Observing Reports

Observing Reports

The Double Quasar & Gravitational Lensing

The Double Quasar & Gravitational Lensing

: By Pete Peterson
Pete Peterson shares his experience of observing a gravitationally lensed quasar 8.7 billion light years away from his Wishing Star Observatory in Barrington, RI.

2009 Leonids Observing Report

: By Dave Huestis
One Leonid of about 1st magnitude appeared to the east of Betelgeuse, leaving a two second train of dust behind it. Not bad. Much later a bright Leonid, perhaps as bright as Jupiter, shot about 15 degrees to the west of Sirius. I saw it disappear below my tree line to the south. These were the highlights.

Occultation/Graze of Antares by Moon: June 6, 2009

: By Dave Huestis
I have watched the Moon occult stars in the Pleiades star cluster on many occasions. And I have also observed the Moon occult a planet or two during my 37 years of amateur astronomy. But just seeing a single star either pass behind the lunar limb or move tangentially to it never seemed to interest me.
A Night With the Messiers

A Night With the Messiers

: By Jim Hendrickson
A close pairing of M35 and Mars highlights a Messier Marathon effort on March 10, 2008.