Hello everybody, I have just come in from a short naked-eye viewing session and I noticed that the visual limiting magnitude seemed deeper than usual. Perhaps it = is because of the late time (or is it early?), but I could hold both 29 and = 32 Orionis with relative ease. They are both just over mag 4 (4.12 and = 4.18), and with Orion only at 30-35 degrees altitude, I bet the limit is better = at the zenith. Night adaptation is impossible at my place, so it didn't figure in my observation. I just stepped out to take a peak.=20 I always thought that Phoenix skies were mag 3 at best. Has anyone = actually done a survey on the limiting mag here in town? Is anyone crazy enough = to do this? Does anyone care? My experience tonight, and thinking how the = light dome at Flatiron seems to recede as it gets late, leads me to believe = that Phoenix skies can get better late at night. It's just another reason to = stay up late, I guess. What say you all? Enquiring minds want to know . . . Matt -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.