[Chaos-l] June 4 observing session

[walter fowler]

Yes, indeed, there was a monthly observing session, right on time, sort of.  Jon Stewart-Taylor and I decided on the Farrington Boat Ramp (note spelling, which I now have right) on Sat. evening.  While waiting for twilight to slip into darkness, Jon showed me how adept he has become on the didgeridoo (an Australian aboriginal instrument that he has fashioned out of PVC tubing).  It kind of had a cosmological sound to it and I'll ask that he bring it to future observing sessions.  There was more boat and car traffic at the Boat Ramp than there was at my previous visit in Feb. or March but all the drivers were pretty considerate when they saw amateur astronomers shielding their eyes from the head lights.  We got down to business looking at Jupiter's Great Red Spot which neither Jon nor I had ever seen looking any better.  We also got a quick look at Saturn disappearing into the "soup" even before it disappeared behind the trees.  Jon also reprised his Messier marathon of this past March in finding at least 10 or 15 "M-objects."  I looked for some low surface brightness objects that Jon said I wouldn't be able to see and I couldn't.  We had a pretty good night but called it quits fairly early, but not before taking a look at the Ring Nebula, M13 and even Antares in anticipation of the upcoming summer season.  We have to get more of you out with us and will try to give more advance warning (although this observing session was on the CHAOS website).  Be on the lookout for spontaneous, last-minute  "pick-up" observing sessions to be announced only on the Listserve.   Walter
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