FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Great Night at The Dodders

[Tom Polakis <tpolakis@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks to Steve and Rosie Dodder for hosting their semi-annual star party at 
their house south of Maricopa.  It was good to see that Rosie has improved from 
her auto accident very much since we visited her the previous weekend.

Late in twilight we saw an optimal pass of the ISS from the southwest to 
northeast horizon.  By optimal, I mean that it had to have reached an altitude 
of at least 85 degrees.  I couldn't tell which direction from the zenith it was 
passing when it was at its highest.  It rose slowly to about the brightness of 
Jupiter, where it stayed for a couple minutes.

Joe Orman showed his latest slides, including attractive moonlit photos from 
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and the crescent moon near the Pleiades.

We had some good views of the fragments of Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann through 
my 10" Newtonian.  Fragment C is shaping up nicely, showing a nearly 
half-degree tail and a very bright core.  Trailing 5 degrees behind it is 
Fragment B, which showed a faint spine near the head that was elongated in the 
direction of the tail.  The much fainter Fragment G should have been very 
nearby, but we weren't able to pick it up with certainty.

All three Belt of Orion set almost parallel to a slope that is due west of 
Steve's place.  We watched the three Belt stars slowly set, including one nice 
"grazing occultation" by a palo verde tree. 

After a tour of mostly bright, departing Winter objects, we headed north, only 
to have our senses assaulted with communities with names like Maricopa Meadows, 
Cobblestone Farms, and Rancho Malario.

Tom

--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.