4 April 2006

Here is a copy of my post of the Celaeno graze posted to the IOTA list:

Date:         2Apr06 UT
Time:         1115 UT
Star:         Celaeno
Location:     Staten Island, NY
              Staten Island September 11 Memorial
              Lat: 40.646904685150446 - from Google Maps
                   40.64697 - by GPS
              Long: -74.07658338546753 - from Google Maps
                    -74.076317 - by GPS
Transparency: Good
Seeing:       Good
Optics:       TeleVue TV76
              Pentax 20x60 binocular
              Pacahaschi 22x60 binocular
              Canon 15x50 IS All Weather Binocular
Timing:       Grundig YB 400 PE receiver tuned to CHU on 7335 kHz 
Recording:    Sony Portable Minidisc Recorder MZ-R50
Observers:    Ben Cacace
              Kin Lee
              Peter Tagatac
              Charlie Ridgway - recording
           
Timing of the event:
+-------------+---+
| 00:15:18 UT | D |
+-------------+---+
| 00:15:19 UT | R |
+-------------+---+
| 00:16:20 UT | D |
+-------------+---+
| 00:15:26 UT | R |
+-------------+---+
| 00:15:30 UT | D |
+-------------+---+
| 00:15:33 UT | R |
+-------------+---+
| 00:15:34 UT | D |
+-------------+---+
| 00:16:36 UT | R |
+-------------+---+


Graphical display of the event:

OOOOOOOOOO_O______OOOO___O_______________________________________________________________OOOOOOOOOO
          1 1     1   1  1                           1                             1     1
          5 5     5   5  5                           5                             6     6
          1 2     2   3  3                           0                             3     3
          8 0     6   0  3                           0                             0     6

Comments:
The four observers were within about 20 feet of each other and all called out the events nearly simultaneously although sometimes the order of the calls was different. Timings do not include a Personal Equation.

None of the WWV frequencies were usable. CHU on 7335 kHz was sending good time clicks but the audio was spotty.

There were lots of clouds in the area and we got lucky in having the Moon shine through a whole in them for the duration of the graze. During the long disappearance a small patch of cloud passed over the Moon but it moved quickly and was not so dense that the limb of the moon could not be seen through it.

[Note that Peter's binocular is a Takahashi 22x60 and the time click reading 1500 under the graphical representation should read 1600]

---

Tonight, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 am, the time will be

01:02:03 04/05/06 and in the morning, at 8 minutes and 9 seconds past 7:00 am, it will be
04/05/06 07:08:09

In countries where it is customary to use the year followed by the month and lastly the day you get a similar effect at 4 minutes and 5 seconds past 3:00 am on July 8

03:04:05 06.07.08 or 10 minutes and 11 seconds after 9:00 am on that same date
06.07.08 09:10:11

---

Observing Location	Met Oval
Observational Period	1610-1625 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Contrary to the forecasts it is beautiful out there. There are a very few scattered fair weather cumulus clouds and there is very little haze. The temperature is mild but there are strong gusts of wind making it feel cool. The weather forecast is calling for rain and snow late tonight. The satellite loop is finally showing some thin clouds moving down from the Binghamton area. Conditions are going to have to deteriorate very rapidly for the forecast to come true. I expect that the wind will diminish after sunset but with the current wind and forecast for complete overcast and rain and snow I don't plan to head downtown to stargaze tonight. There isn't anything out of the ordinary expected. Transparency Good Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 IS binocular - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Sunspots
Constellation	Psc
Category	Solar
Time	20060404.1620 EDT
Comments	865 N Quadrant The P spot appears to be two spots that are tangent to each other but would probably appear separated with higher magnification. There are two T spots outside of the penumbra. 866 N Quadrant The spot is bigger and now has a penumbra around it. 867 S Quadrant At least one of the spots of this group has grown considerably since it was last observed two days ago. The group has a void area around it. ? S Quadrant This pair of spots is small but it is far enough from any of the other groups that I think it is a separate entity that will get its own number if it persists long enough.   Groups Spots R North 2 5 25 South 2 8 28 Total 4 13 53 Groups * 10 + Spots = Relative Sunspot Number