Re: [APML] Sky fog

[Aplanatic@aol.com]

Hi Rick:

Thanks for your STV measurements.

> I haven't seen any reports from people on any background sky readings since
>  you first talked about this.
>  
>  Have you gotten any readings from people from various sites?

I now have 4 reports (not including my own) from people on this list.  Each 
has stated the difficulty of making LVM estimates.  I agree, it's very hard 
(and takes a lot of time) to get an estimate within, say, half a magnitude or 
so.  In addition, our eyes are all different.  When I can just barely see 6.0 
mag stars, my friend is pointing out 6.6 mag stars.  Disgusting.  <g>

I have made many of my own observations from several different locations.  At 
my primary photography site in the Mojave, the sky background estimate has 
ranged from 19.3 mags/arcsec^2 on a bad night to 20.5 on an excellent night.  
This corresponded to a difference of roughly one magnitude LVM.

I still haven't had a chance to do a side-by-side comparison of two or more 
ST-4s.  If anyone gets the chance, please remember to record the results (no 
LVM estimate needed).

I personally find the measurements valuable in estimating local sky 
conditions.  It takes some of the guesswork out of this strange hobby.

Dave Rowe

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