FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Menacing Presence at All-Arizona Star Party

["Rotramel, Rick (AZ77)" <rick.rotramel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: Russell Chmela~ [SMTP:rchmela@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
         
>   The menacing presence at the All-AZ-SP was the gnat cloud, and that 
> ended at dusk.
         
> People seemed pretty good about lights for those leaving early, but
> I was in the extreme back 40 and didn't see too many go.  
> 
>   Highlight object of the evening, a comet that is coming in to our 
> view called C/2000 WM-1 Linear 
> 
        Yes, the gnat cloud was annoying, but not too bad.

        I set up in the epicenter of the field as usual, on Sat. eve. Was
surprised of the lower turnout, usually the middle of the field is filled-in
with three rows of observers. Well, they missed an excellent night of
observing!

        I too observed C/2000 WM1 Linear. It was bright and interesting to
view. It's location matched up perfectly with my map I got off the net.

        Also located Comet Borrelly, which Deep Space 1 just flew by and
imaged. The comet looked pretty strange. The tail and coma looked flattened
as if looking straight at it or behind it. It was a mag. or two fainter than
WM1 Linear. 

        I tried to find Comet Pitriev (SP ?) but was unsuccessful.   

        Looked at the Pegasus 1 galaxy cluster, too. Then was informed the
next morning by Jennifer that it was featured in an article in the Nov. Sky
& Tel ! 

        There were lots of people leaving early with no warning of lights,
it became a pattern that when you heard a motor starting up, you closed your
eyes for awhile. Murphy's law got me the first couple of times, looking
straight into the bright backup lamps. Ouch!   This is to be expected at a
star party like this, I guess.

        All in all a great night. Thanks EVAC !!!

        Rick Rotramel,
        SAC

        PS: Great photo, Tom !

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