Observing Log for Mike Durkin


3/23/2013 about 9:30PM-6:30AM
Locust Valley, NY
Transparency: 8/10, Seeing 3/5
Temperature: about 35-45 degrees
Equipment: Hutech modified Canon Rebel XT

Went outside on and off through out the night. Did DSLR photometry on X Per, η Gem, W Boo, R Lyr, and P Cyg.
At the end, dawn was breaking and it seemed amazing how quickly the sky started to get brighter.


3/22/2013 about 11:00PM-11:30PM
Locust Valley, NY
Transparency: 8/10, Seeing 4/5
Temperature: about 35-45 degrees
Equipment: Hutech modified Canon Rebel XT

DSLR photometry of ε Aur.


3/13/2013 about 7:00-8:00PM
near Chealsea Market, NYC
Transparency: 8/10, Seeing 4/5
Temperature: about 40-50 degrees
Equipment: 10x50 binoculars

Finally a partially clear sky in order to try to find comer PANSTARRS.
It took me almost a half hour until the ske was dark enough to just barely make out the comet. There was a definite tail, maybe 30-60 arcminutes in length, and the head seemed fairly compact. I would estimate that the magnitude was between 1 and 3.
There was another guy in the park who was also looking for the comet. Turns out that he was working with the film crew that was filming the next Spiderman movie in hte area.


3/9/2013 about 6:00PM-11:00PM
Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center, Jones Beach, NY
Transparency: 5-7/10, Seeing 4/5
Temperature: about 35-45 degrees
Equipment: Celestron Ultima 8 with PEC and 10x50 binoculars

AOS Messier Marathon. This was my first attempt at trying the marathon.
I set up early hoping that I could see Comet PAN-STARRS, but I wasn't able to. One of the other members was able to see the comet through his camera
I used my cellphone app as the main star chart. In hindsite, that probably wasn't the best idea without having a way to recharge the phone during the evening.
Dew was also a problem during the evening.
I also started getting a bit weary around 9-10 PM
Objects that I did manage to observe:
 M77
 M31
 M32
 M52
 M103
 M34
 M45
 M42
 M43
 M78
 M35
 M37
 M36
 M38
 M41
 M50

And I might have just glimpsed M1, but I'm not sure.



Other Log Entries
<-- 2012 Jan  Feb  Mar   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  2014 -->