Determining viewing magnitude limits

I'm really not certain what it means when folks say viewing conditions were
"magnitude 6.0 sky" or words to that effect but I guess it has something to
do with the dimmest objects that can be detected with the naked eye (?) at a
given time -- e.g., if last night was mag 6.0 skies, I could see mag 6
objects with the naked eye but nothing dimmer. Right?

And -- I read somewhere that a rule of thumb is to count the number of naked
eye stars visible inside the Great Square of Pegasus -- if two are visible,
that's mag XX; if (n stars) are visible, that's mag (whatever). Did I
understand and, if so, what's the rule of thumb for using the Great Square?

Thanks.

--

-----
Joe S.

I'm really not certain what it means when folks say viewing conditions were
"magnitude 6.0 sky"
And -- I read somewhere that a rule of thumb is to count the number of naked
eye stars visible inside the Great Square of Pegasus...
what's the rule of thumb for using the Great Square?

When you hear 'a mag. 6 sky', it's referring to the LVM (limited visual
magnitude), usually measured at the zenith or at least the darkest
section of the sky at the observing site. This tells you the dimmest
magnitude stars that could be detected naked-eye.
The Great Square is often used, as is the Little Dipper.
The two are featured with alot more info he
http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/obs...magnitude.html

SSX

When you hear 'a mag. 6 sky', it's referring to the LVM (limited visual
magnitude),

Sorry. That should read 'limiting visual magnitude'.
Should be an interesting topic.
I've heard naked-eye claims of 67 stars being seen in the Great Square.
Just wondering if that will be surpassed in this thread

SSX

Great link! Bookmarked it - Thanks

SaberScorpX wrote:
I'm really not certain what it means when folks say viewing conditions were
"magnitude 6.0 sky"
And -- I read somewhere that a rule of thumb is to count the number of naked
eye stars visible inside the Great Square of Pegasus...
what's the rule of thumb for using the Great Square?


When you hear 'a mag. 6 sky', it's referring to the LVM (limited visual
magnitude), usually measured at the zenith or at least the darkest
section of the sky at the observing site. This tells you the dimmest
magnitude stars that could be detected naked-eye.
The Great Square is often used, as is the Little Dipper.
The two are featured with alot more info he
http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/obs...magnitude.html

SSX

"SaberScorpX" wrote in message
...
I'm really not certain what it means when folks say viewing conditions
were
"magnitude 6.0 sky"
And -- I read somewhere that a rule of thumb is to count the number of
naked
eye stars visible inside the Great Square of Pegasus...
what's the rule of thumb for using the Great Square?

When you hear 'a mag. 6 sky', it's referring to the LVM (limited visual
magnitude), usually measured at the zenith or at least the darkest
section of the sky at the observing site. This tells you the dimmest
magnitude stars that could be detected naked-eye.
The Great Square is often used, as is the Little Dipper.
The two are featured with alot more info he

http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/obs...magnitude.html

SSX


Thank you for your answer and for the link -- very helpful, exactly what I
needed.


--

-----
Joe S.

I'm really not certain what it means when folks say viewing conditionswere
"magnitude 6.0 sky"

When you hear 'a mag. 6 sky', it's referring to the LVM (limiting visual
magnitude), usually measured at the zenith or at least the darkest
section of the sky at the observing site. This tells you the dimmest
magnitude stars that could be detected naked-eye.
The Great Square is often used, as is the Little Dipper.
The two are featured with alot more info he

http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/obs...magnitude.html

SSX

Thank you for your answer and for the link -- very helpful, exactly what I
needed.

Very welcome. Let us know if you find any of those mag.6 or better skies and
your observations. Always interested in new dark sites to visit or recommend.

SSX