[sac-forum] Re: Messier Marathon results questions

You remind me of something I have been meaning to try since I moved to Arizona. 
 I have heard that it is often a good idea to observe for a few hours after 
sunset and then do what you did-- go to bed and wake up (via an alarm clock) at 
1:00 or 2:00 am and observe until sunrise.  I have heard that the 2:00-4:00 
window is usually especially pristine.  Having grown up in the Midwest, that 
was hardly ever the case in our soupy skies, but is it true here in Arizona?  
Can any local experienced observers confirm this?  

In the past when I have done all nighters, I am usually pretty tired by 2:00 
and so may be missing good observing and details in that pristine window when I 
do not take the midnight nap.


Richard Harshaw
Cave Creek, AZ


-----Original Message-----
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of David Hofland
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:08 AM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Messier Marathon results questions

Coffee is God's gift to mankind!  When I am observing the pot is always on 
in the kitchen starting around midnight.

I am still recovering from an all nighter Saturday night/Sunday morning.  It 
was the first good clear night for a couple weeks.  Did lunar observing in 
the early Saturday evening, a short nap to await the moon set and got out to 
observe at 1:30 am just as the moon was setting. So about 2 hours sleep in 
that nap and the rest of the night was great observing.  My wife won't let 
me sleep away Sunday during the day with church and chores.  So last night 
was first good sleep since Friday night.  I really should not comment on 
anything for at least 72 hours after an all-nighter. :-)

David Hofland
Director, Student Services
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Jacksonville State University
256.782.5276

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