6 September 2005

Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	1900-2330 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	I got three emails from Clear Sky Clock telling me how great it was going to be. They lied. The sky was very milky. It was a little cool and slightly humid. The wind was light. At the end of the evening my bags felt moist. Transparency Fair Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binocular - Charlie 6" DIY Reflector - Peter Tacahashi 22x60 binocular - Peter Fujinon 7x50 binocular - Peter 16x70 binocular - Tom C Yukon 6-100x100 Angled spotting scope - Kin TeleVue Pronto - Tom M
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Peter Tagatac Tom Clabough Kin Lee Tom McIntire Marie Winn Nick Naomi

Target	Spica, Jupiter, Venus & the Moon
Constellation	Vir
Category	Conjunction
Time	6Sep05; 1920 EDT
Comments	The grouping looked particularly nice as the sky turned yellow at the horizon and bled through purple to black with increasing elevation. Sunset 1920 EDT End of Civil Twilight 1948 EDT End of Nautical Twilight 2021 EDT End of Astronomical Twilight 2055 EDT Moon Jupiter Venus Spica Mag Sets Moon 2.5° 4.8° 4.1° -7.2 2036 EDT Jupiter 2.5° 5.1° 5.3° -1.7 2050 EDT Venus 4.8° 5.1° 5.3° -4.0 2045 EDT Spica 4.1° 2.5° 1.7° 1.0 2040 EDT 1900 EDT The moon was already visible naked eye when I arrived. 1910 EDT Venus becomes visible naked eye. 1918 EDT Jupiter is first seen naked eye but fades in and out, mostly out. 1920 EDT Jupiter's equatorial bands are observed in Kin's scope. 1941 EDT Spica is located in the binoculars. 1945 EDT Vega is visible high overhead. 1950 EDT Two Galilean moons are visible to the left of Jupiter and one to the right through my binoculars. 1950 EDT Altair and Tarazed (γ Aql) are visible. 1952 EDT Arcturus is visible. 1953 Deneb and δ Cyg are visible. The whole Summer Triangle is now visible. 1955 EDT Spica is visible naked-eye. 2000 EDT Antares, Dschubba and β Sco are visible. 2005 EDT There is significant boiling over the moon. Image from Starry Night Starter Edition

Target	Neptune
Constellation	Cap
Category	Planet
Time	6Sep05; 2032 EDT
Comments	Located in my binocular

Target	Iridium Flare
Constellation
Category	Satellite
Time	6Sep05; 2046 EDT
Comments	Was not listed in my Heavens Above download but did show up on CalSky. Mag -2.8 flare from the solar panels of Iridium 91 at 40$deg; elevation in the SSE.

Target	Alberio
Constellation	Cyg
Category	Double Star
Time	6Aug05; 2053 EDT
Comments	Seen in the Pronto A bright gold and a dimmer turquoise wide double.

Target	Stock 2 and the Double Cluster, NGC884 & NGC 869
Constellation	Cas/Per
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	6Sep05; 2100 EDT
Comments	The seeing was so poor that I could not see any of the objects although I could see where the Double Clusters were supposed to be and think I say where Stock 2 should be.

Target	Iridium Flare
Constellation	Lyn
Category	Satellite
Time	6Sep05; 2109 EDT
Comments	This was supposed to be a Mag -4.6 flare from the left antenna of Iridium 94 but it wasn't anywhere near that bright. It faded quickly.

Target	Iridium Flare
Constellation	Lyn
Category	Satellite
Time	6Sep05; 2116 EDT
Comments	This flare from Iridium 29 was listed on Heavens Above at Mag -4 but was not listed on CalSky. It was at a lower elevation than the previous flare but appeared much brighter and lasted longer.

Target	ISS Visible Pass
Constellation	Lyn
Category	Satellite
Time	6Sep05; 2120 EDT
Comments	This was short duration, low level pass of the ISS. It appeared just left of the notch in the trees to the north of the ballfields and remained visible as it tracked horizontally to the east disappearing over the police precinct.

Target	Owl (ET) Cluster, NGC457
Constellation	Cas
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	6Sep05; 2115 EDT
Comments	Seen in Peter's scope. The eyes are much brighter than the other stars. There is a squat body and outstretched wings.

Target	M31, Andromeda Galaxy
Constellation	And
Category	Deep Sky Object
Time	6Sep05; 2120 EDT
Comments	Observed in my binocular and Peter's scope. Easy but faint.