[AZ-Observing] Sentinel - this past weekend

Well, like many have said before, this was a weekend we were long, long 
over due for.  My original plan was to leave just after noon with Steve 
Coe, but a customer began having troubles and forced me to spend the 
morning to make him happy.

Fortunately I was able to leave the house around 3:00pm and arrived with 
clear skies and a slight breeze for Friday.  After some chatting and 
getting setup and more chatting, darkness fell upon us and the breeze 
disappeared.  There were about 12 vehicles - if memory serves me correctly.

Steve Coe, Ken Reeves, Matt Luttinen and I started our observing with 
Eridanus, a constellation we hadn't visited in several years.  It was 
good to hear there were also folks at Vekol Rd doing the same.

Saturday, during the day, Richard Payne discussed his battery charger . 
. . solar panels!  Amongst others I spoke with were Charles Whiting and 
Tom Conner.

Saturday night the vehicle count went to 30!  The 14" gave me some 
problems tracking and, while taking a break Al Stewig, suggested 
pointing the telescope at Polaris and comparing is position on the 
equatorial platform.  As it turned out there was about a 20 deg 
difference between the two.  Not sure how this happened as the platform 
alignment was checked when disassembling Sunday morning and it pointed 
north.

Continuing with Saturday night's observing, Steve, Matt and I worked on 
clusters in Monoceros.

My challenge observation was to find Mayall II, aka M31-G1, the 
brightest globular cluster in the Andromeda Galaxy.  Unfortunately the 
finder charts weren't enough to get even close, besides by that time it 
was well past the central meridian.

Regardless of all what happened it was another most enjoyable weekend 
and I look forward to more this year.

Clearer skies,
aj


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