2015-06-21
10:15 P.M.

Weather:
No cloud cover, 70 Fahrenheit, 44% humidity

Objects observed:
Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Antares, Spica

All three planets were readily visible, with Saturn and Mars to the south and Jupiter in the west. Mars exhibited it's trademark red hue. Spica was roughly halfway between Mars and Jupiter. Taken together, Spica and the planets were separated enough to beautifully illustrate the ecliptic.

Though Antares was not originally a planned target, it was easily identified due to it's proximity to Saturn (a mere 5 degrees under Saturn on this observing session). Both Spica and Antares were unusually dim; a combination of both light pollution and poor seeing conditions. Further observation will be necessary to determine the naked eye limiting magnitude at this site when the air is calm and dry.

Spica and Antares are both magnitude 1 objects, so if further experimentation doesn't yield better results then binoculars will be necessary in the future. Tonight will be cloudy and perhaps rainy, but clear skies are expected both Friday and Saturday.