ECP overnite obs Fri 15 Feb - asteroid 2012 DA14

[starfinder]

Update: 9 February 2013

Following a suggestion, I've changed the venue from Labrador Park to the southern facing East Coast Park, at the usual seaside grassy area between Carparks C4 and D1 (near the canal, and slightly nearer to carpark D1).

ECP has better facilities, is more accessible, and is probably safer for an overnight session than Labrador Park. There are toilets about 100m from the observing site.

If it's not clouded out that night, the event is a go-ahead. Jia Hao is coming too. Remus may come as well.

Pls see here for all info and for all discussion on the asteroid itself:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11696


Observing session event details:
Venue: East Coast Park seaside grassy area between carparks C4 and carpark D1 (nearer D1). I suggest parking at carpark D1.

Date/time: Fri 15 Feb 2013 ard 11pm - Sat 16 Feb 6am.
(asteroid visible from around 1am onwards, max brightness and closest approach at around 3.30am)
Status: Will go ahead if not clouded out. See posts below for event status updates.

I had earlier described the East Coast Park location here:
viewtopic.php?p=78752#p78752.

I was observing at ECP just now with Remus, Cataclysm, Zong Yao, Shriox and others. The southern objects in the eyepiece there are significantly brighter from there than from my home in the city.

The southern Milky Way in the Crux-Carina region will be high up at around 1am onwards that night. And the Moon would have set at 11pm already.

I would likely bring my LX-90 8" SCT and a refractor for a mix of visual and imaging. Free views!

Anyone interested to attend? Pls state your interest!

This rare asteroid flyby event is one to remember. Its closest approach will be over Sumatra, very nearly overhead us!

[jiahao1986]

Will go if weather permits. Can't miss this one XD

[starfinder]

ECP event status update, 12.05pm Fri 15 Feb:
- The weather has been poor in the past few days. Lots of clouds now. We will head down to ECP if there's a chance of clear patches of skies. However, if it's totally clouded out like the whole of last night, plus hours of drizzle, then no point going.
- Will update later, but the outlook is not looking favourable.

[rcj]

will try to drop by if it is on, Gavin. thks.

[SillyYun]

if weather is fine i'll be there too!
hopefully im awake haha!

[starfinder]

Update, 925pm.
It's almost totally cloudy now. I saw a handful of stars twinkling brightly at 8pm, but now I can only see Canopus faintly. Heard that it was drizzling in Bedok at 830pm.

We will make a go/no-go decision closer to 11pm. Sorry, can't decide as of now.

Looks like it's another instance of anti-Astro event weather!

[Mariner]

Tends to happen when the Force draws us outdoors.... Maybe caused by some alignment of planets in a weird pattern triggers an anomaly that attracts clouds and rain....

[starfinder]

Update, 10.55pm:
Too cloudy still, no point going down to ECP.
So it's a 'no-go' tonite.

Sigh... But i will still try looking out for the asteroid from my window. And try following it on a webcast, e.g.:
http://www.space.com/19781-asteroid-201 ... casts.html

[starfinder]

1245am, update.
Crazy. sky has been clearing up. heard some people are going to the ECP site now. Either i deploy near my flat or will go there too.
Its free for all now. Driven by clouds!

[starfinder]

I have just been looking at Asteroid 2012 DA14 in the eyepiece!

In Singapore's East Coast Park, Carpark C4/ D1 seaside area. Meade LX90 8' SCT and 14 mm eyepiece for 143x.

Its moving fast and steadily, ard mag 9! 15 Feb 2013 18:05 UTC (2.05am).

Clifford, Jia Hao, and Zong Yao are here too, and have seen it too!