Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

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rdavidjohnson63
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Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by rdavidjohnson63 »

Suresh has pointed out there will be a Lunar Occultation of Mars Feb 18th early in the morning.
Currently Clear Outside is predicting 100% cloud cover.
http://clearoutside.com/forecast/44.77/ ... w=midnight

I will make a go/no-go decision Monday afternoon and post it here as to let everyone know if I will have ELO open for this event.

Here is a link to his original posting:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11456&p=54993
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ahmedreda
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by ahmedreda »

Dave,

I plan to come and help you if its a go.
Ahmed Reda

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Sureshks
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Sureshks »

Hi Dave & Ahmed,

Sounds good. I will plan on being there Tuesday morning if it is clear. I'll bring a scope and an equatorial.mount. Dave you make the call on weather since you've got the furthest drive.

First contact is at 5:58am, and 4th contact is at 7:18am.

Do the front gates to Baylor open right at 5:00am? If so, we shouldn't tell people to arrive prior to that. Should we connect with the Baylor office to give them the heads up that there might be a gathering, and to ensure the gate opens on time that morning?

Suresh
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rdavidjohnson63
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by rdavidjohnson63 »

I checked with the park. I have the instructions to open the front gate and keep it open.
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clayton
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by clayton »

fyi:
Moon's AZ
Moon's AZ
EcDirection.png (602.68 KiB) Viewed 2979 times
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Deane Clark
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Deane Clark »

What are the other lines?
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merle
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by merle »

Deane Clark wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2020 2:01 am What are the other lines?
I'd guess sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset.

Here's the tool:

https://www.photoephemeris.com




Merle
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Bsting
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Bsting »

Any decision on go or no-go yet?
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rdavidjohnson63
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by rdavidjohnson63 »

Looking at Clear Outside just now, things look good for tomorrow morning. I'll check again later this afternoon, but so far it looks good.
Assuming things hold, I plan to be at ELO at 5:00am to open the gate and get my stuff setup. Folks can plan to be out any time after that.
If anyone wants to arrive before that, let me know and I will plan accordingly.
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Deane Clark
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Deane Clark »

Bsting wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:33 am Any decision on go or no-go yet?
Are you back from AZ?
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Bsting
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Bsting »

Mandatory quick visit.
Going back on Thursday.
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rdavidjohnson63
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by rdavidjohnson63 »

Clear Outside still calls for clear skies so I am a go for 5:00am tomorrow.
Keyholder - ELO and JJC
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rdavidjohnson63
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by rdavidjohnson63 »

One last confirmation. I aiming to be at ELO around 5:00am.
Keyholder - ELO and JJC
Mentor - JJC
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Celestron 8SE
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Bsting
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Bsting »

Hoped to but can’t make it
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rdavidjohnson63
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by rdavidjohnson63 »

Cancelled.
I'm in Chaska and it is 100% overcast. Going home.
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merle
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by merle »

rdavidjohnson63 wrote: Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:52 am Cancelled.
I'm in Chaska and it is 100% overcast. Going home.
Sorry to hear that Dave.

I was very surprised to see it was clear from my backyard and got a few handheld shots. I set up my C5 for viewing the disappearance.

Merle
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rdavidjohnson63
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by rdavidjohnson63 »

I was also very surprised to see it clear up as I drove home.

I decided to setup in Pioneer Park in Little Canada and managed to get lots of good pictures of first contact up to the moment Mars is fully covered.

By the time Mars emerged from the other side, it was so bright Mars was not identifiable on any image I took regardless of the exposure I tried.

My work LapTop no longer allows me to read my camera memory card. I post a couple pictures when I can.
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merle
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by merle »

With the occultation ending after sunrise, I didn't think I got Mars emerging, but here's what I found when I looked closer at the images... This is about a minute after it emerged.

Hint: Small bright dot at 2 ish


Merle

PS - moved topic to Star Parties and Events forum
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Bsting
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Bsting »

Very cool!
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Sureshks
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by Sureshks »

That's a great shot, Merle!

You should send that in to the Reflector, or to S&T. I haven't seen a published daytime photo that captured Mars.

Suresh
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Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
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SNs: Meade 6"/Celestron 5.5"
SCTs: Celestron 9.25"/8”/B&L Criterion 4”
Maks: SW 7"/Quantum 4"/Meade 3.5” ETX
Cass: Vixen 8” VISAC/Simmons 4.5"
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defalkner
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Re: Reserving ELO for Lunar Occultation of Mars

Post by defalkner »

Or to the APOD.
Clear skies!
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