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Re: Northeast Event Feed: Request for input
Kevin,
The parameters you¡¯ve established are fine with me. I used to be able to go to magnitude 14 and even 15 without breaking a sweat with my WATEC. In the last few years light pollution has increased dramatically, and now I¡¯m limited to about 12-13th magnitude, sometimes 14 if it¡¯s a high altitude star. Anything lower than 30¡ã altitude is a problem if sky conditions are not perfect. Of course longer durations are a big help. But being able to glance through northeast events would be great, even if some of them are too faint. I also have plans to set up the observatory 14¡± for auto data acquisition, while I go mobile to a second site with a portable scope. When Astrid gets finalized, I¡¯ll probably go that route. Thanks for organizing this, Rick Bria? |
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Re: Northeast Event Feed: Request for input
Kevin G,
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My feeling is I'd drop the durations of all of them a bit--I think most of us have access to fairly large telescopes.? Maybe drop 12 to 0.1 (or even shorter), 14 to 0.2, 16 to 1.0--although I generally ignore anything fainter than mag 15 anyway.? Are you also putting a limit in for rank?? Same question for mag drop??
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The Arizona feed is full of ones that are faint, short, and low ranked--as a result it takes a long time to wade through.? But I end up trying at least on of theirs per week assuming I get any clear weather.
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I guess that for the location, you are going to put in the rough mid-point of the NE tip of Maine and the W tip of VA (looks like roughly Scranton, PA) with a ~900 km distance?? Or is there a better way to do it?
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Thanks.
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Steve C ?
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Re: Northeast Event Feed: Request for input
Rick,
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Sounds like you and I are on the same path--with automating and observatory and going mobile for a second station.? I just got done motorizing my 10' TI ProDome with hardware salvaged from an abandoned PD6.? What software are you planning to control it with???
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Mark is supposed to send me a Astrid kit this week or next, and I'm planning use that for a second local mobile station at homes of other local club members here.
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Steve
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Re: Northeast Event Feed: Request for input
Steve,
The observatory I use at my school, has everything automated except the dome. I plan to acquire the target ahead of time, then pre-point the dome to the correct azimuth.? I will then go mobile with a portable set up. The observatory will acquire data on its own while I acquire a second mobile cord. Also, If the shadow path direction is appropriate, I can use a second observatory several miles away. That¡¯s my plan anyway, Rick |
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Palisana This Evening
Right
now we have 3 stations for Palisana this evening, and the weather looks
like we at least have a chance.? I've pinged two more folks who aren't
on this list to try it.? Frank C--I think you are the only other person not signed up for
it on this list who is potentially on the path.? There isn't a lot of
dark time before the convenient 7:26 PM local time event, and it is
moderately faint with only a small drop--so it might be a challenge.?
I think for you it would be a roughly 50/50 chance from your
location. Steve C Get for Desktop |
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(1200) Imperatrix Nov 2 ~8hr UT
Folks:
A target for me tonight in the early morning hours (see attached). I'm gathering there's nobody on the list near the path tho. Sure would be nice if we kept a running list of subscribers to this group and their approximate locations...... Snowing hard here now (Lake Placid) but I may have clear skies for this event. George |
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Re: (1200) Imperatrix Nov 2 ~8hr UT
George, Sorry,
that path is way north of me.? Once I get the Astrid going, I will be
willing to occasionally travel to get on a path. We can start such a list here.?
If willing, name and observing location(s) with closest town, lat, and
long.? This is for me: Steve Conard Bobcat Observatory, Wellsboro,
PA? 41.813517 N, 77.316781 W If people reply to this with their informmation, I'll
consolidate it into a list and map. Steve C Get for
Desktop George Viscome
via groups.io wrote: Folks: |
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Re: (1200) Imperatrix Nov 2 ~8hr UT
Thanks Steve. I'll input your location into Occult4 and then instantly know if you are near events I'm observing.
Also - Thanks for the willingness to maintain a "list" and "map" of observers. In a separate topic I'd like to suggest a "format" so we know a bit about those on the list and their (occultation) abilities. ?? -George |
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List of Observers
As was mentioned by Steve Conard (creator of this list) and myself, a voluntary, running (up-to-date) list of observers would be helpful in coordinating observers so we can try to obtain multi-chord observations of occultations - which is (primarily) why this list was created.
Steve said he was willing to compile a list and a "map" indicating approximate observer locations. Thanks Steve! I'd like to suggest a format for letting others know of the interest and capabilities of folks on this list. Below is some basic info that would be helpful. Observer: Nearest Town: What's (approx) the faintest magnitude you can normally video record?: What best describes your occultation ability [Experienced / Novice / Occasional / Student / Beginner / Other] : Observe from Home/Observatory? (list scope aperture): Willing/Able to "Go Mobile"?: Aperture of Mobile Scope(s): Camera(s) used for occultations: Are your timings obtained from GPS? (if not, describe): Can You Measure/Reduce Your Own Events?: Member of IOTA?: Other Info: You can list as much or as little info as you want or feel comfortable with, but the more the info is complete, the easier it will be for others to decide if it's worth posting an event that may pass near you. For names, only a first name is OK. First name and last initial is better, a full name is best. For your location, you may simply list the nearest town. A Latitude & Longitude is optional. [If you are posting an event knowing another observer also falls near the path, consider checking the weather forecast for them before posting]. I'll begin the list by supplying my info............. ==================================== Observer: George Viscome Nearest Town: Lake Placid, NY What's (approx) the faintest magnitude you can normally video record?: 14.4 (but can push this to about mag 19.0) What best describes your ability [Experienced / Novice / Occasional / Student / Beginner / Other] : Experienced Observe from Home/Observatory? (list scope aperture): Home - Rand Observatory II (MPC W71) - 14.5" f/6 Newtonian, (20" f/5.5) Willing/Able to "Go Mobile"?: Yes - But mainly in non-snowy months (some exceptions for bright/major events) Aperture of Mobile Scope(s): 12" driven, 8", 6" driven, 4.7" driven, 135mm Camera(s) used for occultations: QHY174M-GPS, (2) RunCam NE2AE, ASTRID on order Are your timings obtained via GPS? (if not, describe): Yes Can You Measure/Reduce Your Own Events?: Yes - via PyMovie/PyOTE Member of IOTA?: Yes Other Info: |
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Re: List of Observers
For me:
Observer:? Steve Conard
Nearest Town:? Wellsboro, PA
What's (approx) the faintest magnitude you can normally video record?:? 14.0
What best describes your occultation ability [Experienced / Novice / Occasional / Student / Beginner / Other] :? Experienced
Observe from Home/Observatory? (list scope aperture):? Home: Bobcat Observatory, 14" f/11? SCT (reduced to f/4 for occultations)--automating for unattended data collection,? limited in west to northeast directions by high trees
Willing/Able to "Go Mobile"?:? Once Astrid arrives and is assembled/tested
Aperture of Mobile Scope(s):? 9.25" go-to SCT, (2) 5" go-to SCTs
Camera(s) used for occultations:? (2) QHY174M-GPS, Watec 910, Runcam Night Eagle, Astrid (in transit now)
Are your timings obtained from GPS? (if not, describe):? Yes (2 VTIs and 2 Kiwis)
Can You Measure/Reduce Your Own Events?:? Yes (Tangra-->PyOTE or PyMovie-->PyOTE)
Member of IOTA?:? Yes
Other Info:? Partially retired, working on Monday/Tuesday limits availability around those days.? Willing to loan equipment to beginners in the area.
Get
On Nov 1, 2023, at 21:34, "George Viscome via " <yahoo.com@groups.io target=_blank>[email protected]> wrote: As was mentioned by Steve Conard (creator of this list) and myself, a voluntary, running (up-to-date) list of observers would be helpful in coordinating observers so we can try to obtain multi-chord observations of occultations - which is (primarily) why this list was created. |
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Re: List of Observers
Observer: ?Rick Bria Nearest Town: ?Greenwich, CT What's (approx) the faintest magnitude you can normally video record?: ?~13 What best describes your occultation ability [Experienced / Novice / Occasional / Student / Beginner / Other] :? Experienced¡ Started 2015? ish Observe from Home/Observatory? (list scope aperture): ?Aloysia Hardey Observatory, 14" PlaneWave f/5 (reduced to ~f/5 for occultations) Willing/Able to "Go Mobile"?: ?Yes¡ After Astrid acquired? Aperture of Mobile Scope(s):? 9.25" go-to SCT, 8¡±?LX200?SCT (7) Two other observatories - 16¡± RC Camera(s) used for occultations: ? Watec 910 RC Are your timings obtained from GPS? (if not, describe):? Yes VTI Can You Measure/Reduce Your Own Events?:? Yes (PyOTE & PyMovie) Member of IOTA?:? Yes Other Info: ?Mostly retired, working?Friday nights?at the school¡¯s observatory. |
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Re: Palisana This Evening
Kevin,
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FYI, PyOTE measured my magnitude drop as 0.13.? Event mid-point time was within a second of the predict.??
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Steve C
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Equipment Available
All,
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Just in case someone wants them, I do have 2 Kiwis, 2 Watec 902s and 2 Stellacam EXs I never use any more.? If you know anyone who'd want them (and really use them), happy to give them away.? Since they haven't been turned on in a couple of years now, I'd test them prior to sending them to someone to make sure they still work.
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Steve C
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Re: (1200) Imperatrix Nov 2 ~8hr UT
Kevin (G):
Yes, I have your site data (the lat/long of the WAS Observatory), and I've had you in my Occult4 "site list" for some time now. But.... Please consider going to the NEUS post "List of Observers" and entering in your data - so others will know your info. George |
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Re: (1200) Imperatrix Nov 2 ~8hr UT
Folks:
1st, Congrats to Steve and Kevin on the Palisana hits! Please pardon the length of this post, but I'm thinking some might enjoy a "story from the trenches"... So... I was able to try for the (1200) event this morning at the unGodly hour of 4:17am (8:17UT). Had some high thin clouds but managed to get a usable video. A couple inches of snow on the ground here and an outside temp of 18dF (tho 60dF in the observatory's warm room). Didn't bother turning on the cooler for the QHY (the camera read a sensor temp of -11.2C = approx 12dF). Probability of the (1200) event said 93% (JPL-based prediction)... but... I had noticed that the shape model was quite elongated in the direction of the path, and I was somewhat close to the path edge. So it might be that my probability could be a bit lower. Well..... ?????? I recorded a Miss. Considering the 'effort' in setting up and dealing with the cold I decided to look at my nightly Occult4 listing of events (for Nov 2) and see if there was anything promising coming up soon before I closed things down. Occult4 listed an event (192851) at 5:01am (9:01UT) involving a 12.2 mag star. Probability said 13% chance. I decided to try for it. In short........ Another Miss. Went back in the house and scanned the list again before closing up......... Noticed an event (9977) at 5:36am (9:36UT) which was high up in Gemini. Decided to try for it - despite the Probability of this one being only 7% (I was on the 1-sigma line). I didn't notice until I was printing the chart that the combined mag was 15.0, the Target Star was VERY close to another star, and it was only 8 degrees away from the 77% illuminated Moon(!!!).???? Decided to try anyway. Nice thing about this one was the asteroid was very near its stationary point, thus it had a max duration of 9.2 seconds (and as a result, a JPL stated time uncertainty of +/-29 seconds). This helped - as I could run the QHY at a longer exposure. (BTW this was the coldest outside temp I have ever run my QHY). It turned out that an exposure of 0.65 seconds gave me a fairly strong SNR, but it was VERY near a brighter star. (Later I examined the image and was able to make out stars to a bit fainter than mag 16.0 ! - see attached). Anyway......... Damned if I didn't hit it !!! (see attached image). A clear, very obvious, 8 data point positive, with a duration of 5.0 seconds (SNR=5.47). It was a bit of a challenge to get PyMovie to "see" just the Target Star (and none of the closer brighter star), but an 11x11 Static aperture offset to one side did the trick. I will be forwarding this video to Bob Anderson (and Tony George) to see what Bob might come up with as a better way to isolate a Target Star that is very close to another. (If anyone would like a link to this video, just ask. I'll forward the link when I have posted the video). ????? Woke at 3am... Back to bed at 6:30am. Gotta love it. This is actually a common way I've hit Pos events. 20 minutes prior to this Pos I had no idea I would be trying for this event. Don't feel left out tho...... for all 3 events I went after, the paths all crossed over just northern NY - and none seemed to cross over anyone I know of on this list. Happy Shadows, George |
rickbria22
Steve C
George Viscome
