It's for finding angels

I arrived at TotL earlier than usual with the Teleport as sunset was still an hour away and darkness coming around 9pm. I came early to enjoy the weather and release a little cabin fever anxiety. The weather has been bad for a good spell. Setup for the Teleport was a snap.

I was gathering my things together while the scope cooled down. From behind a woman approached asking, "What's that for?"

"It's for finding angels, and one is here right now," I replied spontaneously.

A smile grew on Deanna's face. Her boy friend Curtis came up shortly afterward. I enjoyed chatting with them while the scope cooled down. Curtis picked out Venus with ease, pointing below Moon in the western sky. They were both fairly high up, later to set beautifully & brightly behind the blossoming trees and Pinetum.

During this time many people stopped to have a look. It didn't matter that scope needed cooling and alignment, and that seeing was poor, every enjoyed a view of the 3 1/2 day waxing crescent Moon. With effort one could make out that Venus was a waning gibbous, but better seeing would have made it more worthwhile.

20070320 - Vernal Equinox arrives & people congregate at Sun Triangle

I met Charlie for lunch time to observe the Vernal Equinox alignment of the Sun Triangle at McGraw-Hill. A small crowd of people assembled to witness the shadow event and get the first hand feeling of astronomy. The atmosphere was lively and the weather was agreeable.

Minutes prior to local noon.

The alignment.

Assembly gets excited. Charlie photographs the shadow tip at high noon relative to the gnomon. Do the people know they're gnomons, too?

Another shot of the Spring Equinox alignment party.

Return to normalcy.

20070120 - Daytime Crescent paired with Venus

Session name: 20070120.1310

I stole away at lunch yesterday with Tak backpack to look for the young crescent moon. At this time she's already 1 day 14 hours past New Moon. Initially I thought this was to be a cinch. Since I am surrounded by buildings that rise, in some cases, to 60° ~ 70° in elevation, I went first to Cop Cot and then settled at Drip Rock. Since I couldn't see it naked eye I thought that the buildings were obstructing the view.

The Sun's apparent path across the northerner's winter sky is low, and so the ecliptic too is low. Shadows mute most of the cross streets and avenues can suffer the same. The Sun just can't peek high enough to shine his glory down.

I measured off from Sun with outstretched hand and then scan the sky with the handheld bins. In the handheld bins spotted the young crescent pretty quickly and was surprised by the low contrast. I would have thought the 3.3% illuminated crescent to be brighter and greater contrast with the sky. It was darker than passing clouds and in a queer sort of way provided contrast that kept it visible with thin filaments of clouds passing over.

In the field of view, Venus sat up around two o'clock and the Moon was around eight o'clock and LARGE. In spite of its size, its brightness did not contrast sharply with the pale bluish white background sky. On top of the clouds were passing through at as regular clip, sometimes thick enough to snuff out Venus.

As I observed, I couldn't help but think of those record holders who observe crescents as young as 15 hours - even younger! I'm under the impression that these sightings didn't have the advantage of having a bright planet nearby as a convenient landmark. One has to have this kind of experience where one can scan a field of view and allow the eye to find and focus across the field of view, just as repeated tennis lessons develop muscle memory. I looked away on occasion just so I would have to recover it - a kind of volley.

Two passersby took turns at the eyepieces of the Tak bins. I described what they would be looking for and each said after some time of closing one eye, moving their head about, squinting with both eyes that they saw the Moon. I had a feeling it was Venus because that is much brighter, and once resolved easiest to see in the field of view. I suggested that they look for a large, low contrast crescent on the other side. Soon enough they got it. They hadn't a previous mental experience to identify the crescent moon. They were both both shocked by its faintness and large size. Each had found it with a Eureka! feeling.

not my time with McNaught

I missed the whole McNaught thing, observing wholly on the Internet.

This past Tuesday (1/17), Ben a fellow TotL'er issued an unexpected invite to observe daytime McNaught. I was sort of caught off guard not knowing where the comet was or if it was daytime object. Work has occupied a better part of my days that I didn't think I could steal away at lunch. As luck would have it, time freed up and I met Ben at Bryant Park. He had his TV-76 and I with my Takahashi bins.

In short, Bryant Park was not an agreeable place since the horizon consists of rooftop cornices rising easily to 30° in the lower parts. Tree branches confused the field of view with the unfocused shadows tangled with the bluish, white sky. Ben & I tried from various spots with the park but we agreed that if it was visible it was below the rooftops.

Kin would report later in the day that he was unable to see it in binoculars from Union Square Park. I assume his horizon was better.

When we abandoned that hunt, our attention turned to Venus. In the scope, binoculars, and fleetingly naked eye we stood and observed Venus while talking of old & current times. I didn't turn my attention to Mercury and I pretty much ignored the Sun, using our star as a landmark to measure off to Venus - almost a full handspan, pinky to thumbtip (then curl thumbtip in to subtract 2°) separation.

I have missed events in the past primarily due to weather. This year it was due to schedule and priorities - hmmmm.