NEAR observed at one power from Austin, Texas
Ed Cannon (ecannon@mail.utexas.edu)
Fri, 23 Jan 1998 02:06:08 -0600
Fortunately our sky cleared, and so Mike and Gerald McCants,
Sue Worden and I were able to observe NEAR at one-power
(mag. +2?) from Bee Cave Research Center, Austin, Texas
(30.315N, 97.866W, 270 m).
First Mike set up and aimed the 12.5-inch (31.75 cm)
telescope, in which NEAR was first acquired. We tracked it
in that as it brightened. Then Sue got it in her binoculars.
Due to my not being familiar enough with Perseus, I wasn't
sure that I'd seen it at one-power until after its brightest,
when I looked back at the constellation and could see easily
that there was one less "star" than had been there a few
moments before.
Mike made an audio tape and also was taking photos, so I
believe he'll have the details.
Now in a few hours we have Mir, STS-89 (I think.), and a
predicted -7 Iridium flare.
Ed Cannon
ecannon@mail.utexas.edu
Austin, Texas, USA