Thursday, June 08, 2006
light pollution
Saara and Ameera and I have plans for a light pollution observation/experiment. It's our substitution for the science fair that their elementary school doesn't do. Tonight was the first observation. It's our homebase baseline observation. Below's the chart we worked out. It's been a lot of fun thinking about what we needed to write down -- from obvious things like how big the moon was, which obviously has an impact on what can be seen, and how cloudy it was, to less obvious things like wind and humidity which can impact on visibility, and the time (it's a lot darker an hour and a half after sunset than it is an hour after sunset).
It will be interesting to see how other cities, towns and rural areas compare.
Date: June 7, 2006
Time: 10:36 pm
Sunset Time: 9:11 pm (1 hr 25 min after sunset)
Atmospheric Conditions:
¾ moon (hidden behind tree)
Light-moderate wind (10 MPH)
Temp: 70º
Humidity: 61%
Dew point: 56º
No clouds Barometric Pressure: 29.91
Observers: Saara Ameera Mommy
Big Dipper :
Alkaid ( 1.86) yes yes yes
Mizar (2.27) yes yes yes
*Alcor ( 4.1) yes yes yes
Alioth (1.77) yes yes yes
Megrez (3.31) yes yes yes
Phecda (2.44) yes yes yes
Merak (2.37) yes yes yes
Dubhe (1.79) yes yes yes
Little Dipper
Polaris (2.02) yes yes yes
Delta (4.36) no no no
*4 (4.80) no no no
Epsilon (4.21) no no no
*2 ( 4.24) no no no
*5 (4.25) no no no
Zeta ( 4.29) no no no
Eta ( 4.95) no no no
Pherkad (3.05) yes yes yes
Kochab (2.08) yes yes yes
So, about ten miles from the center of Indianapolis, we were able to see down to a 4.1 magnitude star (just barely). I thought it was interesting that Saara and Ameera, who just got new glasses, and I all saw the same stars. I had thought they might see more than I did. ¶ 12:21 AM
It will be interesting to see how other cities, towns and rural areas compare.
Date: June 7, 2006
Time: 10:36 pm
Sunset Time: 9:11 pm (1 hr 25 min after sunset)
Atmospheric Conditions:
¾ moon (hidden behind tree)
Light-moderate wind (10 MPH)
Temp: 70º
Humidity: 61%
Dew point: 56º
No clouds Barometric Pressure: 29.91
Observers: Saara Ameera Mommy
Big Dipper :
Alkaid ( 1.86) yes yes yes
Mizar (2.27) yes yes yes
*Alcor ( 4.1) yes yes yes
Alioth (1.77) yes yes yes
Megrez (3.31) yes yes yes
Phecda (2.44) yes yes yes
Merak (2.37) yes yes yes
Dubhe (1.79) yes yes yes
Little Dipper
Polaris (2.02) yes yes yes
Delta (4.36) no no no
*4 (4.80) no no no
Epsilon (4.21) no no no
*2 ( 4.24) no no no
*5 (4.25) no no no
Zeta ( 4.29) no no no
Eta ( 4.95) no no no
Pherkad (3.05) yes yes yes
Kochab (2.08) yes yes yes
So, about ten miles from the center of Indianapolis, we were able to see down to a 4.1 magnitude star (just barely). I thought it was interesting that Saara and Ameera, who just got new glasses, and I all saw the same stars. I had thought they might see more than I did. ¶ 12:21 AM
