[Chaos-l] Observing report

[Allen Davis]

I am glad that I went tonight.  I was on the fence about it, as even the
clear sky clock wasn't predicting greatness, or even very good.  But it
looked pretty darned good when I left here, and it turned out to be an
excellent night, for more reasons than one.

 

After a brief hike, Bill Meyers stopped at my vehicle and we spoke
briefly,.I told him I was going to wait a bit and see how things looked.
Right then there were clouds to the north and west.  However, they appeared
to recede, and I started setting up.  Bill told me there was a couple in the
campground from Switzerland, and so I felt like it would be a shame not to
show somebody something if I could.

 

They actually came from the campground not long after I got my stuff out,
and helped me set things up.  They were James and Christine Schmidt, from
French speaking Switzerland.  I texted Robert Nielsen, as he and Beth had
been to Switzerland for a visit to old friends, and I was able to tell them
where he was there on his trip, and they related where they lived.  

 

I put the scope on Saturn at about 200x, and it looked surprisingly good.
Not great ,  but better than I expected.  In about 20 minutes, I was able to
increase the power to 250x  and it continued to look better.  James and
Christine both exclaimed with ohhlala's and such..and they were utterly
thrilled.  Both asked me if it was real.  

 

I then moved to M13 of course, as the darkening sky actually began to look,
well, pretty great.  When they looked at M13 they both exclaimed again.
Asked me questions, and I was looking up info on my Droid on the internet so
I could tell them how far away things were etc.  Moved to M81 and 82 in the
same field with the Leitz.  They knew all about German glass!  And M57.by
this time you could tell the moon was beginning to show itself.  So we went
back to Saturn and it looked even better, though it was lower.

 

They then went to the campground.I told them if they came back in about 20
minutes they could see the moon.  Which they did..through the big scope at
85x and through the 12x36 binocs.

 

They insisted on helping me carry things back to the car.  And we exchanged
email contacts.  She said she was a journalist, and was writing a blog, and
they took pics and she said she would be writing about this night.  They
have been travelling for 1.5 years in the US on a 5 year visa, and have
already been to 46 states.  She said they have really enjoyed it, and they
really seemed appreciative and enthusiastic about the evening.

 

Another lesson for me...it won't happen if you don't go.  I am glad I was
able to and pushed myself to do it.  

 

Hope to see folks soon.  allen

 

E. Allen Davis

starstorm151 at embarqmail.com

 

"M'Illumino              "I am enlightened

D'Immenso"              by the immensity."

 

   -Ungaretti               -Ungaretti

 

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