[Friends_of_SSASTROS] Get ready for W.O.W.!!!

[Mike McCabe]

February 7th,2023 – Is Tomorrow your Wicked Observing Wednesday?

Greeting Fellow Observing Enthusiasts,

Last month I proposed an observing plan for a thing I calledSuper Tuesday, which was in responseto a good forecast for that upcoming day after what had been a spate ofnon-observable days prior to it. While February certainly hasn’t been anywherenear as difficult so far from an observing perspective, tomorrow’s forecastdoes offer hope for a full day and evening of clear skies, something we really haven’thad yet. Thus, I am now proposing that you all get ready for a WickedObserving Wednesday!
Start by getting out there during the day and looking at the Sun. There’s a handsome group ofsunspots making their way across the northern hemisphere as we speak, andsomething BIG is about to roll over the southeastern limb. I know this because justthis morning I witnessed in Ha light one of the biggest, brightest, densest,most complex, and attractive prominences that I’ve seen in a long time. Themain portion of the prominence jutted probably 50,000 miles above the SE limb,with a wispy tendril extending from it perhaps another 150,000 miles. Thissucker was amazing, and it evolved significantly in just 15 minutes of watchingit. I can’t wait to see what created that beast!

Solar cycle #25 has progressed faster than expected and is making for great solar observing.
Just a few minutes after sunset, point your telescope atJupiter. The King of the Planets is closing in on the Sun now and will soon beunobservable, but for the time being it stands about 40° above the SW horizonat sunset and is still a viable target for a telescope. On this evening you’llsee the moons Io and Europa passing close to one another, and if you’re luckyand get good seeing you may be able to pry out the Great Red Spot.

Jupiter won't be around much longer. Catch it while you can.
After a hearty dinner, head back outside with yourbinoculars in hand. If you haven’t found comet C/2022 e3 ZTF on your own yet, tonightis your night! Edgar, as we have been calling it, will be positionedjust about a degree from the 2.8 magnitude star Hassaleh (iota) in Auriga. Ifyou can look straight up, you can do this!


Using the attached charts (shown above and below), be out there at 7pm, stand facingeast (if you don’t know which way that is, use a compass) and raise your gazeand the wide field chart straight up. The bright star Capella will stand nearlydirectly overhead and ever so slightly to your left (if you’re facing properlyeast – don’t blame me if you can’t follow instructions ;-) From there youshould be able to trace out the pentagon of Auriga. Once you’ve identified Hassaleh,put your binos on it. Now you should be able to discern the glow of Edgar veryclose to Hassaleh (if you’re still facing east it will be slightly above thestar). If necessary, use the chart that shows the simulated 5° binocular fieldof view. The comet is dimming rapidly, in fact a bit more rapidly thanpredicted, so this may be the best opportunity for anyone and everyone to seeit one last time before it becomes too difficult for peek-and-go looks.



Finally, mount your binoculars on your tripod and aim themat Orion. Collinder 70 may be one of the best mounted-binos targets in the sky,and that’s because it never rises above 45° from our perspective. Use theattached guide to maximize your viewing experience. Clear skies to you, and…

Best of luck with your Wicked Observing Wednesday!

Keep Looking Up,

Mike McCabe

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