[AZ-Observing] Cherry Rd Friday 8/24

The Moon set at 10:30pm, allowing an all-night excellent dark sky for viewing. 
It was quite a crowd for a near first quarter Moon Study/Star Party on a 
weekday, but the popularity was justified because of a clear sky break from the 
Monsoon and there was no rush in arriving and setting up.
  
As for me, with only one Herschel 400 object to hunt down and beat into 
submission until Spring, it was time for some long overdue planetary study. 
Seven planets were available:
  
Earth: I studied the Earth closely on arrival to make sure I didn't park on top 
of any anthills.

Mars: A hot mirror didn't help a 15" diameter disk in turbulent seeing.
  
Uranus: Right above the tail of the "chicken body" of Capricornus, it was 6th 
magnitude, 3" diameter and a green or blue (or blue-green) disk depending on 
the observer. The jury is still out. If you want to see an object in the sky as 
green as a stoplight, check the Saturn planetary nebula N7009 in Aquarius. (OK, 
it's a DSO, but it's a 'planetary' and is named for one!)  
  
Neptune: At mag 8 and 1 to 2" diameter, a pale blue dot. (Sorry Carl.)  
  
Saturn: The seeing settled down in the early morning and the Cassini division 
in the highly tilted rings could be seen all the way around. There was a small 
equilateral triangle of moons just above the disk almost touching. I would need 
Guide to identify them or if any were stars. The time was 4:00am on the 25th.
  
Jupiter: Surprisingly, another striking equilateral triangle of moons, but a 
lot larger and brighter and pointing down at the distinct S equatorial belt, 
with Io almost touching. A black circle on the planet's north hemisphere was 
the shadow of mighty Ganymede. I identified these with the Softkey 'Orbits 3.0' 
program as Callisto, Ganymede, and Io in the triangle, and Europa far to the 
other side. 4:45am on the 25th.
  
Venus: At the horizon just before morning twilight, and looking like a bright 
train light in the distance, it formed a perfectly straight line with Jupiter 
and Saturn, extending up into the zodiacal light, a striking and beautiful 
sight. The Pleiades was there too. It always seems to signal to look for the 
zodiacal light spraying down from it, if near the horizon Spring or Fall.
  
We had breakfast at a great place, Rock Springs Cafe near Black Canyon City, It 
is two large rooms with a great oaken table prob. 6 or 7 feet wide in the 
second room that would easily seat 20 people. We should either start a 
tradition to meet there for breakfast or have some special club meeting event 
there.

Jack Jones
President - SAC
Spicastar@xxxxxxx

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