4 April 2005

Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	2130-0030 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	When I returned home from dinner the skies were clearing out from the west which agreed with the satellite loop I had observed so I headed downtown. By the time I got to the subway the clouds had filled in again but I kept going. At the park I found Derrick and Jessica setting up under mostly cloudy skies. There was some clear air low in the west but that was about it. By 2200 EDT it was mostly clear with good transparency but the wind was around 7 so I would say the seeing was fair to good. While observing things a band of cloud would sometimes move in front of them but mostly the star would just wink out in imperceptible haze or high clouds. By 0015 it was getting a little chilly, the temperature having dropped to 42º by then, and the clouds were starting to fill back in from the NW. It looks like we must have been on the edge of a front that kept moving NE and SW.
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars - Charlie Orion SkyView Pro 6LT EQ Reflector - Derrick Orion ShortTubr 4.5 EQ Reflector - Derrick
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Derrick Jessica

Target	Sword of Orion
Constellation	Ori
Category	Asterism
Time	4Apr05; 2215 EDT
Comments	NGC1981 The dual arcs of stars were easily seen. M42/M43 Some nebulosity was visible, mainly above and to the right of the Trapezium. Sigma 747

Target	M78
Constellation	Ori
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	4Apr05; 2230 EDT
Comments	It was difficult to see but appeared as a light patch of sky as I swept the binoculars across it. It would not take direct vision. Should be tried with a nebula filter.

Target	M3
Constellation	Boo
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	4Apr05; 2259 EDT
Comments	Hopped to it from ρ Boo. No notes were made.

Target	Pherkad
Constellation	UMi
Category	Double Star
Time	4Apr05; 2310 EDT
Comments	I was not able to see the secondary naked eye but it split widely in the binoculars. Very unequal in magnitude.

Target	M40
Constellation
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	4Apr05; 2312 EDT
Comments	From Megrez, the dimmest star of the big dipper where the bowl joins the handle, go out through 70 UMa about 1/4 that distance again. Appeared to be slightly yellowish.

Target	M13
Constellation
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	4Apr05; 2326 EDT
Comments	Easy to see just above the top edge of Hercules' torso.

Target	M92
Constellation
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	4Apr05; 2331 EDT
Comments	Small and faint. Is the apex of a right triangle with two brighter stars.

Target	Lyra
Constellation	Lyr
Category	Double Stars
Time	4Apr05; 2335 EDT
Comments	I had the &epsolon; Lyr, ζ Lyr and δ Lyr doubles in the same field of view with Vega. I had to move my eye around a bit to stretch the field of view. They are all different distances apart.