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

[Fred Rayworth]

Dave,

 

Nice photos! I know exactly what you mean by "thick" air as all night, I couldn't get a black background. Still, for as few times as I've been able to go out the past year or so, last night was still a keeper.

 

Fingers crossed for the next time.

 

Fred


 
> Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:00:03 -0700
> To: lvas at lvlug.org
> From: Yahoo at awit.com
> Subject: [Lvas] Saturday (4/25/09) Observing
> 
> 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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