Observations by abigmick@aol.com

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Observations by abigmick@aol.com:

M73 (Open Cluster, in Aquarius)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 5.1-inch equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Oct 7 01:25:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2302

This evening, I observed two open clusters with my Newtonian Short Tube Reflector. M73 has a few bright stars in it & is really only a loos group of stars & not a true open cluster. The stars are fairly bright though. I also observed M45, The Pleaides Open Cluster. The bright star Merope had some nebulosity around it when I upped the power in my scope. There was one other bright star that also had some nebulosity.

Sun (Sun, est. to be in Libra)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 62-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: none   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Wed Oct 6 15:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2301

This morning I observed a new sunspot that had just rotated onto the sun's face. AR2882 is a rather large sunspot & I hope it grows more.

Uranus (Planet, est. mag 5.8)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 127-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sat Oct 2 00:15:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2300

This evening, my brother Anthony & I viewed five planets in one night of observing. We first observed Saturn & we were able to see the Cassini Division & Titan & Rhea. With Jupiter, all four moons were out with two moons on either side of Jupiter. Four belts were in plain view with the red spot just rotating on Jupiter's face. Venus is now a waning crescent & really looking good. Both Neptune & Uranus, were small bluish orbs with Uranus being more blue than Neptune. We also viewed some open clusters, double stars & M31 The Andromeda Galaxy.

Sun (Sun)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 62-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Wed Sep 29 14:45:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2299

This morning, I observed Sunspot #2871 with my solar telescope. This sunspot is still easy to see although it is a few days of leaving the sun's face. It did send a CME towards Earth so we may see an aurora.

NGC7331 (Galaxy, in Pegasus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 127-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Mon Sep 27 00:00:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2298

Last evening, my brother Anthony & I observed two sections of the Vela Nebula with our 5" MAK. One part, which is called the Crescent Nebula was a really great site as well as the other part we were looking at. We also observed the galaxy NGC7331 which was a pleasant surprise. With my 10X50 binoculars, we were able to view both M31 & M32 galaxies in the same field of view. We also observed several open clusters & a globular cluster. Finally, we also observed the red star Myra & it was plenty red.

Sun (Sun)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 62-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 23 16:25:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2297

I just observed the sun with my solar telescope. There are several sunspot groups on the face of the sun but my scope only showed sunspot group AR2871 witch is pretty big. The other spots were too small for me to see.

Neptune (Planet, est. mag 8)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 127-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Mon Sep 20 00:15:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2296

Despite the almost full moon last night, my brother Anthony & I were able to do some observing last night. We were able to look at more than ten double stars & we viewed Jupiter, Venus, Saturn & Neptune. Jupiter's four belts showed very well along with its four moons. Saturn's rings showed well & we saw its North Equatorial Belt with difficulty. Venus looks about half phase now While Neptune was a tiny orb. When we observed the almost full moon, one crater, Bullialdus, really stood out. It looked like a perfect donut on the bright moon's surface. Tycho crater was also really nice. Finally, The ISS made a pass overhead. Great astronomy even with the full moon.

M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy) (Galaxy, in Ursa Major)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 62-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sat Sep 11 00:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2294

On Friday evening, my brother Anthony & I observed ten galaxies & many more other objects. We observed Galaxies M31, M32, M51 & its companion, M81, M82 & M101 & also some NGC galaxies. The galaxies showed decently despite some smoke from the western wild fires. We also observed a slew of NGC & IC open clusters & some objects with nebula. It was quite a night of viewing.

Sun (Sun, est. to be in Virgo)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 62-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Mon Sep 6 16:15:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2293

I just observed the sun with my solar telescope. There are now four different sunspot groups on the sun's face. Sunspot groups AR #2866 & #2868 are very close together with several spots within both groups. Group #2864 also has several spots within the group while group #2863 has a large spot with several very small ones. The sun is very busy.

M22 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 127-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Fri Sep 3 00:45:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2292

This evening, my brother Anthony & I observed many objects in Sagittarius with our 5" MAK. M22 was the best globular we viewed with a lot of speckling. We were able to see several other globular clusters too. We also viewed M8 & M17 & the nebulosity of both were very impressive. Four open clusters, M21, M23, M24 & M25 were the best of the open clusters we viewed. We also viewed the galaxy M31 with our scope & my 10X50 binoculars. In the telescope, we were able to see just the bright central core of the galaxy but with the binoculars, we were also able to see the wings of the M31. We put a filter on the eyepiece & we were able to see a section of the North America Nebula. That was really nice. Finally, we closed out the evening by watching the ISS go by.

I observed the sun with my solar telescope. Sunspot group has many spots in the group with the group being about 100,000 miles long. However, it will be rotating off the sun's face in a couple of days.

Jupiter (Planet, est. mag -2.5, est. to be in Capricornus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 25-inch Dobsonian reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: light   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Aug 26 01:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2290

Last evening, my brother Anthony & I went to the Westport Observatory to look at Jupiter in their 25" Dobsonian & Saturn in their 14" Schmidt Cassegrian reflector. Saturn showed its North Equitorial Belt very nicely with the Cassini Division also showing well. Titan, Rhea & one other moon were also out. Jupiter showed four belts including The NEB, NTB, SEB & STB. Three of its four moons were also out last night. We also put the 14" on Alberio & the blue & yellow stars were beautiful. Finally, The Chinese space station passed overhead & it was about first magnitude.

Jupiter (Planet, est. mag -2.5, est. to be in Capricornus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 5.1-inch equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Wed Aug 25 03:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2289

Last evening, I observed Saturn & Jupiter with my Newtonian Reflector. Jupiter's NEB is definitely brighter than its SEB. Its four moons were three on one side & one on the other side. I also observed the sun this morning & I was able to see one sunspot on it.

Saturn (Planet, est. mag -.2, est. to be in Capricornus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 5.1-inch equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Mon Aug 23 03:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2288

I just finished observing Saturn with my 5" Newtonian reflector. Saturn's rings showed up very nicely.

M39 (Open Cluster, in Cygnus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 5.1-inch equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: good   Seeing: good
Time: Tue Aug 17 01:45:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2284

Last evening, I observed the Open Cluster M39 in Cygnus. It was a very wide cluster without a lot of stars in it. I also saw other small clusters which I couldn't identify. It was an enjoyable evening.

Meteor (Meteor, est. mag -2, est. to be in Perseus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Fri Aug 13 01:45:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2283

Last evening, I observed the Perseus Meteor Shower for about ninety minutes. I counted eight meteors but two very bright meteors really impressed me. Both were about -2 magnitude. They both had a blue white color to them & both slow moving meteors left smoke trails before they exploded. It was a good night for me.

M4 (Globular Cluster, in Scorpius)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 5.1-inch equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Tue Aug 3 01:00:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2282

This evening, I took out my 5" short tube widefield telescope to do some general observing. The best object I saw was The Coat Hanger star group which I viewed at 25X. The Coat Hanger is a fine binocular object but my widefield scope allows you to enjoy the whole object at higher power. I also viewed the area of Cygnus were I saw star clusters & asterisms. There was one group of stars that was all strung out which was quite a site. I did get to see the globular cluster M4 which looked like a small blurry star in my scope. A wide field scope allows you to see so much of the sky & that is why I love this scope.

M7 (Open Cluster, in Scorpius)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 127-mm other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sat Jul 31 01:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2279

On Friday evening, my brother Anthony & I did some nice observing. We viewed M6,M7, & M8. We also viewed Jupiter & Saturn for the first time this season. Jupiter was very low but we were still able to tease out its NEB with our 5" MAK. Saturn was unusually bright because it was at opposition. We also spotted two meteors & the ISS.

Atmospheric (Atmospheric)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Wed Jul 21 01:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2277

Last evening, the smoke from the wild fires in the west arrived at my home here in Connecticut. I pointed my infrared thermometer up at the smoke cloud & it read 62 degrees. This means the base of the smoke cloud was just a few thousand feet above me do the a high that was depressing the cloud down to our lower atmosphere. Both the setting sun & the moon took on a red color. The smoke is finally moving out today.

Satellite (Satellite)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 5.1-inch equatorial reflector   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Tue Jul 20 01:25:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2276

Tonight, I observed the moon with my 5.1" Short Tubed Newtonian Reflector. Near the huge bright Tycho Crater, was a small bright spot within Tycho's crater rays. This spot is often referred to as The Tycho bright spot. In reality, this spot is a small but very bright crater of it's own & it is hard to miss. I also viewed a mountain range in the northern part of the moon.

Satellite (Satellite, est. mag -3, est. to be in Lyra)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Fri Jul 16 01:32:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2275

This evening, my brother Anthony & I watched the ISS pass directly over our heads. We were able to easily see the "wings" as it passed over. A very nice sight.

This morning, I observed Sunspot # AR2842 with my solar scope. It's a growing spot that is surrounded by facula. It should reach the center of the sun's face in a few days.

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