| Reports | TAC | Join mailing list |
by Lance Shaw
Greetings from VSO Land!
Nova Sgr 1999 continues to be bright with only moderate fading over the past few days. This continues to be a fun star to estimate! Still very much visible in small instruments. After one suggestion, I've switched it 'round the other way, to make it easier to read.
My recent results for the past two nights:
| object | YYMMDD(UT) | mag |
|---|---|---|
| Nova Sagittarii 1999 | 990429.476 | 90 |
| Nova Sagittarii 1999 | 990430.507 | 92 |
There has been some discussion off-line about the posting of 'real-time, real-number' estimates. A star like this nova, under 'most' circumstances, will constantly change with time. My arguement is, that even though, I regularly (read:constantly) observe variables, I do not feel or have knowledge, that my guess has any more validity than anyone else's. (i.e., in truth, your guess, is as good as mine!) I'm certainly not the expert!
With the extra bonus...I tried some other stars with the Mak last night because: I've owned the 90mm Mak (Meade ETX) for about two years now and I've only tried to use it once for VSOing (which was a complete disaster, I couldn't find anything!) The explanation for this is simply...I've been observing about twenty-eight (or so), years and have been a 'starhopper' since day-one. Point in a general direction, find my 'hook,' to get to the NGC, Messier, obscure planetary, etc...I have only used a telescope that was equiped with setting circles and needed to be polar aligned, maybe thrice...I've primarily used the 90 as a 'bridge' to the public about the 'wow' of amateur astronomy, as it gives great views of the Moon and Planets. (objects, that most, if not all of us, have started with.) I tried to use it this morning with some familiar fields and was completely humbled...This is a real challenge for me!
| R Leonis | 990430.260 | Low 8's |
This is one of those Mira's I just can't leave alone...one of my first program stars. A wealth of very good comparison stars in the field makes it a snap to guesstimate.
| Alpha Orionis | 990430.229 | Just under 1st mag |
I really don't understand why the group I belong to, asked me to make an estimate of this star...it's tough! Bright and red to boot! I've fairly good eyesight...I cross my eyes, to make it easier...turn it and it's comparison stars into discs...(yep, nekkid-eye... c'mon, be bold, be brave...be randy! remember your first observing sessions when you faced the heavens armed with nothing but a planisphere/chart!) It was a little low in the west when I made the guess, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
| SS Virginis | 990430.354 | high 8's |
This is a very beautiful star. A very rich, red colour even when faint. I first heard about this variable a couple of years ago on s.a.a...when it was near Mars. That is when I added it to my regular observing regime. If I remember correctly, a TAC'er was one of the posters who helped to answer the question of a "Very Red Star Near Mars this AM." (am I right??)
I did not have reversed charts for either R Leo or SS Vir, so it was a flashlight through a chart, reading from the backside...those of you who use SCT's and their counterparts on a regular basis, how do you do it?