Quarter 2/ Observations #2

Nov.15, 2011
7:00 P.M. - 7:20 P.M.
In the North/ Northeastern sky I saw one of our constellations of the week, Cassiopeia. Just above Cassiopeia I saw Andromeda and off to Cassiopeia's left was the upside-down house of Cepheus. Then I turned around and faced South and picked out the square of Pegasus. From that point I was able to jump to Aquarius the Water Bearer and then to Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish, which was just above the horizon. The Summer Triangle was directly above me during this time and Jupiter was in the Eastern sky.
Total time observed = 20 minutes

Nov.16, 2011
5:30 P.M. - 6:10 P.M.
HALLELUJAH, I FINALLY SAW MERCURY! It has been fifteen days since my last trip to the beach and I was worried I would miss it again. My mum and I managed to catch the sunset and a couple of dolphins on camera while we were there. More importantly, we managed to make out Mercury just below Venus in the southwestern sky at precisely 6:10 P.M. It could not of been more opportune because we had just decided to leave before any sketchy people could show up on the dark beach! Also Jupiter was the most visible object in the eastern sky and the moon was waning gibbous today.
Total time observed = 40 minutes

Cumulative time observed = 1 hour

Quarter 2/ Observations #1

At 6:40 P.M. I left my house and proceeded to drive three miles to Manasota Beach. The sky was completely clear except for a dark cloudy haze that covered the sunset. While I was hoping to see the sunset, my priority was seeing Mercury and Venus in the southwestern horizon. To pass the time I decided to skip shells on the waves in a manner similar to the way x-rays are focused  using paraboloid/ hyperboloid surfaces in a telescope. I found that a smaller incident angle would produce more shell skips. By applying this method I managed to reach a record of four shell skips that evening.. At ten minutes past seven I could see Venus through the cloud coverage. Unfortunately, Mercury did not shine as bright and I could not see it with the naked eye. I stayed on the beach till 7:20 and then decided to head home.

After finishing my homework for the night I went outside for one last look at the sky at around 8 P.M. Initially I could hardy make out any constellations; however, twenty minutes passed and my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Directly overhead  the Summer Triangle and its respective constellations were visible. Due east in the sky I saw the square of Pegasus hanging upside down.

Additionally, the moon was waxing crescent, but tomorrow it will be First Quarter.
Total observed time = 1 hour