the ecliptic and is easiest seen shortly before the onset of astronomical twilight at new moon in October and November. It typically appears as a cone or triangle of light up to 15 degrees across at the base on the horizon directly above the rising sun and extending along the ecliptic to an altitude of up to 40 degrees where it has a width of about 5 degrees. The dust particles that cause the phenomenon need to be about 0.04 inch in diameter and spaced about 5 miles from one another. It is believed that under ideal conditions the zodiacle light would extend across the sky to meet the gegenschein. The zodiacl light is also called false dawn. With the clouds out to the east I didn't see the zodiacl light. More information about the zodiacl light

Observing Location	Days Inn, Sydney, Cape Breton, NS, Canada 46.120638 N, 60.207403 W
Atmospheric Conditions	It was mostly clear above but there was a lot of light pollution from street lights and the Days Inn illuminated sign.
Instruments	Naked-eye Observation
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Orion
Time	14Oct04; 0500 ADT
Category	Constellations
Comments	Orion looked huge as I was driving from Glace Bay back to Sydney. It was partially the effect of seeing it through the little car window which it nearly filled. I could see the sword plainly but could not make out the Great Orion Nebula since I couldn't take my eyes off the road long enough to focus on it. I tried to observe it again from the hotel parking lot but he was rising right behind the Days Inn sign and there was too much light pollution to pick it out.