5 November 2007

Observing Location	PSC
Observational Period	1930-1900 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 53&def;F Wind Gentle Breeze Humidity Moderate Feels Like Cool Pleasant fall weather. Transparency Fair Seeing II
Instruments	Golden Gate 7x35 binocular - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target 17P/Holmes Constellation Per Category Comet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20071105.1830 EST Comments The comet is difficult to see tonight. I think there may be some high, thin clouds up there that are obscuring it. Transparency isn’t that great. I couldn’t see any stars of comparable brightness naked-eye so had to make my comparison through the binocular. I concentrated on the stars of the Alpha Perseus Association and the “fishhook.” Object Mag. Description α Per 1.79 brighter δ Per 3.01 brighter 48 Per 3.96 equal μ Per 4.12 equal 17P/Holmes ~4.24   λ Per 4.25 dimmer ψ Per 4.32 equal ο Per 4.36 equal HIP 20070 4.60 dimmer 34 Per 4.67 brighter HIP 16147 4.99 dimmer HIP 15770 5.32 dimmer HIP 18396 5.39 dimmer HIP 16210 5.58 dimmer

---

Observing Location	MetOval
Observational Period	1930-2000 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 53°F Wind Calm Humidity Moderate Feels Like Cool I was having trouble finding stars here. The light pollution wasn’t helping any but it was getting ready to rain. Transparency Fair-Poor Seeing II
Instruments	SAR: Coulter CT-100 Newtonian reflector - Charlie Celestron Omni 20mm (21x) Celestron Omni 2x Barlow
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target 17P/Holmes Constellation Per Category Comet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20071105.1930 EST Comments 17P/Holmes looked like a faint smudge at 21.6x and I could not find it at all at 42.2x. I estimated that nine comets would fit across the 2.3° FoV making the comet 15.33’ or 15’20” in diameter.

Tonight I submitted a summary of my observations to date to Recent News and Observations.

• 2007 Oct. 26.13 UT: m1=3.01, Dia.= -, DC=7, Tail: none ... NE ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Oct. 30.97 UT: m1=2.96, Dia.= -, DC=7, Tail: none ... NE ... Charlie Ridgway (Corona, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Oct. 31.08 UT: m1=3.56, Dia.= -, DC=7, Tail: none ... NE ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Oct. 31.15 UT: m1=3.02, Dia.= -, DC=7, Tail: none ... 107:, f/4, 21.6x & 43.2x ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Nov. 01.24 UT: m1= -, Dia.=9.5', DC=7, Tail: none ... 107L, f/4, 21.6x & 43.2x ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Nov. 02.10 UT: m1= -, Dia.=12', DC=7, Tail: none ... 107L, f/4, 21.6x & 43.2x ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Nov. 03.08 UT: m1=3.75 , Dia.=16.8', DC=7, Tail: none ... NE (m1), 107L f/4, 21.6x & 43.2x (Dia.) ...Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Nov. 03.96 UT: m1=3.69, Dia.= -, DC=7, Tail: none ... NE ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA)
• 2007 Nov. 05.98 UT: m1-4.2, Dia.= -, DC-2, Tail: none ... 7x35B ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA) [tonight is the first night i have not seen the comet naked-eye due to high clouds reducing contrast]
• 2007 Nov. 06.02 UT: m1= -, Dia.= 15.33', DC=2, TaIl: none ... 107L f/4 21.3x ... Charlie Ridgway (Bronx, NYC, New York, USA) [light-pollution and high clouds making observations difficult]

---

I have been reading The Book of Constellations, by Robin Kerrod, again and am noticing how many of the constellations have interlocking mythologies. I always think about Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Cetus and Perseus being related but there are a bunch more as well. So I decided to make a list and maybe, if I can get the coordinates for the constellation boundaries, create a chart showing where they are in relation to each other.

Cepheus Cassiopeia Andromeda Cetus Perseus Pegasus

Hercules Leo Draco Hydra Cancer Centaurus Taurus Ursa Major Ursa Minor

Cetus Capricornus Delphimus Aquarius Aquilla (Eridanus) Pisces Austrinus

Aries Argo Navis (Carina, Vela, Puppis) Draco Lyra

Bootes (Canes Venatici) Ursa Major Ursa Minor

Orion Ursa Major Ursa Minor Lepus Taurus (Pleiades) Scorpius

Centaurus Herculels Gemini Argo Navis (Carina, Vela, Puppis) Ophiuchus Serpens

Cygnus Gemini Equeleus

Crater Corvus Hydra

Aquila Crater

Aquila Sagitta Hercules

Ursa Major Ursa Minor Bootes

Libra Scorpius

The water realm Cetus Pisces Aquarius Pisces Austrinus

A also noticed that Zeus (Jupiter) seems to have been quite the lady’s man. Here is the list I have come up with or stars or constellations that either bore him children or were his children. There are other women he was involved with who I have not identified stars or constellations which they are associated with.

Bore Children to Zeus	A Child of Zeus
Taurus (Europa) Ursa Major Virgo	(Aquarius) (Auriga) Bootes Hercules Gemini (Pollux) Perseus Ursa Minor
Capricornus (suckled Zeus) Centaurus (possibly a son of Zeus) Cygnus (Zeus himself when he seduced Leda)

The following constellations do not have a mythology associated with them, primarily because the constellations are southern hemisphere constellations which were not created until after all the myths had been dispensed.

Antilla Apes Ara Canes Venatici* Carina* (Argo Navis) Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Crux Dorado Fornax Grus Horologium Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Minor Libra† Lupus† Lynx† Mensa Microscopium	Monoceros Musca (Australis) Norma (et Regula Octans Pavo Phoenix Pictor Pisces Austrinus† Puppis* (Argo Navis) Pyxis Reticulum (Phomboidalis) Sculptor Scutum Sextans Telescopium Triangulum† Triangulum Australae Tucana Vela* (Argo Navis) Volans
* modern constellation with a mythology belonging to a larger defunct constellation †classical constellation without a mythology