On a bitterly cold Saturday (2003/1/11-12) night fellow ASH members Tony Donnangelo, Maura Smith, and I had a look at Ganymede and Europa after first observing the Hesiodus Lunar Sunrise Ray. We used Tony's Takahashi FS-102 apochromatic refractor at magnifications up to 234x. Prior to traveling to Tony's house Maura and I witnessed Iridium 54's brilliant -8th magnitude flare.
The two Galilean satellites formed a very close pair separated by a few arc seconds at most. There were definite size and color differences between the two moons.
After a much needed warm-up break we caught a glimpse of the GRS sometime around 2:30 UT as it approached the preceding limb. Early in the evening Tony observed a previously unreported triple sunrise ray in the crater Parry. Unfortunately, the event ended before Maura and I arrived at his residence. The Hesiodus Ray, by the way, appeared similar to the several other times since 1994 that I have seen it, i.e., as a slowly widening dim streak of light that
gradually illuminated the floor of Hesiodus. Other lunar features were noteworthy. Rupes Recta was well displayed as were Tycho, Clavius, Plato, and several other craters. Eratosthenes was striking. Tony and I both noticed an unusual aspect of Alpetragius. The central peak was extremely prominent which made the crater look dimpled. Also eye catching were the many isolated peaks on the dark
side of the terminator that were nicely illuminated.
Tony and I also spent some viewing Saturn. The C ring was visible at the ansae along with a definite demarcation of the polar hood and two cloud belts. Before calling it quits at approximately 3:30 UT we made a final check on the progress of the Hesiodus Ray.
Dave Mitsky
The two Galilean satellites formed a very close pair separated by a few arc seconds at most. There were definite size and color differences between the two moons.
After a much needed warm-up break we caught a glimpse of the GRS sometime around 2:30 UT as it approached the preceding limb. Early in the evening Tony observed a previously unreported triple sunrise ray in the crater Parry. Unfortunately, the event ended before Maura and I arrived at his residence. The Hesiodus Ray, by the way, appeared similar to the several other times since 1994 that I have seen it, i.e., as a slowly widening dim streak of light that
gradually illuminated the floor of Hesiodus. Other lunar features were noteworthy. Rupes Recta was well displayed as were Tycho, Clavius, Plato, and several other craters. Eratosthenes was striking. Tony and I both noticed an unusual aspect of Alpetragius. The central peak was extremely prominent which made the crater look dimpled. Also eye catching were the many isolated peaks on the dark
side of the terminator that were nicely illuminated.
Tony and I also spent some viewing Saturn. The C ring was visible at the ansae along with a definite demarcation of the polar hood and two cloud belts. Before calling it quits at approximately 3:30 UT we made a final check on the progress of the Hesiodus Ray.
Dave Mitsky
Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
