NH - No See Jan 20 due to Wx

From: chiayk (chiayk1@singnet.com.sg)
Date: Fri Jan 20 2006 - 19:39:47 EST

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    Hi folks:
     
    Wrote this on Jan 20... and since I did not see any people posting on 
    their observation.. I posted mine here... . No See due to clouds.
    
    
    
    ".....Not sure how many of you are aware of NH successful launch this 
    morning ( Jan 20).... Well normally we dont have much chance of seeing a 
    rocket over our sky. So when Tony from Australia alerted me to NH..- I 
    was excited and wanted to video the passage of rocket illuminated with a 
    flaming tail..... The first launch date, I have to asked for prediction 
    for Singapore and  the launch was delayed due to bad weather (WX)... 
    then the following day it was delayed again due to a power failure in 
    control room ... and the 3rd time ( this morning).. ... read on.
     
    NH( New Horizons rocket to pluto) - 3rd try - launch 18:06;
     
    1) 15:15 UT ( 11:15pm)  - NASA released the trajectory of the 3rd burn.  
    Singapore was included in the drop-down box of viewing locations. Using 
    loose-sheet of SkyAtlas 2000.00 - I started to re-tag the positions.  ( 
    Not too different from first launch prediction). The rocket will move 
    quickly through Southern Cross at elevation 21 degree and up. The sky 
    was still cloudy. Will this improve towards early am?  I also check my 
    video setup.. cables checked..... Sony Video Walkman tested.... Gone to 
    bed but leave the Broadband on...
     
    2) 18:15 UT ( 2:15am) - Alarm Clock Rang.  Jumped out of bed and peeped 
    outside the window - sky was still cloudy.
       
    3) 18:40 UT - Checked out Nasa web page - and watching count down - 
    this process 'restarted' at least twice due to 'WX or weather violation' 
     pushing the launch twice to 19:00.
      
    4) 19:00 UT - This time it went through all the tests  smoothy - not 
    more last minute 'violations' messages... it was 'exciting' to watch the 
    count down  T-10, T-9, T-8......T-0   - 'engine fire'... and lift 
    off! .... finally after the first two days delayed.. I felt the goose 
    pimple all over me...
     
    5) 19:10 UT - quick check on updated trajectory... glanced at a couple 
    of Alt/Azm coordinates...and verified with skymap on my Palm T3... well 
    not much change. Sky still lousy...  no chance to see anything...so did 
    not bother to re-plot the 19:19Z  positions.
     
    6) 19:35 UT - sky did not improved at all - given up hope.. and gone 
    back to sleep leaving one video system watching the cloudy sky.  
    Returning to bed, wife stirred  and murmured - 'did you watch the 
    Rocket' ...      'No, too cloudy'  but its on its way ..'.
     
    7) 19:51 UT - In bed ... I heard my wrist watch alarm went 
    off  and  'imagined' that the rocket was sailing quietly  pass the 
    Southern Cross...and headed SE - and out of reach from my south- facing 
    window.....
     
     .."
    
    So fellow skywatchers from Down Under or Indian Ocean  what did  you see?
    
    Rgds
    ykchia
    www.ykchia.com <http://www.ykchia.com>
    +8 UT, Singapore
    
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