[AZ-Observing] Saturday at Flat Iron

The short story for Saturday night - it was hot!  Almost all of us broke 
out into a sweat just setting up our telescopes.  The longer story follows.

David Fredericksen and I decided to head out together.  On the way to 
David's house a nice down pour was seen that looked like it was at the 
site.  By the time we got out on the highway not only was the shower 
gone, but so were most of the clouds - a good sign indeed.  As it turned 
out there was standing water on the road and shoulder well before 
getting to the dirt road.  But the skies continued to clear!

Upon arriving we were greeted by Sheryl Gambardella, Gary and Barbara 
Mellar, and Kim Corson.  We talked for a while, mostly weather and the 
humidity, before starting to setting up our scopes.

Before completing our setup Chuck Akers arrived and began assembling his 
17.5" DOB and in deepening twilight Lynn Blackburn arrived.

Once completing our set up there was more time for chatting, having a 
sandwich and more chatting.  Eventually twilight took over and it was 
time to start observing -- finally.  First on the list for David and I 
were comets 2003 (K4) LINEAR and 2001 (Q4) NEAT, with a Lumicon comet 
filter.  At 140X K4 LINEAR was fan shaped, about 7th mag, 10' long and 
was framed by two stars.  It had a much brighter coma about 4' in 
diameter.  Averted vision worked very well as it became almost twice as 
large and appeared much brighter.

Comet Q4 NEAT, also at 140X, was round about 8th mag, 10' and its halo 
formed a right triangle with two other stars.

About this time I rated both the seeing and transparency a pair of 6's.  
Not all that good, but worth giving it a try.

Next up was V Aquilae.  Although it has been recorded as a deep red, at 
140X in the 14.5 inch, we saw it as very orange on this night.

Chuck and Lynn called me over to see the Ring Nebula's central star in 
Chucks telescope ... at something like 500X.  It was right at the 
zenith, a difficult spot for a DOB, but it was easy to move the scope to 
track the Ring and, after a few minutes, there is was for a short 
fleeting moment.

The next target for David and I was the Phantom Streak Nebula, NGC6741 
in Aquila.  It was no where to be found, we searched for it longer than 
it took to see the Rings central star.  Some one said one time, it is a 
phantom alright.  Perhaps the humidity and viewing conditions were 
working against us this time.

During the evening we were serenaded by Spade Toad Frogs and Kim's GOTO 
telescope.  Not as sure of the frog spelling as I am of Kim's GOTO 
telescope.

Around 10pm or so I decided to roam the field and socialize.  
Gary/Barbara recently arrived from Pennsylvania, fourth time setting up 
11" GOTO SCT.  Viewed M19 and NGC??? in Sheryl 8" f6, what a nice 
sentimental journey.

We certainly hope the weather is more cooperative up at Cherry Rd this 
coming weekend.


AJ Crayon


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