12/3 Skyline

by Michael Linnolt

Sky conditions were better last nite compared to Friday nite, even though there was some haze or something to the east which really picked up the peninsula lights worse than usual. But to the west over the redwoods it was quite good, I was able to get down to near 15.0 mag with my 8" at high power.

Quite chilly, with a layer of crunchy frost forming on the wooden deck from where I observe. Lucky wind is rarely a problem here, blocked by the tall trees to the west and north.

Recently, have been concentrating on a new variable object (Harvard designation 2239+30 = GSC 2736 1067 at 22 43 40.71 +30 55 20.4 (J2000)). This was just discovered a few weeks ago and is near to ROSAT (X-ray source) 1RXS J224342.3+305526 but hasnt been identified with it yet. The astronomers are trying to determine the nature of this object. It varies from mag 13 to 16 over a 2-3 week cycles, but has a short term variation of hours as well! So, not sure if this is intra or extra-galactic, some kind of cv or eclipser or what? Any and all observations would be of great value to the community now.

As usual, did a bunch of variable stars:

RX And (at standstill v=11.5)
HX Peg (outburst v=12.8)
CN ori (standstill v=12.9)
CZ Ori (outburst v=12.7)
TV Col (brightening at v=13.6)

Woodside, CA

Posted on sf-bay-tac Dec 04, 2005 13:26:22 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Mar 16, 2006 22:10:15 PT