18 April 2006

Observing Location	TotL After I got set up I saw a helicopter hovering "over" the CitiCorp building with its Midnight Sun flashing continuously. A short while later it was joined by another helicopter that took up station further south and east also with its Midnight Sun flashing. Then I noticed another out over Queens looking to the NE. They all dispersed at around 2200 but two of them moved up and took up station on either end of the 86 St Transverse Road. Their noise was very annoying and the primary reason for ending the observing session. Based on their behavior I suspect that they were involved in a dignitary protection detail for an event at the UN rather than for the stuck Roosevelt Island Tram.
Observational Period	2100-2230 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	There were no clouds and there hadn't been any aparent haze during the day, but the sky was not as clear tonight as it was list night between the clouds. It was much milder until 2220 when a brisk, moist breeze blew up out of the NE. Two persistent white stripes were noted. They were both more easily seen with averted vision. The first stretched from below Capella to beneath Saturn and finally into Leo. The second was lower from beneath the feet of Gemini to above Procyon, and above λ Hya. I suspect that they were contrails. Transparency Good Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 IS binocular - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Mars & M35
Constellation	Gem
Category	Planet and Deep SkyObject
Time	20060418.2107 EDT
Comments	Tonight Mars is above M35. Beneath it I can see bright HIP 29379 followed by TYC 1877-01484-1 and TYC 1881-01595-1 and the surrounding stardust.

Target	Saturn & M44
Constellation	Cnc
Category	Planet and Deep Sky Object
Time	20060418.2115 EDT
Comments	Saturn and M44 are just within my FOV but for the best view you have to move your eye around and view each object individually.

Target	Lyrid Meteor
Constellation	Leo
Category	Meteor
Time	20060418.2201 EDT
Comments	This was a slow moving, faint meteor that came from the zenith down toward the GE Building. I think I saw it as it passed through Leo. It had a short tail and appeared to be a dirty yellow color.

Target	Satellites
Constellation	Leo
Category	Satellite
Time	20060418.2207 EDT
Comments	This is the second satellite I saw in this area tonight. The first was around the time of the meteor sighting and was moving up through the tail of Leo. This one was moving south through the tail just inside Denebola.

Target	P73/Schwassmann/Wachmann
Constellation	Boo
Category	Comet
Time	20060418.2225 EDT
Comments	I easily identified the area the pieces are passing through but didn't see anything suspicious. I really didn't expect to see anything in my binocular since we have never seen a good candidate in Peter's telexcope.