[AZ-Observing] Re: Recording Seeing Conditions (was WOW!)

Brian,

I think we're looking at this issue from differing perspectives. From my =
point of view, like Andrew, I'm just looking for a way to compare one =
night with the next when I go back through my notes. The 1-10 scale =
works well for this. It's been implied that this scale is very =
arbitrary, but I would say, while not Scientifically valid it does have =
certain guidelines to go by. Quoting from Steve's Definitions a 7 in =
transparency is:" fainter stars, equal to mag 6.0 are seen and the =
fainter parts of the Milky way are seen with averted vision, Zodiacal =
Light Seen With averted vision" An 8: "Stars fainter than mag 6.0 are =
just seen and the fainter parts of the Milky Way are more obvious, =
Zodiacal Light is seen with direct vision"

Given these definitions, the night in question was an 8, as I could =
easily make the Milky Way well into Cassiopeia.=20

I'll agree, this isn't scientific, but then I'm in it for the fun of it. =
I also don't have the opportunity to this every night.=20

Don't get me wrong, no one on this list values your input & knowledge =
more than me, but I think this is a case of Keep it simple. From your =
perspective, simple isn't scientifically acceptable, and you're used to =
taking these measurements on a regular basis. For me it's just easier to =
look up and say Looks like a 7. :)

Rick





-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Brian Skiff
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 2:03 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Recording Seeing Conditions (was WOW!)


     Obviously I'm in the minority in this discussion, and will simply
say that I don't find it to be nearly as complicated as others are =
making
it out to be.  For what they're worth, the list of pairs I've used for
estimating seeing is here:

ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/bas/dbls.fil

...and a file of estimates made mainly in the 1980s with the 7-inch
guidescope attached to the 'Pluto Camera', which I made while taking
plates with that instrument:

ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/bas/seeing.vis


\Brian
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