20 April 2006

Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	2045-2245 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	It had been clear all day and CSC said it would be clear tonight with average viewing so I sent Peter and Kin an email saying I would be in the park tonight. When I got home around at 1900 EDT there were some black stripes of cloud around the horizon, particularly to the west, and a few stripes overhead. Since I said I would be there I kept going. On arriving in the park it was mostly cloudy. I couldn't see any of Orion but Betelgeuse, and Sirius was very dim. A couple of times conditions got a little better but not by much. I saw one Mag 3.57 star but mostly Mag 2s. The wind was 5-10 MPH out of the S and it felt chillier than the low to mid-60s being reported on the CPS building clocks. When I arrived home I checked the NOAA observed conditions for Central park and they were saying that at 2251 EDT it was partly cloudy at 61° with winds 9 MPH from the S. Transparency Poor Seeing Good
Observing Instruments	Canon 15x50 IS binocular - Charlie Tacahashi 102 refractor - Peter
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Peter Tagatac

Target	Iridium Flare
Constellation	UMa
Category	Satellite
Time	20060420.2051 EDT
Comments	I was just looking to Manhattan North to see how cloudy it was there and there was an Iridium flare just brightening and then fading quickly. It was about 5° below Alkaid at the end of the handle of the Big Dipper. [This was probably in the top of Boo rather than the bottom of UMa.]

Target	Mars
Constellation	Gem
Category		Planet
Time	20060420.2050 EDT
Comments	Very subdued.

Target	Saturn and M44
Constellation	Cnc
Category	Planet and Deep Sky Object
Time	20060420.2115 EDT
Comments	Saturn looks much rounder than usual in my binocular. The planet is approaching the Beehive Cluster again and it is getting easier to see them both in the same binocular FOV. In Peter's scope I saw the A, B and C rings, Titan and one dimmer moon, and the planet's shadow on the rings