Home Forums RAC Main Forum General Discussion Observing tonight?

Viewing 15 posts - 766 through 780 (of 2,564 total)
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  • #11012
    Captain Kirk
    Participant

      You may see me other nights, but Sunday is best for my schedule.

      Kirk

      #11013
      ellenvega
      Participant

        If the skies look good I might stop by after work tonight, which would be late:  11:30ish.  The weather does look good for Sat. and Sunday nights, also. (if not better)

        #11014
        Randy H
        Participant

          Yes, I'm watching that big bolus of rain now in SW Minnesota sliding this way…

          I guess I'll decide if I'm making the treck down to EB after supper tonight.

          #11015
          Dean Johnson
          Participant

            Sunday may be a better fit. If folks are going tonight, I'm in, but the weather people are also talking about wind and high dew points until this front passes.

            I'll probably make a decision around 8:30 p.m.

            #11016
            Randy H
            Participant

              The Eagle Bluff CSC shows bad transparency and seeing from 10pm on tonight.
              May not be getting any of the rain though.

              But I'm bowing out for tonight. Just not good enough.
              However, I'm open to either Saturday or Sunday nights.

              #11017
              Dean Johnson
              Participant

                I agree. The Twins game is in a rain delay, the skies are getting really high and hazy off to the west and even my trees in a well protected area of Spring Grove are blowing around like crazy. I am an NO-GO for tonight.

                Tomorrow looks real good, but I have to tend bar at the Legion. No one else will do it and I bet it will be a very slow night.

                Sunday still looks good with lower temps and better dew points. If anyone wants to go to Eagle Bluff then, I'm in. If not, I will be out at the Flatin Farm.

                #11018
                Mr.Gorp
                Participant

                  What a bummer for yesterday  🙁

                  Anyone up for Keller tonight (Saturday)?  We talked with Jerome and are planning to be there after 10.  It won't be a real late tonight, as we're planning on Eagle Bluff tomorrow.

                  #11019
                  darkskyjim
                  Participant

                    I'm definitely thinking about it.  Just got off work and trying to muster the energy…

                    #11020
                    Randy H
                    Participant

                      Likely going down to EB tonight.
                      Anyone else still up for going down?

                      #11021
                      Captain Kirk
                      Participant

                        I will be there. 

                        Kirk

                        #11022
                        Dean Johnson
                        Participant

                          I am definately going to Eagle Bluff. It is time to collect some photons!

                          #11023
                          Dean Johnson
                          Participant

                            The participating members of the RAC had an absolutely INCREDIBLE night at Eagle Bluff July 3/4!! Randy got there first, me second, the Mr. Gorp group of Chris, Julie, sons Adam and Joe next and Capt. Kirk at 1 a.m.

                            The summer sky was gorgeous! Excellent seeing and transparency, a little dew, but not bad. We saw Saturn with Titan, Rhea, Enceladus, Iapetus and Hyperion. Gamma Virginis was still barely visible in a low power FOV.

                            Antares and M4, M80, M51 and NGC 5195, those two fine double stars in eastern Lyra that Capt. Kirk and Ellenvega nailed, (Vega and Altair in Randy's scope were both blinding and beautiful), M5, M22, M24, Collinder 399 the Coathanger, M16, M8 the Lagoon and M20 the Trifid (best look I've EVER had of that!) Zeta Aquarius, Gamma Andromeda, Beta Andromeda and NGC 404, the Andromeda Galaxy, M27, M57, NGC 7331 and the Deerlick group of galaxies, M11 the Wild Duck cluster, a dozen (at least!) satellites, including 3 in two minutes, Jupiter rises at 2:03 a.m., lots of meteors, mostly faint, but one very nice mag. 2 through Draco and Ursa Minor at 3:01 a.m. and we finished the night with the Helix Nebula (NGC7293) and (durmroll, please……)

                            PLUTO at 3:30 a.m.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to Randy, another one off the astronomical bucket list!

                            What a night! A Glorious Night For Astronomy!

                            #11024
                            Captain Kirk
                            Participant

                              AGNFA indeed! 

                              The following night we were treated to some amazing crepuscular rays over Lake Pepin just before the fireworks display began at Lake City.

                              #11025
                              Dean Johnson
                              Participant

                                I'm going out tonight.

                                Remember that tomorrow night we amateurs in central and western North America have a shot at seeing the Purbach's Cross feature on the Moon.

                                #11026
                                Dean Johnson
                                Participant

                                  The night of July 6 did not work out for me. I had high thin clouds here and did not observe. I did sleep out on the deck and woke up on the deck to see stars at 2 p.m.

                                  Tonight was a different story. I got out there at 8:30 and had 9 locals to see Purbach's Cross on the Moon. We had to battle partly cloudy skies, but good Lord, what a night! It was a night of laser pointing, astronomical story telling, looking through the telescope and lots of WOW's and thank you's. Mike Schmidt's relatives from Virginia have very rarely seen skies like this and tonight wasn't all that good!

                                  Purbach's Cross was the best I've ever seen. (Not saying much since when I saw it in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the NCRAL 2009, I had more than a dozen astronomers crowd me out after I pointed it out to them.)

                                  But Saturn stole the show, everybody loves Saturn, and as fleeting as Purbach's Cross is, too bad. The public liked it, but did not appreciate seeing it like I did. That just goes to show….GIVE THEM SATURN and they won't forget it.

                                  One young lady from Virginia named Jess, was pretty sharp on astronomy. Her Dad has a decent scope and she has the potential to be a good amatuer. It was AGNFA!

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