Post by Len Philpot on Apr 2, 2018 21:40:52 GMT -6
We will have planets visible at the Spring Scrimmage, if we wait long enough. Actually Jupiter is not too
bad. Jupiter rises at 9:26 pm CDT and at 11 pm CDT is a bit over 18 degrees high..
In any event, Saturn and Mars lag about 3.5 to 4 hours behind Jupiter. Those that want to view them will
have to wait awhile, with Saturn rising at a bit after 1 am CDT and Mars rises about 30 minutes later.
At 3 am Saturn is 21 degrees high and Mars is 16 degrees up and Jupiter is almost 44 degrees up. This
begs the question - if planetary observation is the goal, how much better off will a planetary observer be
if set up on the west side of the field vs. the east side? Additionally in spite of the lower horizon to the
east, how much of a factor is the large tree on the south side of the field near the southeast corner?
The tree will not be a factor if set up near the northwest corner of the observing field but it will be if you
are set up near the southwest corner. You will have to adjust. Look at the star charts with the planetary
positions plotted for 2 am CDT and 4 am CDT. Charts provided by Len Philpot.
One thing that we can all do at the Spring Scrimmage is all move in closer to the center of the field as
we will not have the numbers where by we will need to mark the field. Moving in will give us all better
horizons all around.
(on behalf of) Barry Simon
bad. Jupiter rises at 9:26 pm CDT and at 11 pm CDT is a bit over 18 degrees high..
In any event, Saturn and Mars lag about 3.5 to 4 hours behind Jupiter. Those that want to view them will
have to wait awhile, with Saturn rising at a bit after 1 am CDT and Mars rises about 30 minutes later.
At 3 am Saturn is 21 degrees high and Mars is 16 degrees up and Jupiter is almost 44 degrees up. This
begs the question - if planetary observation is the goal, how much better off will a planetary observer be
if set up on the west side of the field vs. the east side? Additionally in spite of the lower horizon to the
east, how much of a factor is the large tree on the south side of the field near the southeast corner?
The tree will not be a factor if set up near the northwest corner of the observing field but it will be if you
are set up near the southwest corner. You will have to adjust. Look at the star charts with the planetary
positions plotted for 2 am CDT and 4 am CDT. Charts provided by Len Philpot.
One thing that we can all do at the Spring Scrimmage is all move in closer to the center of the field as
we will not have the numbers where by we will need to mark the field. Moving in will give us all better
horizons all around.
(on behalf of) Barry Simon