2015 BSP observing guide

[Dave Lillis]

Hi Guys,
With the 2015 BSP only 2 weeks away, Frank and I think it would be a good idea to throw together a simple observing plan , one for people to use as a basis for selecting what constellations to track down and not to miss things like Iridiums and ISS passes. Many events are common to both nights.

After 10pm, the sky is fully dark and the constellations to the west are setting, so its a good strategy to capture objects in those before they set any further.

12-13 Sept , Friday night/ Saturday Morning
20:00: Sunset
21:00: Saturn starting to set in the SW horizon, it's possible for goto telescopes to find this in the twilight.
22:00: Twilight ends, complete darkness begins.
22:00 Pluto in Sagittarius, this is setting to the west, so its best not too leave it too long before searching for it.
22:09:05: Iridium Flare, -8.0 46° 74° (ENE) Iridium 66 1 km (E) -8.1, North of the square of Pegasus - between Andromeda/Cassiopeia
23:04:41: Iridium Flare, 0.0 10° 26° (NNE) Iridium 25 79 km (E) -5.9, Auriga
23:14:27: Iridium Flare, -0.4 13° 29° (NNE) Iridium 23 74 km (W) -6.1, Auriga
00:50 Neptune at its highest point (visible throughout all the night time hours)
03:22 Uranus at its highest point, (visible throughout all the night time hours)
04:16 Venus rises in the SE
04:22 Mars rises in the SE (forms interesting wide conjunction with Regulus in Leo and Venus, and Jupiter later on it the morning)
05:25:08: Iridium Flare, -1.6 58° 229° (SW) Iridium 19 25 km (E) -8.4, West of the square of Pegasus - between Andromeda/Canes Venatici
05:49 Jupiter rises in the SE
06:03:48: ISS -1.2 10° SSW 06:06:13 20° SSE 06:08:41 10° E
05:00: Twilight begins
07:00: Sunrise

13-14 Sept , Saturday Night/ Sunday Morning
20:00: Sunset
21:00: Saturn starting to set in the SW horizon, it's possible for goto telescopes to find this in the twilight.
22:00: Twilight ends, complete darkness begins.
22:00 Pluto in Sagittarius, this is setting to the west, so its best not too leave it too long before searching for it.
22:03:03: Iridium Flare, -0.9 45° 76° (ENE) Iridium 21 37 km (E) -8.1, North of the square of Pegasus - between Andromeda/Cassiopeia
00:50 Neptune at its highest point (visible throughout all the night time hours)
03:22 Uranus at its highest point, (visible throughout all the night time hours)
04:16 Venus rises in the SE
04:22 Mars rises in the SE (forms interesting wide conjunction with Regulus in Leo and Venus, and Jupiter later on it the morning)
05:11:28: ISS 13 Sep -0.8 11° SSE 05:12:33 13° SE 05:14:11 10° ESE
05:49 Jupiter rises in the SE
05:00: Twilight begins
07:00: Sunrise
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The following is a list of when a constellation crosses the meridian, in other words, this is when they're highest in the sky, so are best viewed.
Obviously, you can track down constellations when you like, and many constellations are still well viewed several hours either side of the meridan time.
The intention of this is to help you draw up an observing plan, especially for the more southern constellations which have a narrower window of opportunity.

22:00 Sagittarius, Hercules, Ophiuchus, Bootes, Cygnus, Delphinus, Sagitta, Aquarius
23:00 Capricorn, Equuleus, Delphinus,
00:00 Cepheus, Lacerta, Pegasus, Aquarius, Pisces Austrinus
01:00 Pegasus, Aquarius, Pisces
02:00 Pisces, Pegasus,
03:00 Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Pisces, Cetus
04:00 Andromeda, Triangulum, Aries, Pisces, Cetus
05:00 Persues, Eridanus, Taurus, Orion, Auriga, Gemini (sunrise on the away, so its best to get in the eastern constellations now before the sky brightens)