Sam WHITBY #215

Letters to the Editor


from Sam WHITBY in CMO #215

@. . . . Attached there is a copy of a sketch made on March 20 at 8:20UT. I used my 15.2 cm Newtonian at 310x and a W21 filter. De was 15, Ls was 112, Ds was 23, Dia. was 12.5". The seeing was 6 on the ALPO scale, T was 4. The sketch shows a bright Elysium, flanked by vague dark patches, and a bright area on the following limb. Hesperia was difficult but visible.
(22 Mar 1999 email)
@. . . . Thank you for the drawings by David Gray. They are very impressively and beautifully done. I plan to print them out and take them to work to show the cadets. My boys are for the most part woefully ignorant of anything scientific, but they have some natural curiosity that I try to use to advantage. They have grown to expect interesting things from me, and I try not to disappoint them.
  Recently I received a book called Rainbows, Halos, and Glories, by Dr. Robert Greenler, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin. The book has numerous attractive illustrations and the best explanations that I have seen for the various halo effects that have so fascinated me for many years. I very strongly recommend that anyone who is interested in the open air phenomena should purchase a copy. The big problem is that Cambridge University Press has sold out its edition and decided not to re-publish it. Dr. Greenler has informed me that he is having the book re-published by Blue Sky Associates, and the book should be available in May. BSA can be reached by phone for details at 414-377-1398.
  One of the things that we do at work under our new program of military style discipline is to go out for Reveille first thing in the morning to salute the flag. My cadets usually get to the site early, and I have developed the habit of pointing out sun dogs, solar pillars, and so forth while we wait for the flag to begin its rise. Greenler's book has been helpful in preparing the cadets for some of their new sights in the sky. When the ice crystals do not cooperate, there are wild geese and ducks, and there are wild flowers like henbit, speedwells, and dandelions. Anything is better than standing around and planning more crimes.
  It has been cloudy today, and we had some snow flurries. There have been no more chances to observe Mars. I am glad you have had better luck.
(27 Mar 1999 email)

Samuel WHITBY ( VA, USA ) : whitbyu@erols.com