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	<title>The Suffolk Sky &#187; log</title>
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	<description>Backyard Stargazing and Amateur Astronomy in Suffolk, Virginia USA</description>
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		<title>Notes on Determining Transparency, Seeing, and Limiting Magnitude</title>
		<link>http://www.suffolksky.com/2010/07/notes-on-determining-transparency-seeing-and-limiting-magnitude/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suffolksky.com/2010/07/notes-on-determining-transparency-seeing-and-limiting-magnitude/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:30:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hersey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cool Stuff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Observation Tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[limiting magnitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[log]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seeing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transparency]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suffolksky.com/?p=848</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I found this scale for transparency and seeing on Deep Sky Observing conditions page. I have not been recording the transparency, seeing, or limiting magnitude with my observation logs, but it is something that I should be doing. The scales below for transparency and seeing are the ones I will be using for my logs. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I found this scale for transparency and seeing on <a href="http://www.telosnet.com/dmdodge/astronomy/conditions.html">Deep Sky Observing conditions</a> page.  I have not been recording the transparency, seeing, or limiting magnitude with my <a href="http://www.suffolksky.com/category/observation-log/">observation logs</a>, but it is something that I should be doing.  </p>
<p>The scales below for transparency and seeing are the ones I will be using for my logs. I am posting the scale here just to make it easy for me to reference, I am also going to include a print out of the scales in each of my log books.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<br />
Seeing (atmospheric stability) and transparency (atmospheric clarity or clearness)<br />
are rated subjectively on 1-10 scales that are based on the guidelines provided by the <a href="http://www.astromax.com/">American Association of Amateur Astronomers</a>. </p>
<p>Seeing is primarily influenced by atmospheric turbulence.  The following scale<br />
is used to rate conditions:</p>
<p>1 :: Chaotic: lowest power stellar images unsteady<br />
2-3 :: Severely disturbed: low power planetary/nebulae images unsteady<br />
4-5 :: Poor: medium powers unsteady<br />
6-7 :: Good: only high powers unsteady<br />
8-9 :: Excellent: only highest powers soft<br />
10 :: Superb: all powers steady</p>
<p>Transparency is influenced by cloud cover, relative humidity, and light conditions<br />
which illuminate airborne particulates, including light pollution, moonglow, and<br />
residual sunlight. The following scale is used to rate conditions:</p>
<p>1 :: Mostly Cloudy<br />
2-3 :: Hazy; 1 or 2 Little Dipper stars visible<br />
4 :: 3-4 Little Dipper stars; Milky Way not visible<br />
5 :: 4 Little Dipper stars; Bright parts of Milky Way visible (Scutum starcloud)<br />
6 :: 5 Little Dipper stars; Milky Way visible with averted vision<br />
7 :: 6 Little Dipper stars; Milky Way visible<br />
8-9 :: Excellent: 7 Little Dipper stars; M-31 visible<br />
10 :: Superb: M-33 and/or M-81 visible</p>
<p>Transparency and Seeing page for log book:<br />
<a href='http://www.suffolksky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/LogBook-SeeingandTransparencyScale.doc'>Log Book &#8211; Seeing and Transparency Scale :: LogBook-SeeingandTransparencyScale.doc</a></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>Here is a nice <a href="http://popastro.com/vstar/transparency">transparency chart of Ursa Minor</a> (the Little Dipper) from the Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA). Could be useful in helping to determine <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limiting_magnitude">visual (naked eye) limiting magnitude</a>.  </p>
<p><a href="http://www.suffolksky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/umi_transparency.gif"><img src="http://www.suffolksky.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/umi_transparency-208x300.gif" alt="Ursa Minor Transparency Chart" title="Ursa Minor Transparency Chart" width="208" height="300" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-849" /></a></p>
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