Wind velocities on June 8.
This Quaoar event actually has us inside the shadow path, barely inside the northern limit. Thinking for our 8SE telescope setups - The target star is magnitude 15.5, alt= 38 degrees. At 38 degrees, the star will be 0.15 magnitude dimmer than if it were at alt=66 degrees. So, figure 15.6 magnitude, and to look like a 13.5 mag star would require 6.9 times longer integration. So if 16x will show the star clearly, we'd need 16x times 6.9 = 111x. Close to the 128x setting in the Watec. Can we integrate that long and not have a total white out? Perhaps if the focal reducer were removed, we might? Worth a try.
A much better prospect would be at the 36" and 14" scopes on Chews Ridge. The air will be more transparent, and hence less lit by the large moon. The seeing will be sub-arcsec likely, allowing better illumination per pixel. The event is only 14 degrees from the 99% moon. The longer focal length will further darken the skies. And the chord will be deeper into the shadow yet still give a long grazing incidence on the possible atmospheric extinction by any Quaoar atmosphere. At the sub -400F temperatures at Quaoar, however, nitrogen freezing will reduce prospects of any atmosphere, but the grazing incidence can provide better information on this.
The telescope is undergoing repairs and improvements. I have secured approval for Van H for our trip. Dan says we can go to MIRA even if the scope isn't ready, and set up our own scopes and the MIRA 14" from Marina as well, if they can get it ported up the mountain.
Alt=38, due south
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Wind velocities on June 8. |
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