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Other (Other)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: naked eye Location: Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: light Transparency: good Seeing: good
Time: Thu Nov 20 22:47:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 915
My friend and observing partner Tony Donnangelo and I witnessed a superb aurora on Thursday night from a dark site in the Tuscarora State Forest in central Pennsylvania near Mifflintown.It was one of the most unusual displays that either of us had ever seen. There were some curtains and rays but the most striking features were the large patches that would appear and disappear in almost every part of the sky, somewhat like the display last month and the one in April of 2000. At times there were extremely bright patches in the east, the south, and the west. The northern sky was completely washed out by auroral activity.The aurora became visible at 22:47 UT (5:47 p.m. EST) and persisted (in the north) until the wee hours of the morning, waxing and waning in intensity. By 22:58 it extended to the zenith. The aurora encircled the horizon and was very bright in the east in another three minutes time. Around 23:25 there were two bright patches in the southwest and west and a pink swath rose from the horizon to Capricornus. About 25 minutes later I noticed a faint ray in the south that extended from the horizon to the west of Mars. There was also a large pink ray-like swath that slanted southward from the west at an angle of about 30 degrees and reached an altitude of approximately 45 degrees above the horizon. Around 23:55 a series of 3 or more rays appeared to the east of Mars shortly after a brilliant Iridium flare occurred in the same vicinity. By 00:27 much of the activity had abated but there were still patches in the southwest and northwest. The northern sky was still aglow. Activity increased in the north later on but I was taking a much needed nap and missed most of it. In terms of color we noted pinks, greens, blues, and whites. I shot almost two rolls of film with my Pentax K1000 SLR during the display. Some of those photographs are now avaiable online at http://dvaa.org/Photos/DaveMitsky/
Meteor (Meteor, est. to be in Leo)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: naked eye Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Tue Nov 18 09:05:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 912
Monday night turned out to be clear despite the forecasts so I drove to the ASH Naylor Observatory. Although I would have preferred to be at a darker site and for tonight (Tuesday night that is) to be clear instead due to the possibility of significant shower activity, I did nevertheless do some meteor observing throughout the night. To make a long story short the results were very disappointing. I saw no meteors at all in the early part of the night and only two during a 30 minute period running from 09:05 to 09:35 UT. The better one of the two shot directly across the radiant and was at least 0 magnitude in brightness. The predicted peak for the Leonids was the following morning but the weather forecast was for rain so these two were the sole Leonids for me this year.
Comet (Comet, est. mag 7.1, est. to be in Perseus, Est. RaDec 4h00m, +37d48m)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 17-inch equatorial reflector Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Tue Nov 18 02:45:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 911
I observed Comet LINEAR T7 on Tuesday night from the ASH Naylor Observatory using a 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain at 162, 202, and 232x. Its coma was irregular in shape and consistency, with a fairly strong central condensation. Although the transparency was mediocre, the seventh magnitude comet was seen rather easily.
Sun (Sun)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 105-mm other Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: good Seeing: good
Time: Sat Nov 15 16:00:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 910
During the work day at the ASH Naylor Observatory I set up the ASH 105mm f/4.2 Edmund Scientific Astroscan and aluminized glass solar filter on Saturday morning to show the guys AR 10484 (see http://www.spaceweather.com for further information), which has survived a solar round trip in fine fashion. We used a 32mm University Optics Koenig-II, a 26mm Tele Vue Ploessl, a 15mm Edmund Scientific RKE, a 13mm Tele Vue Ploessl, and an 8mm Brandon to view the large sunspot complex. With the Astroscan's short focal length of 445mm even the 8mm didn't produce a very large image.I also aimed the red "bowling ball" scope at the setting Moon. The 32mm eyepiece was especially helpful in demonstrating the shadow of the secondary phenomenon as seen with an overly large exit pupil (and in this case a stopped down eye pupil).Construction of the new roll-off roof observatory building is progressing apace (see http://www.astrohbg.org for a now outdated photo).
Moon (Moon)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 101-mm refractor Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: good Seeing: good
Time: Sun Nov 9 01:06:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 909
I observed Saturday evening's lunar eclipse from the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg's Naylor Observatory through a number of instruments including the ASH 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain, a 10" f/10 Meade SCT, the 5" f/5 finder scope for the 17", my 101mm f/5.4 Tele Vue refractor, a Celestron 80mm f/5 refractor, a Celestron 20x80 binocular, and a Celestron Ultima 10x50 binocular. Many other telescopes were in use including the ASH 12.5" f/6.5 and 10" f/7 Cave Newtonians. I took afocal shots through the 5" and my scope with a Canon digital camera and eyepiece projection shots through the 5" with my Pentax K1000 SLR and a 32mm Brandon.We had clear skies for most of the event. Clouds encroached during the partial phase but were gone before totality began. Temperatures dropped to the mid-thirties.To my eyes the moon was a pinkish orange hue during totality with a bit of brightness at the southern limb, perhaps an L of 3 on the Danjon Scale. During totality I showed some of the onlookers M45, the Double Cluster, and Stock 2.There were at least 100 visitors and many ASH members present. Two of the local television stations did broadcasts from the observatory. I was interviewed by a reporter from the Harrisburg Patriot and by a another reporter from a local television station that didn't bother to send an ENG truck.All in all it was a most enjoyable evening
Other (Other)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: naked eye Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: good Seeing: good
Time: Fri Oct 31 00:10:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 907
There was a very nice auroral display in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area on Thursday evening. I was at the ASH Naylor Observatory near Lewisberry for much of it but I could see red sheets in the east as I drove along light polluted I-83 on the way there. After I arrived at the observatory a stunning coronal arc was visible at approximately 00:15 UT. Unfortunately, it subsided before I could get my camera set up but I did go through a roll of 800 speed film before activity ended about 45 minutes later. During that time we saw rays, curtains, and isolated patches colored red, green, and white. Most of the red patches appeared in the northern sky. At one point the aurora streched from the eastern to the western horizon.
Other (Other, est. mag ~15th, est. to be in Andromeda)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 14.5-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Blain, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: light Transparency: good Seeing: excellent
Time: Sat Oct 25 04:15:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 900
On Friday night Tony Donnangelo, Bob Pody, John Symborski, and I successfully observed the periodic comet 2P/Encke through a 14.5" Starmaster SkyTracker Dob from Campsite 52 in western Perry County, Pennsylvania. This comet was one of the dimmest that I've ever seen and it was only through Tony Donnangelo's painstaking efforts that we were able to view it. It was not even visible until it was close to the zenith and certainly was not remotely as bright as the 11.6 magnitude figure predicted by the IAU ephemeris (seehttp://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/0002P_1.html forthat information). We also observed Comets LINEAR T7 and LINEAR-NEAT HT50, LINEAR T7 being the easiest of the three to detect. Three asteroids and a multitude of deep-sky objects, including B33 (the Horsehead Nebula) and some great galaxy groups in Pisces, were seen as well. Muted pinks in the wings of M42 and shades of blue and green near the Trapezium were clearly evident.
Mars (Planet, est. mag -1.5, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 11-inch refractor Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: severe Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Tue Oct 21 01:00:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 897
On Monday evening I paid another visit to Franklin & Marshall's Grundy Observatory, which is located just to the east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I had wanted to see Mars through the 1884 vintage 11" Alvan Clark achromat at some time during this historic apparition and this was perhaps my last opportunity. High clouds prevailed early on with a few sucker holes that allowed some observing to take place but conditions improved a great deal after 00:00 UT (2003/10/21). My first view was through the Clark and it was, in fact, of Mars using a 26mm Kellner. At approximately 23:20 UT the planet was still too low for a good outcome but things did improve within two hours time. Jerry McClune, the telescope operator, had the 16" f/13.5 Boller & Chivens classical Cassegrain up and running. During the course of this October public observing session I saw M57, M13, M31, NGC 7662, NGC 7009, Neptune, Uranus, and the Double Cluster through the single-arm fork mounted reflector.Jerry had shown me how to operate the Clark on a previous visit last May and allowed me to star-hop to a number of objects. This time around I trained the refractor on Albireo, Epsilon Lyrae, M15, and Eta Cassiopeiae. It was more than a bit tough to locate objects that weren't close to bright stars considering the highly light polluted skies, the ancient long-focus finder scope, and the manner in which the big refractor is mounted. In fact, in a few cases I wasn't able to track down my intended target.As Mars gained altitude and the transparency improved I substituted a 12mm Brandon for the Kellner and was able to show the crowd the SPC and Mare Cimmerium when the CM was approximately 214 degrees. The planet displayed a phase of 91% and was obviously gibbous.
Mars (Planet, est. mag -1.7, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 6-inch refractor Location: Steelton, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Tue Oct 14 03:10:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 896
I stopped at a fellow Astronomical Society of Harrisburg member's roll-off roof observatory briefly last night to have a look at Mars through his 152mm f/9 Astro-Physics Starfire refractor. A 7mm Pentax ortho and a Wratten #21 orange filter provided us with some rather good views of the now obviously gibbous -1.7 magnitude Mars. The CM was 308.7 degrees at the time and the SPC, Syrtis Major, and other features were evident. Hellas was bright but so was another area near the daytime limb, another dust storm in the making perhaps. We also observed the waning gibbous Moon. The crater Gutenberg (the Lobster Claw) was well illuminated as were several interesting rilles and other features in that general area.
Other (Other, est. mag 9.3, est. to be in Sagittarius, Est. RaDec 18h10m, -27d45')
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 17-inch equatorial reflector Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: poor
Time: Thu Sep 25 01:00:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 885
One of the objects that I observed on Wednesday night with the 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain (162x) at the ASH Naylor Observatory near Lewisberry, PA, was Nova Sagittarii 2003 Number 2. This new nova, if you'll pardon the pun, was discovered by Nick Brown on September 19th and is located at R.A. = 18h10m10.42s, Declination. = -27d45'35.2". Using the AAVSO finder chart and the second edition of the Uranometria 2000.0 (page 145) I was able to locate the nova at approximately 01:00 UT just to the east of a distinctive arrow-shaped asterism. Bob Young, an ASH member who is an experienced variable star observer, felt that the nova was shining at approximately 9.3 magnitude.For further information on this nova see http://www.aavso.org/publications/newsflash/sp7.shtml and http://www.aavso.org/news/nsgr032.shtml
Other (Other, est. mag 15.0, est. to be in Lyra, Est. RaDec 18h53.3m, +33d04')
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 30-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Cherry Springs State Park, Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: good
Time: Thu Aug 28 02:10:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 877
IC 1296 is approximately 4' NW of M57. This 1.3' sized spiral galaxy was quite faint even with 30 inches of aperture. I was unable to see it the next night using a 14.5" Starmaster. IC 1296 lies within a diamond of field stars and is displayed rather nicely at http://www.highenergyastro.com/m57.html and http://user.mc.net/arf/m57.htm
Other (Other, est. mag ~15.0, est. to be in Hercules, Est. RaDec 16h42m, +36d42' )
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 30-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Cherry Springs State Park, Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: good
Time: Thu Aug 28 02:00:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 876
I observed IC 4617, the dim Index Catalogue spiral galaxy near M13, for the first time through Tom Whiting's new 30" Dob at Cherry Srings State Park two days before the start of the Black Forest Star Party. M13 was fantastic at 388x and at 11.6 magnitude the spiral NGC 6207 seemed extremely bright through the large aperture. IC 4617 is situated 14.4' NNE of M13, approximately halfway between NGC 6207 and M13, and seemed rather small at 1.2' x 0.4' but not particularly difficult to see. It appeared as a tiny, circular, non-stellar object. An image of IC 4617 is available at http://www.justjim.com/ctsp/
Mars (Planet, est. mag -2.7, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 14.5-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: excellent
Time: Tue Aug 19 07:00:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 868
While observing from the Tuscarora State Forest on Tuesday morning (2003/8/19) I had my all-time best view of Solis Lacus, the Eye of Mars, through my friend Tony Donnangelo's 14.5" Starmaster Sky Tracker Dob and homemade apodizing mask using magnifications up to 610x (Tele Vue Nagler zoom at 3mm) and a variety of color and nebula(r) filters. We tried Tony's H-beta filter with good results but I wasn't as impressed with it as I expected to be based on recent reports.The seeing wasn't quite as good at a different dark site (near Halifax) on Wednesday morning but did support 352x (5.2mm Pentax SMC XL) with ease and the Eye of Mars was again portrayed magnificently, especially with a Wratten #23A filter. The Starmaster's Zambuto mirror once again did its thing admirably. And on Thursday morning I spent some time at the ASH Naylor Observatory using the 17" classical Cassegrain at a maximum of 259x (25mm Celestron orthoscopic) due to the poorer seeing. I stopped down the scope to 14" and briefly to an unobstructed 6". Appropriately enough a Wratten #25 red filter did a nice job on the Red Planet.An observing report on another forum likened Solis Lacus to the CBS logo. I can't think of a better description.Ed Grafton's image - http://www.ghg.net/egrafton/m8-21-03.jpg - portrays Solis Lacus rather dramatically.
Mars (Planet, est. mag -2.7, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 17-inch equatorial reflector Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Sat Aug 16 02:45:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 862
Maura Smith and I had some great views of Mars from the Naylor Observatory. We used a variety of filters (an Orion SkyGlow filter, an Orion variable polarizing filter, a neutral density filter, and Wratten #21, 23, 30, and 80A color filters) sometimes stacked (the SkyGlow and Wratten #30 was a great combination), and 3 aperture masks of various diameters (6, 10, and 14 inches). Magnifications of 202, 231, 249, and 259x were employed. We captured a few good afocal photos of Mars with Maura's Sony digital camera as well. During the session the CM advanced from 116 degrees to 164. The Eye of Mars (Solis Lacus) was visible as was Mare Sirenum and some morning limb clouds.
Sun (Sun)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 4.5-inch equatorial reflector Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: poor Seeing: fair
Time: Fri Aug 15 20:05:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 863
I observed the large sunspot group AR 10431 on Friday afternoon with my 114mm C4.5 Newtonian at 53x. I was unable to see the group without optical aid on Sunday using Mylar solar eclipse shades, however.
Mars (Planet, est. mag -2.7, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 6-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: severe Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Fri Aug 15 03:10:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 858
On Thurday night my significant other and I did a little sidewalk astronomy for some of her neighbors using her 6" f/8 Orion XT6, 8-24mm Tele Vue zoom eyepiece, 2x Orion Shorty Barlow lens, and my 8mm Tele Vue Radian. No color filters were used. Mars looked surprisingly good through the little Dob at magnifications up to 304x. Mare Sirenum and other surface features were prominently displayed. Folks were excited when Maura explained what the SPC was. We also spent some time showing the waning gibbous Moon to the onlookers.
Mars (Planet, est. mag -2.6, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 17-cm equatorial reflector Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: poor Seeing: good
Time: Tue Aug 12 03:05:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 857
After the August ASH meeting a few members stayed to observe Mars using the 17" f/17 classical Cassegrain at 218 and 324x with Wratten #21 and #30 filters. Mare Sirenum and the shrinking SPC were prominent.
Mars (Planet, est. mag -2.6, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 17-cm equatorial reflector Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: poor Seeing: good
Time: Mon Aug 11 04:25:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 855
After a well-attended public observing session at the Naylor Observatory - see http://www.astrohbg.org - came to an end a few of us stayed to observe Mars with our 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain. The weather had been mostly poor earlier in the evening and hadn't improved much in the meantime but Mars was nicely visible nevertheless through occasional thin clouds. The seeing was rather good for the most part, perhaps in partial compensation by the weather gods for the poor transparency. We were able to view Mars until a bit after 05:20 UT when the presence of lightning in the distance suggested that closing the dome might be a wise decision.At 04:25 UT the CM was 199 degrees. The SPC was noticeably smaller than the last time I had seen it (2003/7/31 UT). Mare Sirenum, Mare Cimmerium, Hesperia, and a trace of Mare Tyrrhenum I believe collectively resembled a wishbone spanning the planet, running horizontally across the field of view. A bright Hellas was apparently making it presence known on the following (eastern) limb.Magnifications of 231, 249, 259, 324, and 404x were used along with a number of color filters including Wratten #21, #25, #30, and #80A.
Sun (Sun)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 105-mm refractor Location: Springfield , Vermont, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Sat Aug 2 19:30:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 854
The weather was generally pretty dismal at Stellafane this year, especially on Friday when torrential downpours occurred, but on Saturday afternoon the skies cleared enough to allow solar observing to take place. While atop Breezy Hill looking at the telescopes entered in the competition, I had a chance to view the sun in white light through two scopes employing Herschel wedges. One was a refractor, as one might expect, the other a Newtonian employing non-aluminized mirrors. A number of small sunspots were visible.When I walked back down to the campgrounds I saw the daystar through John Vogt's 105mm Astro-Physics Traveler and a 70mm Tele Vue Ranger. Both refractors were equipped with Coronado H-alpha filters. The Ranger had a 40mm filter and performed quite well but John's Traveler had two stacked 90mm filters and provided simply amazing views. An enormously long filament snaked across one limb, with a surprisingly wide filament "beneath" it, and several prominences were present. However, the real highlight was a bright solar flare on the sun's disk near the 12 o'clock limb.
Mars (Planet, est. mag -2.3, est. to be in Aquarius)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 14.5-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: light Transparency: excellent Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed Jul 30 07:10:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 853
Tony Donnangelo and I observed Mars at magnifications up to 700x with his 14.5" Starmaster Sky Tracker Dob using his homemade apodizing mask and various filters. Both the seeing and transparency were excellent (perhaps the best we've experienced during this rather dismal year for observing) at the Longfellow Road dark site in Pennsylvania's Tuscarora State Forrest. The Pipe (Sinus Sabaeus and Sinus Meridiani) was quite a sight as were Hellas, Syrtis Major, and the retreating SPC. My Tele Vue Genesis sdf refractor was also employed to view the Red Planet but at considerably lower magnifications.
Sun (Sun)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 102-mm refractor Location: Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: light Transparency: fair Seeing: fair
Time: Fri Jul 25 15:30:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 847
I joined my friend Tony Donnangelo for some Friday morning (~15:30 to16:00 UT) H-alpha solar observing today. I arrived after most of theactivity that Tony saw some two hours earlier had subsided but therewas still a fairly large, horizontally-branching prominence on thetrailing limb that slowly morphed into what looked like a loop, aswell as a couple of small prominences. A Lumicon Solar Prominencefilter allowed us to make these observations.There were only 3 sunspots to be seen when we switched to a BaaderAstroSolar white light filter. The one nearest the preceding limb, AR 10410,seemed to have a double umbra. AR 10414, the largest one, was closer tothe sun's center and had a complex umbra. The third spot (AR 10420) was just makingheadway on the disk from the trailing limb.We used Tony's Takahashi FS-102 apochromatic refractor and a 3-6mmTele Vue Nagler zoom, a 5.2mm Pentax SMC XL, a 7mm Nagler type 6, anda 9mm Nagler type 6 during the observing session.
Moon (Moon)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 101-mm refractor Location: New Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: light Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Sun Jul 20 06:30:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 846
While observing Luna on Sunday morning from Camp Site 52, I noted what may be an unreported lunar light ray, and a triple one at that, in the moderately large walled plain Alexander (Rukl #13 - see http://www.astrosurf.com/cidadao/crater_alexander_01.jpg for an image). The narrow central ray was the longest. The two flanking rays were also narrow triangles. The visual effect of the three rays was striking and seemed almost gothic in appearance. At the time that this was taking place my friend Tony Donnangelo and I were also viewing three other craters in which rays were taking place (namely Curtius, Lilius, and Julius Caesar) through his 14.5" Starmaster Sky Tracker Dobnewt. Few sunset rays are known (the first of which was the Walter ray which I discovered in 1997) so seeing four was quite a surprise. The triple ray in Alexander was still progressing nicely when I turned in for the night.
Other (Other)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 5-inch refractor Location: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: good Seeing: excellent
Time: Fri Jul 18 01:50:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 845
A group of fellow ASH members and I saw a rather odd looking "cloud" from the Naylor Observatory last night between approximately 1:50 and 2:30 UT. First noticed low in the southwest it moved rapidly northeastward. Through binoculars and a 5" f/5 finder scope the object initially appeared to be roughly triangular with a somewhat condensed head. Later I viewed it with our 12.5" Newtonian and 17" classical Cassegrain. The speed of the cloud was striking. I noticed a bifurcated tail through the large telescopes. The cloud became increasingly more difficult to see after it passed beneath Arcturus.A satellite was launched that evening by an Atlas 5 (see http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/atlas5_launch_030717.html ). We assumed that the cloud was the result of an orbital fuel dump by that the upper stage of that vehicle. As it turned out this was the case.
Sun (Sun)
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 102-mm refractor Location: Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: good
Time: Thu Jul 17 15:30:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 843
I joined my friend Tony Donnangelo for a bit of solar observing on Thursday morning. Using his Lumicon Solar Prominence H-alpha filter and Takahashi FS-102 apochromat we viewed only a few minor prominences. However, in white light the sun's disk was sprinkled with sunspots. AR 10409 and 10410 were the standouts.
Comet (Comet, est. mag 9.6, est. to be in Leo, Est. RaDec 11h00m, +10d11')
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 17-inch equatorial reflector Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: good
Time: Thu Jul 17 01:40:00 2003 UT Obs. no.: 841
I was able to observe C/2002 O7 (LINEAR) during astronomical twilight using the 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain at the ASH Naylor Observatory. The comet, which was listed as being magnitude 9.6, was extremely faint and required averted vision and jogging the telescope to be seen at all. It was located low in the southwest near the mid-section of Leo at 11h00m, +10d11'. Magnifications used were 162, 202, and 259x. Prior to that I saw another horizon-hugging shallow-sky object that will soon be gone from view. Prismatic dispersion made old Jove even more colorful than normal. At 03:19 UT a bright Iridium flare (Iridium 57) took place in the southwest. Just afterward a rather bright meteor flashed through Ophiuchus. Before taking my leave I watched the Moon and nearby Mars rise in the east. At ~08:00 UT I took a look at the conjunction of those two denizens of the solar system with my Celestron 20x80's.
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