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Observations of objects of type "Other":

Other (Other, est. mag 3, est. to be in Orion)
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 Dec 14 04:00:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2316

Last evening, I observed CR69 which is the open cluster that makes up Orion's head. In my rich field telescope, I was able to see many of the stars in the cluster. I also counted 8 meteors from the Geminid Meteor Shower.

Other (Other)
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 Nov 11 02:45:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2310

Last evening, I observed the Hyades Open Cluster with my 5.1" Short Tube Newtonian Reflector. When I scanned the Hyades with my scope, It seemed to me like this one cluster is in the process of splitting into five or six separate open clusters. I really believe the cluster is in the process of breaking up as we watch it.

Other (Other)
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: Wed Apr 21 00:30:00 2021 UT   Obs. no.: 2249

Last night, my brother Anthony & I observed The Moon with our 5" MAK. The great thing we viewed was the Appenine, Alp & Cacucus Mountain ranges. We also viewed craters with domes inside them. The terminator was very interesting to look at. We also observed several double stars. What a night.

Other (Other, est. to be in Lyra)
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: Sat Jun 13 01:30:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2161

For the last three evenings, I have been observing the area of the Summer Triangle with my Newtonian telescope & my 10X50 binoculars. For the first time I split Zeta Lyrae with my binoculars. I never realized it was a double star until I just read it. I also scanned my telescope in the Milky Way & saw several double stars within the milky Way band. The Coat Hanger Asterism is really something to see in a low power eyepiece of a telescope.

Other (Other)
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 Jun 9 02:30:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2160

This evening, I observed The Coat Hanger Asterism with my Newtonian reflector. In low power, I was able to enjoy it more because I could see more stars than with binoculars. It was a very interesting thing to view. Also, I observed the sunspot AR 2765 with my solar scope. The spot is now more than half way across the sun's face & will go off the sun's face in three or four more days. It was a nice day night doubleheader of observing.

Other (Other, est. mag 7.6, est. to be in Ursa Major)
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: Thu May 14 01:30:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2154

Last evening, I observed an ordinary yellow white star very close to Mizar & Alcor. The star, HD 116798, was seen in 1722 by a part time astronomer named Johann Georg Liebknecht who thought the star was a planet. He even named the "planet" Sidus Ludoviciana. Imagine his surprise when he was told it was just a star.

Other (Other, est. to be in Corona Borealis)
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: Tue May 5 02:30:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2149

Last evening, I browsed the stars around The Northern Crown. I finally got a peak of the famous R Corona variable star. The article in Astronomy Magazine showed this star at 6.7 magnitude a while ago. Last night, when I looked at it, it seemed to dim to around 8th magnitude. I will be checking out this star often. I also checked out the Eta star which is a 4.2 magnitude orange star. This is another star heading to its demise in the not to distant future.

Other (Other)
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: Thu Apr 9 03:00:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2144

Last evening, I observed the brightest star in the Northern Crown Constellation. This star is another hot blue star that will use up its fuel in a matter of a million years, if its lucky. The other stars in the Northern Crown are not nearly as bright but the way they arc, the form really does make it look like a crown.

Other (Other, est. to be in Coma Berenices)
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: Sat Mar 28 03:00:00 2020 UT   Obs. no.: 2141

Last evening, I observed the Coma Berenices star cluster with my 10X50 binoculars. This large group of stars were interesting to look at with binoculars. Because of light pollution, I couldn't see Berenices' hair with my naked eye. Never the less, it was a good viewing session.

Other (Other, est. mag 7, est. to be in Cygnus)
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: Thu Jul 19 02:45:00 2018 UT   Obs. no.: 2065

This evening. I observed an asterism just below the star Deneb. The asterism is often referred to as Little Orion. It looks just like The Orion constellation in miniature.

Other (Other, est. mag 7, est. to be in Pegasus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: good   Seeing: good
Time: Mon Jul 10 01:40:00 2017 UT   Obs. no.: 2012

After observing the sun today, I decided to observe the star HD162826 which is located in the one o'clock position from Vega. This star came out of the same star cluster as our own sun did 4.5 billion years ago. It is 15% larger than our sun but it does look yellow like our sun. Astronomers are hunting for more stars that came out of the sun's cluster.

Other (Other)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Time: Wed Jul 16 00:30:00 2014 UT   Obs. no.: 1928

This evening, My brother Anthony, my friends Dave, Mike & I saw the most incredible sunset. Beside the great colors, we counted more than 30 Crespiculer rays. We ended up watching this sunset for more than a half an hour!

Other (Other, est. mag -3)
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: Sat Sep 7 03:30:00 2013 UT   Obs. no.: 1892

This evening I watched the Ladee rocket go by my condo after it took off from Wallops Island for the moon. It burned brightly during the first stage & then I couldn't see it anymore after the first stage flameout. It was impressive.

Other (Other, est. to be in Canis Major)
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: Tue Jan 4 04:15:00 2011 UT   Obs. no.: 1863

Last evening, my brother Anthony and I were able to split Sirius B from Sirius A. Sirius B is now extending farther away from Sirius A in its orbit around its parent star. During brief moments of good seeing, we were able to see a gap between the two stars. Sirius B will continue extending out in its orbit from Sirius A until the year 2025 so we have many years to split this interesting double star.

Other (Other, est. to be in Orion)
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: Sun Nov 14 04:00:00 2010 UT   Obs. no.: 1862

This evening, I observed three asterisms, two in Orion and one in Taurus that I read about in Sky & Telescope Magazine. The first and the best asterism is called Davis' Dog and it is located just above the Hyedes Star Cluster. Davis' Dog looks like a cartoon charecter. The next asterism is called the Beach Chair Asterism and this asterism is located in Orion's head. Above that is the Beach Umbrella Asterism and this looks like like an umbrella with a bent pole. I've been looking at this part of the sky for years and I never noticed these asterisms so try to take a look at them. You'll like them.

Other (Other)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: Winslow, Arizona, United States
Time: Wed May 12 17:00:00 2010 UT   Obs. no.: 1850

Last Week my two friends Dave and Joey and I toured the dessert southwest where we happened upon Meteor Crater. There are two observing platforms to view this crater. This huge crater shoewed nice terracing in the upper half of the crater. Also, there is a fault line running up and down one end of the crater. It was a sight I will never forget. Inside the building there was a display depicting the 1908 meteor strike in Siberia. There where pictures of the smashed forest caused by the meteor strike. They even had real tree branches stacked on top of each other to show what it was like. Both Meteor strikes are explained thoroughly so you learn a lot about both of these meteor strikes during Earth's recent history. I hope everyone reading this gets the opportunity to see meteor crater.

Other (Other, est. mag -2, est. to be in Canis Major)
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: Sun Mar 15 23:15:00 2009 UT   Obs. no.: 1818

This evening my brother Anthony, my friends Mike Dzubaty, Steve Borer and I went to the West Haven beach to watch the Space Shuttle roar by us as it went into orbit. The Shuttle was launched at 7:43 PM EDT from Fla. At 7:50 PM EDT we watched the Shuttle go by and as it flew by we were able to see its main engine shutoff occur. We were able to watch it a little while longer before it went out of site heading into orbit. We also trained Steve's 6" Dob on the planet Venus. Venus' crescent is really getting thin and once again we were easily able to see its ashen light. Also we were able to observe dark areas in Venus' cloud bank at its terminator. All of these wonderful events happening on my 40th anniversary of coming home from Vietnam.

Other (Other)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Time: Sun Jan 11 12:00:00 2009 UT   Obs. no.: 1844

When I observe the five naked eye planets I use a telescope. But when I want to observe the earth I can only do it one way and that way is to be in a jet airliner at between 36,000 and 40,000 feet. From cruising altitude you can see there is much cloud cover especially over the oceans. The clouds are often layered at different heights depending on the type of clouds they are. When I flew over land I was amazed at how old looking and run down the Appalachian Mountains are compared to the younger Rocky Mountains. The one thing you can't see is direct evidence of life on Earth although there is plenty of indirect evidence based on being able to see the oceans, clouds and greens of land areas we fly over. The next time you fly, make it a point to make observations of the planet earth. It's fasinating. Now it's back to observing Mars.

Other (Other, est. mag 8, est. to be in Cepheus)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 16-inch Dobsonian reflector   Location: Milford, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: moderate   Transparency: fair   Seeing: fair
Time: Sat Oct 18 00:45:00 2008 UT   Obs. no.: 1802

Last evening, my friends Steve Borer, Rob Masud, Mike Dzubaty and I went to a local star party in Milford Ct. Among the objects we enjoyed viewing was the garnet star located in Cepheus. Right now the garnet star is at its brightest so its color was a golden orange instead of the red color it shows when it is at its dimmest. I have seen this star when it is at its dimmest and the red color is striking. Try to observe this star if you can because the color is great.

Other (Other, est. mag 2.4, est. to be in Scorpius)
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: Sun May 25 02:00:00 2008 UT   Obs. no.: 1787

For the past two nights, my friends Mike Dzubaty, Steve Borer and Rob Masud have been observing Delta Scorpii. Several years ago Delta Scorpii flared up tp about 1.6 magnitude. Ever since then Delta Scorpii seems to be dimming at a slow rate. Last year its magnitude dropped to 2.2 but this year we think its magnitude has dropped further to 2.4. We'll be observing this star all summer to see it its magnitude drops further.

Other (Other, est. mag -4)
Observer: Mark D. Schneider (e-mail: markd_s@yahoo.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: Garden Grove, California, United States of America
Light pollution: light   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed Aug 22 03:20:00 2007 UT   Obs. no.: 1700

Another wonderful ISS sighting from the N to the East where it hit the "dark side".

Other (Other, est. mag -8, est. to be in Hercules)
Observer: Mark D. Schneider (e-mail: markd_s@yahoo.com)
Instrument: naked eye   Location: Garden Grove, California, United States of America
Light pollution: light   Transparency: excellent   Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed Aug 22 02:58:00 2007 UT   Obs. no.: 1699

This was one of the BEST Flare opportunities afforded to me...CalSky.com predicted it as Iridium 82 and it was STUPENDOUS from this location.

Other (Other, est. mag 5, est. to be in Lyra)
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: Wed May 30 13:30:00 2007 UT   Obs. no.: 1661

This evening I observed the double double in Lyra with my 127mm MAK. I was able to split both componants of the double double at 123X with a little difficulty. Each of the individual stars showed itself clearly.

Other (Other, est. mag 2.2, est. to be in Scorpius)
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: Wed Apr 25 04:45:00 2007 UT   Obs. no.: 1645

Just after midnight I observed the star Delta Scorpii with my naked eye. Several years ago Delta Scorpii was the fourth brightest star in Scorpius when it suddenly flaired to 1.6 magnitude. This made it the second brightest star in Scorpius. About three years ago its magnitude dropped to 2.2 and it remained the second brightest star in Scorpius. Last night its magnitude remained at 2.2 and I'm wondering if it will remain 2.2 for a long time to come. Later around noon time, I observed the sun with my Sunspotter Solar Telescope. Finally a sunspot has just come into view. I think this spot may be fairly large but I'll know in a few days if it is. The sun has been very quiet for several weeks. Maybe now it's becoming active.

Other (Other)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: other   Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Time: Tue Mar 27 23:30:00 2007 UT   Obs. no.: 1630

Our last meeting of our local astronomy club featured a talk by radio amateur astronomer Joe Wallace. One thing he brought was a lightning detector which detects a type of lightning called whistlers. We tried to detect whistlers but the only thing we got was the static from lightning strikes. He also had a radio telescope that detected anyone who walked in front of it. The volt meter when higher for some peaple than for others. All in all the talk and demonstration were very interesting.

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