12 March 2005

Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	1745-1915 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	When I left The Bronx the sky was clear everywhere but on the western horizon where there was a deck of low clouds. On arriving in the park the sun was just setting and the clouds were getting darker and moving east. As the sun went down they became dark gray with a layer of white beneath them in the west which was actually more cloud rather than the clear air that it appeared to be. When I left the park about 1915 EST the clouds were starting to fill in overhead.
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars - Charlie 10" Teleport - Peter 16x70 binoculars - Tom
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Peter Tagatac Tom Clabough

Naked-eye Limiting Magnitude Observations	Star Magnitude Faintest Object Observed 3.56 Betelgeuse α Ori 0.52 Meissa λ Ori 3.56 Bellatrix γ Ori 1.6 Alnitak ζ Ori 2.07 Almilam ε Ori 1.7 Mintaka δ Ori 2.25 μ Ori 3.38 Trapezium   Nair al Saif ι Ori 2.79 Rigel β Ori 0.14

Target	Mercury
Constellation	Psc
Category	Planets
Time	12Mar05; 1835 EST
Comments	Mercury was at it greatest eastern elongation today so tonight was supposed to be the best night to observe it, particularly since there is a favorable Moon. Tom and I began watching for the planet when I arrived in the park at around 1745. At that time the Moon was easily visible naked eye but the Mercury could not be located even with the binoculars. I think it was behind the clouds. Peter picked up Mercury first in his binoculars and I immediately saw it naked eye. We were not able to see any phase in Tom's binoculars, which are a hare stronger than mine, but they sit on a rickety tripod and the image is in constant motion. With more light gathering power his image was brighter and flared more than my image does. Peter and I both felt that we saw phase through my binoculars with the lower right quadrant being flattened. Through his telescope it looked to me like the Mercury's upper left quadrant was slightly flattened which would be consistent with my binocular view I think. This doesn't seem right to me though as that is the quadrant that is closest to the Sun so I think it should be illuminated longest, with the upper left quadrant going dark first. Through the atmosphere the Mercury looked very orange. It appeared slightly above and to the left of the leftmost tower of the San Remo and set behind the bulk of the building.