- A respondent in sff.net quoted a local newspaper as giving this weather report for the day Phobos was discovered: "For this city and vicinity, generally fair
weather may be expected for two days, with gradually increasing warmth and
occasional cloudiness, possibly threatening a shower tomorrow. " Of course
we do know that the air was very clear and steady over Washington at four in
the morning, for Hall to spot the tiny spark of Phobos, thitherto unseen.
I've never seen Phobos, unsurprisingly, but I had a low-octane similar experience,
the first morning I used my [then] new 9.25" scope, down in the steady clear
air in the Florida Keys. I looked at Sirius, I think with 444X, and saw its
faint dwarf companion clearly, in the deep blue predawn sky. It took my breath
away.
Joe
(Googling, I find that it's best to look for it when the sky isn't totally dark; otherwise the brilliance of Sirius can dazzle it into invisibility.)
Current Mood: uncomfortable
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