[AZ-Observing] A Very Nice Night

OK so the seeing wasn't great, transparency wasn't that good either, but 
it was a clear night in Monsoon Season!  The clouds that were around at 
sunset drifted off to the south and gave a few departing shots of 
lightning to remind us of the time of year.  Then the sky was left cloud 
free. Muggy warm night, mosquitoes buzzing everywhere in the dark, but 
still worth it!

I spent some time showing newer club members what the sky looks like in 
an 18" scope.  Showpiece objects, M22, M21, NGC6520/B86, M2 and M17, 
NGC6522  and NGC6528.  We tried for the central star in the ring nebula, 
at 825x I couldn't see it, neither could a couple others who looked.  
But Carter swore he could see it with averted vision, young eyes I 
suppose.  Nice view of the nebula anyway.

A few surprises...

NGC6441, a bright but unresolved ball of fuzz in a heavy Milky Way star 
field.  Directly beside a 3.3 Magnitude star just above the stinger of 
the Scorpion.

NGC7027, Small, bright, vivid green!!  I would say teal, but others 
remarked almost emerald.  Central star to one side with a fan shaped 
nebula in the other.

NGC1 Small, very dim, barely there, in a triangle of stars with NGC2 
just 2' to the southwest, round, even halo with no structure visible, no 
distinct core.

NGC2 Small, very dim!! An averted vision object despite it approaching 
transit, round, no visible core, just a circular patch. NGC1 is 2' 
northeast.

As I drove Gates Pass road I realized it would be the last time I would 
drive this scenic winding road.  One of the advantages of leaving TIMPA 
at two in the morning is a lovely moonlit drive through the pass with no 
other traffic in your way.  The road is a great drive with the winding 
curves and steep grades.  Much more enjoyable without gawking tourists 
driving 15MPH in front of you.  Though watching some flatlander in a 
motorhome realize just how badly they have screwed up can be funny...  
until you realize you are behind them!

In a week they are closing the road for over a month to rip it up, widen 
the road and straighten the curves.  What it will look like when done I 
have no idea, but I doubt it will be the great drive I have come to 
love.  We shall see...

Andrew

Andrew Cooper
----------------------------------------------------
http://www.siowl.com



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

Other related posts: