View Single Post
  #57  
Old 01-08-2011, 04:57 AM
ngcles's Avatar
ngcles
The Observologist

ngcles is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
21.39

Hi All,

Unusually good night out at my "nearly dark but reasonably convenient" site in the southern highlands (nr Bargo). There is a significant difference between Saturday and Sunday nights (this was a Sunday) I think.

Tonight at 1am I recorded 21.38, 21.38, 21.40 (I take three readings and average -- so 21.39) with my SQM-L pointed at zenith (nr Grus, Microscopium) and 5 degC. This equates to a ZLM of 6.33 (rounded).

This is the best reading I've had there in a couple of years. On Sundays there there is considerably fewer lights on in Sydney (like sports grounds, car-parks etc) and I think this makes a substantial difference. I saw 4 Vesta very easily -- direct vision at mag 5.7 and 40 deg elevation in Capricornus earlier at about 11pm. Could also see with direct vision nearby 27 Capricorni at mag 6.26 when closer to Zenith with no difficulty. The light-dome from Sydney in the northeast was somewhat lower than normal and less bright and the Wollongong light-dome was hardly worth speaking of.


Best,

Les D
Reply With Quote