Hello all. The new moon was NOT seen from Israel on Tuesday, but Roy manage to catch it with his camera. Please read the full report from Roy below.
Dear Gadi,
I arrived at the observation point at Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel just in time to see the Sun set at 17:29 but was greeted by a hazy horizon with light cloud. Considering that this appearance of the Moon was due to be very difficult in the clearest of skies, I did not expect to see anything. Nevertheless, I persevered and tried to find the Moon with binoculars (10x 50mm) and with the naked eye but to no avail.
I took pictures as well but did not think that anything would come of them. So, as soon as I got home, I uploaded the pictures to my computer, chose the last picture taken at 18:03, because I thought that it had the best chance of showing something, and contrast enhanced it. It was like WOW! a crescent Moon popped out in the expected orientation and position. Later, I checked the other pictures and found another, weaker crescent in a picture taken five minutes earlier.
I did not see or detect the comet.
Weather conditions: hazy and partially cloudy, T 20.5°C, RH 32%, P 925 mbar.
Photo DSCF8247.JPG 2013/03/12T17:36+2, 1/170 s, f/3.6, ISO 100, 4 mm (24 mm equiv 35 mm) showing haze and light cloud.
Photo DSCF8267.JPG 2013/03/12T17:58+2, 1/28 s, f/5.6, ISO 800, 126 mm (720 mm equiv 35 mm). Contrast enhanced 3 times then gamma of 0.25 applied.
Photo DSCF8272.JPG 2013/03/12T18:03+2, 1/28 s, f/5.6, ISO 800, 126 mm (720 mm equiv 35 mm). Contrast enhanced 3 times then gamma of 0.25 applied.
Regards,
Roy.
The new moon was seen in Sweden: Here is the full report of Ariq Arar and a great photo on the new moon and comet PANSTARR
Shalom, Gadi (and Roy, Daniel & Tom) !
The Crescent New Moon was not seen by me from Göteborg last evening, the 12th of March 2013 C.E. Most of the sky, and not least the western part of it, was hidden in clouds already when I arrived to my usual place of observation, at 18:15 local time (UT+1h). After that time the clouds covered more and more of the sky and got thicker and thicker, and at 18:40 the sky was completely overcast.
However, I got a report from my friend Mr Kjell Holmner that he saw the New Moon from a place called "Grönemad", close to "Grebbestad" in the province of Bohuslän (which lies to the north from Göteborg) at about 58 degrees 41 minutes 50 seconds north and 11 degrees 13 minutes 12 seconds east of Greenwich. He had travelled to that place from his home (a one-way distance of about 10 metrical miles!) because the weather forecast for northern Bohuslän was much better. He first saw the Moon at 18:59, when it had sunken below the clouds at "Grönemad". He also searched for the comet "C/2011 L4" ("PanSTARRS") but did not see it. However, he took a number of photographs, and when searching he found that he had photographed the comet. I append two of his pictures, with due permission.
This evening, the 13th of March 2013, I did at last succed in seeing the Chodesh from Göteborg. I was late and did arrive to my place of observation at 18:15, and already at 18:16 I found the Chodesh in my (8*30) binoculars. Most of the sky was clear, but there were some light clouds in most directions, also towards west. At 18:20 the Chodesh was partly hidden behind one of these clouds, but still visible with binoculars. At 18:23 the cloud left the Moon, and for the first time I could see it with unaided eyes, albeit faintly. At 18:24 it was hidden behind one cloud again, invisible without, but easily visible with binoculars. At 18:26 I was able to see the Chodesh again with unaided eyes, between two of the thickening clouds. This was, alas, the last time, because the clouds got thicker and thicker and did cover more and more of the sky. By binoculars I was able the see the Moon (behind clouds which were not that thick) at both 18:49 and 18:54, but later not anymore. At 19:30 the sky was totally overcast so I left the place. The temperature in the air was -3.0 degrees Centigrade at sunset (18:11), now it has fallen down to -4.0 degrees Centigrade.
Yours sincerely,
Ariq Arar (Alef-Resh-Jod-Qof Ajin-Resh-Ajin-Resh)
Thanks for the detailed reports, and I do encourage each and any of you to send such reports
No surprise, the moon was seen in the US
The crescent new moon was sighted by four experienced observers in South Carolina USA 3-12-2013 at 7:45 PM local time... we had exceptionally clear sky conditions.
Thank you rich and bonnie morrison S Carolina
On Wednesday the moon was very easy to see in Israel. I saw it at around 17:55. Probably it was possible to see before but I was on the highway and that was the first place to stop. Safetyis always first.
If you wan to see an interview with Roy, check out this video from last month
That's all
