[Lvas] Saturday (4/25/09) Observing

[David Blanchette]

Instead of going out to Redstone, I wanted to try someplace where I 
might be able to see Omega Centauri.  I had been eyeing a spot south 
of Jean, NV, essentially a parachute target area, about 6 miles south 
of Jean.  I wanted to see how bad the lights of Vegas, Jean, Primm, 
and the interstate would be at the site.

This night was not the best for observing.  Despite the clear 
(non-cloudy) sky, the air was "thick", and the lights of Vegas washed 
out the entire sky.  There was a distinct lack of contrast, which 
some of you may have seen even in Death Valley.  The light dome 
itself was close to 40 degrees, encompassing the Little Dipper.  I 
could just make out the mag 4.27 star in the bowl, but not the 4.96 
mag star next to it.

The lights of Jean are a thin strip of yellow (sodium) on the 
horizon.  Any vehicle strategically placed will block it, and I don't 
think it really has much of a light dome.

The lights of Primm did produce a small dome, however.  But a well 
placed vehicle could be useful.

Unfortunately, I had only the one vehicle, and I used it to block all 
of the cars on the interstate headed for Vegas.  The southbound 
lights are blocked by the wall between the north/south traffic.  But 
northbound is quite bright.

Setting up my scope to the north of my truck, and doing most of my 
observing south, worked out pretty well, despite all the obstacles.

Oh, one other thing.  This site is 6 miles north of Primm, 6 miles 
south of Jean.  Want to know how far the average scofflaw gets from 
either town before the cop pulls him over?  Want to know whether that 
headlight-blocking wall between the north and south lanes blocks 
flashing cop lights?

The wind was calm throughout the evening, but the seeing was maybe 2 out of 5.

(I'm not sure if embedding images is going to work on the list, 
here.  If it doesn't, I'll repost with attachments.)

All images are using Meade LS200, 12 inch, f/6.2 focal reducer.

This is the Virgo Diamond (60secs, ISO1600)
Emacs!


Same image, 2x enlargement
Emacs!


The Virgo Diamond area, with magnitudes of some stars for reference 
(from Skymap ver 11)
Emacs!


The Virgo Diamond is a pretty thing.  I used the computer's RA/Dec 
info to get to the coordinates, and there it was.  I did not work 
real hard at seeing it visually, the sky was just not dark enough.  I 
calculate the companion on the right hand start is about 7 seconds 
separation and about mag 14.5.  I'd like to get to a dark site with a 
dark sky and see if I can pull it out visually.

M13 (60 secs, ISO 800)
Emacs!


Omega Centauri  (60 secs, ISO 1600)
Emacs!


Omega was 5 degrees (max of 6.5 an hour later) above the horizon when 
I took the photo.  Note it has twice the exposure (ISO 1600 vs ISO 
800) as M13.  The two photos are the same scale, I simply cut the 
same size portion out of each photo, centered on the object.

If you play with the image a bit, you get an idea of what this 
monster might be like, at say, 45 degrees above the horizon...
Emacs!



-- David
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