Desert Skies

Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

Volume L, Number 12, December, 2004

Contents

Calendar of Events

TAAA MEETING DATE: Friday, Nov. 5 at the Steward Observatory Auditorium – Room N210

ASTRONOMY ESSENTIALS: 6:30 pm
Title: Ancient Astronomers of the Southwest
Speaker: Vivian Lewis

TAAA member Vivian Lewis will explain to our members and guests the importance of observatories and astronomical observations to the ancient cultures of the southwest during pre-Columbian times, especially the Anasazi of Chaco Canyon and Hovenweep and the Hohokam residing at Casa Grande.

GENERAL MEETING: 7:30 pm
Title: Mercury – What We Know And Its Future Exploration
Speaker: Dr. Andrew Potter

Dr Andrew Potter (he prefers Drew) will present a lecture about what we know about Mercury and he’ll give a brief sketch of the space missions to Mercury-- the Messenger and Bepi Colombo missions.

Drew received his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1953. He worked for NASA and its precursor NACA, doing research in jet engine combustion, solar energy, and upper atmosphere chemistry at the NASA Lewis Center in Cleveland (now the Glenn Center). In 1967, he transferred to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, where he worked on earth observations (the Skylab mission), the environmental effects of the Space Shuttle program, and space debris. He was mission scientist for the second Space Shuttle mission. He received the NASA Exceptional Service medal for writing the environmental impact statement for the Space Shuttle program and the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement medal for developing radar methods for measuring small orbital debris. He is also credited for the discovery of sodium and potassium emissions from Mercury. In 1997 he retired from NASA and has spent the time since observing Mercury on a part-time basis.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 6:30 pm at Steward Observatory Conference Room N305

STAR PARTIES AND EVENTS:
04 Dec - TAAA Star Party at TIMPA
09 Dec – AstroPhoto SIG
10 Dec - Painted Sky ES Star Party
11 Dec – TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas
17 Dec - Valencia MS Star Party


NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE: Deadline for articles: Sat, Dec. 18. Printing: Mon, Dec. 20. Folding Party: Wed, Dec. 22. Mailing: Thu, Dec. 23. The newsletter is mailed at least one week prior to the following month’s General Meeting.


The board of directors meeting is the second Wednesday of the month. The astrophoto SIG is the first Thursday after the monthly meeting.

 

General Information




		
             Office               Name                Phone        Email
             ------               ----                -----        -----
             President            Thom Peck          327-7825     thomas.peck@optics.arizona.edu
             Vice-President       Michael Turner     743-3437     Mrmgturner@earthlink.net
             Secretary            Steve Marten       906-0049     TAAAStarParty@aol.com
             Treasurer            Terri Lappin       579-0185     tklappin@earthlink.net
             Member-at-Large      Ed Finney          296-9266     eefinney@NetZero.net
             Member-at-Large      Bill Lofquist      297-6653     wlofquist@aol.com
             Member-at-Large      Ray Toscano        529-3074     ray_toscano@Earthlink.net
			 
			Other Officers for 2003

            School S. Party Schedule Coordinator    Steve Marten        906-0049   steve1636@aol.com
            School S. Party Volunteer Coordinator   Robert Wilson       744-0263   rasjwilson@aol.com
            Desert Skies Editor                     George Barber       822-2392   barbergj@flash.net
            AstroLeague Correspondent               Nick de Mesa        797-6614   demesan@onsetbeach.com
            Astrophotography SIG                    Dean Ketelsen       293-2855   ketelsen@as.arizona.edu
            Astrocomputing SIG                      Roger Tanner        574-3876   rtanner@seds.lpl.arizona.edu
            Chief Observer                          Wayne Johnson       586-2244   mrgalaxy@juno.com
            Webmaster                               Dean Salman         250-0407   E-Mail
			 Equipment Loan Coordinator (ELC)        Jerry Penegor       320-1872   penegor@dakotacom.net
			 Club Sales                              Ann Scott           749-4867   lbscott61@cox.net
TAAA Mission Statement

Membership in the TAAA

Desert Skies Publishing Guidelines

Desert Skies is published monthly by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, PO Box 41254, Tucson, Arizona 85717

 

President's Message

Club News

Member News

We welcome the most recent members to join the TAAA: Dan Cheeseman, Danny Ford and family, and Brett & Jeri Inman. Glad to have all of you join! New members should be sure to pick up a new members pack at a meeting. Hope you’ll make it to our star parties or meetings so we can all get to know you. (Updated membership lists are available to any member at most meetings, so pick one up if you need it.)
Newsletter schedule changes

Due to the Christmas holidays, and the U of A basketball schedule, the dates for the newsletter activities have been advanced one week. Folding has been moved from a Tuesday to Wednesday evening, to allow us to attend the U of A game and cheer on the Wildcats. The schedule will return to normal for the January 2005 newsletter.


Astro-photo SIG Meeting
Dec 9, 7pm
China Rose, NE corner Speedway/Rosemont

We've had some great presentations lately, with CCD images, planetary webcams, and film. Come see some of the state of the imaging art over some Chinese food. Just show up and enjoy the show!


Astrophoto SIG: CCD Image Processing Workshops

Preparations are underway for the remaining sessions. These workshops are intended for those imaging with dedicated astronomical CCD cameras such as SBIG and Starlight Xpress. Webcam imaging and processing require different software and techniques that will not be covered in these workshops. Tentative dates have been set for the remaining sessions:

Saturday January 15th – Grayscale image acquisition and processing basics

Saturday January 29th – Color image acquisition and processing

Saturday February 26th – Other image processing techniques
The session will run 5-6 hours and be split between lecture and hands-on lab work. You’ll need your own laptop and software to follow along. The first two sessions will primarily utilize MaxIm DL. The last session will be geared toward Adobe Photoshop.

These workshops are limited to TAAA members and advance sign-up is required. For more information or to register contact Ray Toscano at ray_toscano@earthlink.net or 529-3074. Questions can also be posted to the TAAA’s Member forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taaaforum/

TAAA Apparel

Looking for Christmas gifts, or a way to make that fashion statement? Try on something from our fine line of club apparel. We’ve got hats, T-shirts, denim shirts, and patches. Plan ahead with a new 2005 Calendar, also available at the apparel table. We take cash and checks.


Basha’s Thanks A Million Program

The Basha’s Thanks A Million for Friends and Neighbors program is underway now through March 31, 2005. If you shop at Basha’s, ask the cashier to link your Thank You card to the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association. Our ID # is 23178. (Basha’s customer service also has a list of ID numbers if you forget this number.) If you participated last year, you still need to sign up at the register again. At the end of the program, provided we meet their minimum of $2500 in combined sales, the TAAA will receive a donation equal to 1% of the total purchases made by our members. So, if you shop Basha’s, remember to have your Thank You card linked to the TAAA (ID #23178).

Calendars for 2005

Calendars for 2005 will be sold at regular meetings this fall at the same table where you can purchase TAAA apparel. (Ann Scott has new apparel available this fall.) The calendar we have selected is called Deep Space Mysteries and is published by the same people who bring us Astronomy magazine each month. The cost for the calendars is $10 each (~$2 off the regular selling price), or $9 each for more than one. This calendar has daily information about astronomical events, both historical and observational…plus space for adding important events you need to remember. Each month features a full-color astronomical image of a deep sky object.

Proceeds from the sale of these calendars will be used appropriately as decided by the board. Thank you to all who support the TAAA through the purchase of the yearly calendars.


Member Backyard Observatories, Part II –
Michael Turner, VP, TAAA

OH WOW!!! Those are the only words that come to mind that adequately describe the experience that approximately 15 TAAA members experienced over a two weekend period as we followed up the November General Meeting presentations with on-site visits to the four member backyard observatories.

First up was Jerry Farrars’ Pantano Observatory. This was a great observatory to begin the tours. Jerry has really gone all out in constructing the building and making it usable for his astronomical endeavors. The associated pictures do not do justice to the spacious interior of the observatory. The pier setup consists of two, 8-inch piers, spaced to allow the concurrent use of two telescopes.

The best feature of any of the observatories is the methods the owner’s used to solve problems such as weatherproofing and the roll-off roof mechanism. The roof of the Pantano Observatory is a work of art, and the running gear is a mechanical masterpiece. After waiting on the rain for 30 minutes, Jerry treated us to “rolling off the roof”. He didn’t even grunt once while turning the crank. Jerry uses the observatory primarily for visual observing, but has installed the obligatory computer and network and is planning to add CCD imaging to his outings. Before leaving, Jerry allowed me to crank the roof closed. I could not believe how easily the roof moved and how smooth the running gear is. Jerry has certainly built a “Great place to keep his equipment set up”.

PS. Yes, the cabinets in Jerry’s Pantano Observatory are recycled beauty shop cabinets…


The next stop was Steve Ratts’ “Ratts Nest” Observatory. Steve has done a wonderful job in building a simple yet fully functional observatory. Steve’s roof running gear is “simplicity itself”. The roof is moved by grasping one of the cross beams with a finger, that’s correct, a single finger, and pushing or pulling the roof open. Here, Steve demonstrates how he “attached” the steel angle iron runners to the outrigger.

The inside working area is comfortable for one person, a telescope, computer and a desk. Steve’s ingenuity came into its own when designing the West wall. He needed a method of blocking unwanted light from the new development across the street, yet also be able to “see” the Western horizon. His solution is that the top part of the wall folds down, into the observatory. He made the motion a really tight fit so friction holds the drop-down in any position from vertical to horizontal. As shown here, the drop-down is fully down. Steve uses the observatory for both visual observing and CCD imaging.

Steve’s roof is finished with the great white elastomeric coating. In addition to constantly cleaning his skin, he also made use of “several” changes of clothes when applying the coating. The Ratt’s Nest is a great example of TAAA member’s overcoming the serious effects of local light pollution and the close quarters of living in the city.



The third stop on our odyssey was Keith Schlottman’s Xanadu Observatory. Keith provided us a “real change of pace” with his commercial domed observatory. The 7-foot diameter of the enclosure makes for some really cramped observing conditions. Keith has outfitted the observatory with his telescope, a bookcase, computer desk and an observer’s chair.

Keith’s most pressing problem was how to anchor the observatory to the mounting platform so the walls and dome would not become identified flying objects during Tucson’s monsoon rains. Keith’s approach was to bolt the bottom of the observatory to the platform using many bolts attached to the inside ring of the walls. He also ran ¼ inch cable loops in the concrete foundation to use as anchors. He has not needed these loop anchors.


Xanadu is a manual push-to dome. Keith says that once inside and observing or imaging, the rest of the world just disappears. Keith recounted the “fun” he had painting the inside of the structure black. Something about many sets of clothes and breathing masks being required to complete the task.

The domed Xanadu is a perfect example of coping with living in the middle of a neighborhood with some serious light pollution problems caused by so many homes.


The last stop on the odyssey was George Barber’s Starbase One in Three Points. After successfully navigating the Arizona highway system and the back roads of Pima County, the caravan arrived at Starbase One, sort of on time.

The first picture of the observatory shows the roof already rolled back. George treated us to the soundtrack from 2001 A Space Odyssey while the roof was opening. The stereo system did very good justice to the famous Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

George’s solution to the age old question of how to make a door tall enough for a person to walk through, yet have the walls low enough for comfortable viewing, is a fold-up flap on the South wall. The genius is in the hand crank and pulley system used to raise and lower the flap. The door is just tall enough to seal the opening in the bottom part of the wall, and the fold-up takes care of the rest. George also has the only motorized roof running gear of the three roll-offs that we visited. His exotic method? A chain driven garage door opener turned upside down.

The interior of Starbase One is designed for partying, star or otherwise. There is plenty of lounging room and all of the comforts of home, including the Star Trek and Hubble Space Telescope miniatures that are “flying” inside the observatory.

Starbase One is a great example of a personal observatory that takes advantage of its rural surroundings and idyllic setting.

I want to personally thank the four TAAA members that volunteered their time to put together a presentation about their observatory for the listening and viewing pleasure of the general membership, and for opening their observatories to the members and taking the time to provide us a glimpse of life in a “Great place to keep their equipment set up”. Thank You. Maybe we can do this again in the future.

WEBSITES: TRIPS ON THE INTERNET SUPER-SKYWAY - Rik Hill

Gimmie shelter!

So you've been going around on the club observatory tours and now you're inspired to do something like that at your home. If the tour has taught you anything it should be that observatories come in every imaginable shape, size and function. There are domes, cylinders, roll-off roof, roll-out (like my own Jim Loudon Obs.), flip-top, open-air and so forth. The best way to decide what best fits your needs is to see as many different designs and functions as possible before making up your mind. There are many professional companies that make plans and kits, but I find it more fun to see the variations on a theme done by the amateurs.

A great place to start is at the nineplanets.org observatories webpage:
http://nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html

There are over 100 designs available that will take a few nights to get through. There are a number of broken links at this site, but still a lot of them are working. Take a look at the webpage author's observatory at:
http://nineplanets.org/obs/obs.html

What a classy piece of work.

Another good collection of amateur observatories can be seen at:
http://astronomylinks.com/observatories/amateur/

There are many websites that relate the saga of building an observatory. Here's just a few:
http://www.astromag.co.uk/equipt.html
http://www.isomedia.com/homes/cvedeler/observatory/observ.htm
http://fp.themvo.f9.co.uk/My%20Observatory.htm
http://mysite.verizon.net/res9028i/id6.html
http://www.geocities.com/led500/di00001.htm
http://home.nycap.rr.com/averillpark/telescopeshed.htm

There are a lot of detailed how-to articles and plans available as well:
http://nineplanets.org/obs/const2.html
http://www.allaboutastro.com/observatoryonearticle.html
http://www.skyshed-backyard-observatory-building-plans.com-download.net/
http://halifax.rasc.ca/stcroix/STCROIX.HTML

Well now, that should give you something to work on!

As always, if you know of a particularly good website you would like mentioned here, drop me a line at: rhill@lpl.arizona.edu


Estate Sale

An estate sale of Bob Goff’s astronomy and optics items is currently being planned for January 2005. See next month’s newsletter for exact date and more details.


SPECIAL EXHIBIT AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE AT FLANDRAU IN DECEMBER

Join the human quest to understand our place in the universe. Cosmic Questions, a fascinating interactive exhibition from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, takes you to the very edges of space and time, and into the heart of humanity’s connection to the cosmos. Cosmic Questions: Our Place in Space and Time, which will show at Flandrau Science Center through the end of December.

To highlight Cosmic Questions, Flandrau and the UA Steward Observatory will continue its three lecture series on Saturdays Dec. 4 and 18 at 8:30 p.m. with the second and final presentations by University of Arizona Steward Observatory faculty. Each lecture presentation will expand upon the cosmic questions asked by a particular module of the exhibit and present current, associated astronomical research.

On Sat. Dec. 4 (at 8:30 p.m.), Dr. Tom Fleming will present “Some Like it Hot!: Cosmic Answers from the Chandra X-ray Telescope.”

On Sat. Dec. 18 (8:30 p.m.) UA Astronomy Professor will present “Emerging from the Dark Ages:
Cosmic Answers about the Beginning of Everything.”

Each presentation will be an added feature of the 8:30 p.m. Flandrau planetarium show "More than Meets the Eye" and will start after the recorded portion of the program ends. Only patrons attending More than Meets the Eye at 8:30 p.m. can attend the presentation. The planetarium show and presentation costs $7.00 per person for adults, $6.00 for seniors/students and $5.00 for children 13 and under, and will last about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Exhibits only are $3.00 per person (adults), $2.00 per child and free to University of Arizona CatCard holders.

FREE parking is available on the UA campus all day Saturdays Dec. 4 & 18, even in “Service Vehicle Only” signed spaces, with no conflict with UA men’s basketball. Flandrau Science Center is located on the University of Arizona campus on the northeast corner of Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard. For more information about planetarium shows and the night sky is available by call the Science Center at 621-STAR (7827) or visiting on-line at http://www.flandrau.org. Cosmic Questions is made possible by Flandrau Science Center, the UA Lunar & Planetary Lab Mars Phoenix Mission, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, and the UA Steward Observatory FEPS-Spitzer Legacy Program.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Southern Arizona Section of the International Dark Sky Association (SA-IDA) is looking for volunteers to help publicize information about good out-door lighting and the effects of light pollution.

We have a poster board for viewing and pamphlets to give out. These can be brought to all types of functions including star parties, neighborhood gatherings, community meetings, school functions, youth activities, etc.

We have found this to be most rewarding, and of course, any one can help out All you need to have is an interest! You do not even need to own a telescope.

For more information, please contact me personally (or write).
John Polacheck
Telephone: (520)-743-1362
E-mail: jpolacheck@earthlink.net
Address: 4530 W. Camino Pintoresco
Tucson, AZ 85745


Second Place is Still Available!
Submitted by Joe Frannea

Which is the World’s First and Only city to have been officially designated an “International Dark Sky City”? Nope, it’s not Tucson. However, Tucson could become the second city in the World to achieve that honor if all of us were to work together and encourage more of our citizens to become involved.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) initiated the International Dark-Sky Community Program a few years ago and set requirements that must be met for a city to earn this distinction.

One of the major requirements to qualify is to have a comprehensive outdoor lighting code - - - which Tucson should have in the very near future.

What we all need to work on is “Community Commitment” to Dark Skies and Quality Lighting. Here is the minimum criterion that must be met:

All community lighting needs to conform to the lighting code. That which does not conform, requires action to be initiated in order to have it upgraded.

Such action can be accomplished by TAAA, acting as responsible citizens, and by members of other interested groups (for example Tucson Audubon Society) - - - also, homeowners associations, churches, civic groups, etc. We need to have community support for dark skies and good outdoor lighting. All of us can hand out fliers, give talks, help fund lighting upgrades, and most importantly, get other organizations to support Dark Sky initiatives!!!

We need to demonstrate success in light pollution controls. We can document that by taking before-and-after light meter measurements and photographs. Tucson should be compared to other similar sized cities using satellite DMSP images: we must be at least 20% fainter… or why not even 50% or better???

Do you personally have any interest in some of the above action items???

Do you have any suggestions for other action items???

Most importantly, how can we get more TAAA members to actively participate???

Finally, we would like to hear about action(s) that any of you have initiated.

Please feel free to E-mail me at the following address: ask@sa-ida.org


Oh yes, the correct answer to the opening question is:

“Flagstaff”!!!!!

Our congratulations to them!!!!!

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and the local Southern Arizona Section of the IDA (SA-IDA) are committed to helping to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of truly dark skies here in Southern Arizona.

Star Parties and Events

TAAA Star Party at TIMPA
Saturday, 04 Dec., 2004

Come on out and enjoy the winter skies! TIMPA star parties are great for both beginners and experienced observers. Our novice members can get help with observing issues or equipment problems, as there are many experienced members there who would be happy to help. If you don’t own a telescope, come anyways, because there are lots of telescopes set up and everyone is invited to look through them. This is a great way to check out different telescope designs before you make that all-important decision to buy. There is no scheduled talk for this activity, just come out and enjoy. We’ll do our best to get you the answers you need. If you have friends or relatives who are curious about amateur astronomy, feel free to bring them along. The TIMPA site features a large parking area, and full restroom facilities. Be prepared for cold temperatures. Directions to the TIMPA site are located on the outside flap of this newsletter.


Painted Sky ES Star Party Northwest
Friday, 12/10/2004 No. of Scopes: 6

Painted Sky ES will be preparing “Night of Lights” at 12620 N Woodburne Ave. Go north on Oracle to 1st Ave and turn left (west). Continue as road curves north, past second stoplight at Tangerine (Safeway on right) to the next street, Woodburne and turn left (west). School is 1/8th mile further on right. Viewing will be on the football field. Contact person Susan Hill can be reached at or email zonasue@msn.com. Set-Up Time: 6:00pm. Observing will be from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Sunset: 5:20pm, Dark Sky: 6:47pm Moon Phase: Crescent after New Moon.


TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas (Empire Ranch)
Saturday, 11 Dec., 2004

Las Cienegas (formerly Empire Ranch) has been our normal dark-sky observing site for quite a number of years. Please try to arrive before sunset. Stay as long as you like, but let everyone know when you are ready to leave; someone may be taking astrophotos. Bring a telescope if you have one, but you don’t need one to attend. Any member would be glad to let you look through their telescope. There are no restroom facilities at the site, so be prepared. Las Cienegas is at 4000 feet so be prepared for cold temperatures. Attendees should park their vehicles either perpendicular to the airstrip facing toward the center of the strip, or parallel to the airstrip along either side facing west. That way, when you are ready to leave, you will not have to back up and turn on your bright white backup lights. See the directions to Las Cienegas on the outside flap of this newsletter.


Valencia MS Star Party Southwest
Wednesday, 12/17/2003 No. of Scopes: 8

Valencia MS will be hosting their Holiday Season/Science Star Party at 4400 W. Irvington Rd.. Get on I-10 and then take I-19 south 1 mile (no ramp to I-19 from I-10 west). Get off at Ajo and turn right (west) about 4.5 miles. Turn left (south) at Camino de Oeste, go 1 mile, then turn right (west) at Irvington and go 1/3 mile to school. Viewing will be behind the school. Contact person Meaghan Isaac can be reached at 908.4562 or email meaghani@yahoo.com. Set-Up Time: 6:00pm. Observing will be from 6:30 pm to 8:00pm. Sunset: 5:21pm, Dark Sky: 6:49pm Moon Phase: (no moon during viewing).


Dark Skies for December 
 
DARK SKIES (no twilight, no moonlight) for Tucson in 24-hour MST: 18=6pm, 20=8pm, 22=10pm, 0=12am
RISE, SET, VISIBILITY for sun and bright planets: rise for morning object, set for evening object


Tu/We 30/ 1  18:45 - 20:30         Sa/Su  11/12  18:47 -  5:48        Tu/We  21/22   3:52 -  5:54
We/Th  1/ 2  18:45 - 21:27                                            We/Th  22/23   4:52 -  5:54
Th/Fr  2/ 3  18:46 - 22:25         Su/Mo  12/13  18:48 -  5:49        Th/Fr  23/24   5:51 -  5:55
Fr/Sa  3/ 4  18:46 - 23:23         Mo/Tu  13/14  19:12 -  5:50        Fr/Sa  24/25    -   -   -  
Sa/Su  4/ 5  18:46 -  0:21         Tu/We  14/15  20:26 -  5:50        Sa/Su  25/26    Full Moon  
                                   We/Th  15/16  21:39 -  5:51                                   
Su/Mo  5/ 6  18:46 -  1:20         Th/Fr  16/17  22:48 -  5:51        Su/Mo  26/27    -   -   -  
Mo/Tu  6/ 7  18:46 -  2:20         Fr/Sa  17/18  23:53 -  5:52        Mo/Tu  27/28    -   -   -  
Tu/We  7/ 8  18:46 -  3:23         Sa/Su  18/19   0:55 -  5:52        Tu/We  28/29  18:55 - 19:20
We/Th  8/ 9  18:46 -  4:31                                            We/Th  29/30  18:56 - 20:18
Th/Fr  9/10  18:47 -  5:43         Su/Mo  19/20   1:54 -  5:53        Th/Fr  30/31  18:57 - 21:16
Fr/Sa 10/11  18:47 -  5:48         Mo/Tu  20/21   2:53 -  5:53        Fr/Sa  31/ 1  18:57 - 22:13


Weekend    Sun   Sun      Mercury     Venus      Mars     Jupiter    Saturn                       
Sa/Su      Set   Rise     Set  Vi    Rise Vi   Rise Vi    Rise Vi   Rise Vi    Vi=Visibility      
                                                                                                  
 4/ 5     17:17  7:09     18:02 -    4:56 -2   4:59  3    2:26 -2   20:22 0    -3 brilliant       
11/12     17:18  7:14     Rise: -    5:10 -2   4:54  3    2:03 -2   19:52 0     0 conspicuous     
18/19     17:20  7:18      5:53 5    5:24 -2   4:49  3    1:40 -2   19:23 0     3 moderate        
25/26     17:24  7:21      5:39 3    5:38 -1   4:45  3    1:16 -2   18:53 0     6 naked eye limit 
 1/ 2     17:28  7:23      5:46 3    5:51  0   4:40  2    0:52 -2   18:23 0     9 binoculars limit

By Erich Karkoschka
Meeting Minutes

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