[AZ-Observing] Re: Last nite's observing at Flatiron (was: Cherry Rd)

It was extremely interesting last night to be able to compare the views
between similar aperture (14 1/4" vs. 15") with vastly different f/ ratios
(f/7 vs f/4.5).  The view through the 14 was certainly darker with much
contrast.  The amount of detail in M8 throught the 14 was amazing with the
31 Nagler.

I was also quite tickled to be able to follow the wisps of the Veil nebula
all the way around in the 15".  I definitely think the smaller image
scale/wider field contributed to the task being easier in the short focus
dob.  

Early in the evening, the amount of visual detail presented by the
Sagittarius milky way via the naked eye was amazing.  After midnight, the
view deteriorated quickly though.  I spent long moments simply cruising
through M24 with a 12mm Nagler (142x) and appreciating the beauty of the
central milky way.  

Unfortunately, I arrived late and I was unable to observe Matt unloading
and setting up a telescope the size of your Grandma's Buick from a rather
small car.  heh heh.  Maybe next time.

Even though I only live a bit more than a 30 minute drive from Flatiron,
with relatively dark skies (considering the suburban location), it's
amazing how much a decently dark sky improves the view.

Highlight of the evening??  Perhaps Omega Centauri through the Obsession
at such a low angle that one had to sit on the stool, and lean wayyyy over
just to look in the eyepiece.  Even at only a couple of degrees above the
horizon, and past the meridian, it's the finest globular in the sky.  I
can only imagine the view overhead from a southern hemisphere location.

Matt and Lynn Blackburn confirmed an observation of Barnard's Galaxy in
Sagittarius, but alas, my less trained eye was unable to discern the dwarf
galaxy in the eyepiece of Lynn's telescope.

I did trek off the beaten path with an observation of Bernes 149, a dark
nebula in western Scorpius.  While not visually that impressive to me, it
was an exercise in eye training to take the time to trace the subtle
blacked out boundary of the nebula in the surrounding star field.  A
beautiful yellow/blue double sits nearby (that NSOG calls red/yellow, but
sorry...just don't see the red there).

Ultimately, wind was the plague that put any sort of damper on the
evening.  While annoying, I certainly didn't let it get in the way of a
beautiful night under beautiful skies.  

Compliment of the evening: :-P  - from Matt.  When I told him that my
wonderful wife purchased me a 31 mm Nagler for our anniversary, and then
followed it up with both a 17mm Nagler & 12mm Nagler as Christmas
gifts.....he asked....."Does she have a sister?".  LOL......

All in all, a good time was had by all, and I'm glad I took the time to
load up and head out to Flatiron.  It wasn't nearly as hot as one would
think for late June in the lower desert.

Later,

Mike

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