[Chaos-l] Last night report

[Tony Garcia]

Yes, Mars-- in the various scopes we were catching the nice crescent of
Syrtis major, Utopia which arcs around the N. polar ice cap, and with Allen
and Peter's scopes the southern ice cap.  I think I caught a glimpse of a
large cloud early in the night but didn't see it when seeing improved so
unconfirmed in my mind.  Occasional glimpse of the southern ice cap in my
scope.  An amber filter helped pull the dark features quite a bit.

In Allen's scope we saw several moons around Saturn as well, Rhea, Titan,
Dione, Tethys, Enceladus I believe.  Tried like heck to see Mimas but no
luck.  Looking today, maybe our charts were slightly off and Mimas was too
near the rings or behind them to make out anyway.

We also had a few campers come by and we showed them several of the
highlights of the night.

I caught several galaxies in Leo, M66, M65, M105, M96,M96, NGC 2903, and
the sunflower galaxy in Canes Venatici.

There was plenty of viewing last night!

It was a great night!  Occasional light clouds, but just meant time to sit
by the fireplace in the camp shelter.


On Sat, Apr 14, 2012 at 1:45 PM, Allen Davis <starstorm151 at embarqmail.com>wrote:

> Last night at Medoc.  We had Mark Montazer, John Miller, Jason Strother,
> Michael and Sandy Camp, Tony Garcia, and for the first time observing with
> us,  Peter Zhao.  And me.****
>
> ** **
>
> The transparency wasn’t terrific for some of the time…….and the skies
> seemed a tad brighter than usual.  But I wasn’t complaining as it was clear
> and it was Friday night!  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Set up my 20, the others pretty much were setting up when I arrived.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> My hope was the seeing…I really did want to get a look at the planets and
> see them in their glory.  Especially Saturn.****
>
> ** **
>
> Highlights.****
>
> ** **
>
> The ghost of Jupiter and Hubble’s Variable Nebula through Michaels scope.
> Hubble was also the first object I observed through mine.  Nice unusual
> object with its fan, or comet shape.  Thought of this before it got so low
> in the west to disappear.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> M3 through my scope.  Very nice once it reached about 30 or so degrees in
> the east.  Glob season is back.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Saturn through Peter’s scope.  Very nice sharp image.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Venus through Tony’s scope.  Nice crescent…amazing it is so bright with
> less than 50% visible!****
>
> ** **
>
> Mars through a number of them.  I was really impressed with mars in my big
> scope.  At 404xit was steady and we could see much surface detail.  Tony
> and John can remember the names of details….i am too lazy right now to
> remember.  But it was the best I had seen Mars literally in several years.
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Saturn through mine at 316x  very sharp…..and several moons visibile of
> course…what impressed me was the banding on the planet itself.  More
> noticeable than in some time and with a definite orange/yellow hue.****
>
> ** **
>
> I also greatly enjoyed at John’s suggestion Abel 21 or the Medusa nebula.
> Great at low power with the 21 Ethos and OIII filter.****
>
> ** **
>
> Jason and sandy made our fire.it was still cold enough to need that….and
> we had rice milk drink that Tony brought and some snacks.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> I took down at 230ish and we all were packing up around then.****
>
> ** **
>
> Last object………M5 teasing us into glob season.  NICE.****
>
> ** **
>
> Home around 400am.****
>
> ** **
>
> I decided to try my theory that maybe I would relax more if I didn’t leave
> at midnight….been in the habit of that for a while……..feeling like I needed
> to get home. I think some of that is a false feeling.  We all have our
> worries and priorities, but I wanted to see how things went with me by just
> relaxing and not rushing to take down.****
>
> ** **
>
> So far so good. It worked and I felt like I enjoyed everyones company and
> the sky better.  Thanks to all of you who came.****
>
> ** **
>
> Peter said he wants to come back next weekend.  Thanks to him for coming
> to observe with us the first time.  I am game.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> allen****
>
> ** **
>
> E. Allen Davis****
>
> starstorm151 at embarqmail.com****
>
> ** **
>
> "M'Illumino              "I am enlightened****
>
> D'Immenso"              by the immensity."****
>
> ** **
>
>    -Ungaretti               -Ungaretti****
>
> ** **
>
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>
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