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I saw the most amazing meteor last evening when walking the dog about 8:15. Huge bright green with a long bluish/yellow tail. It came from pretty much overhead, disappearing toward the north. A fine definition of serendipity. B
Thanks, Jeff. What a good idea – the sky was sooooooo different from what I have been seeing from Molly's deck. Saw Mars, Venus, Jupiter
(3 moons to upper left and one moon far down to the lower right.) Beehive, Pleaides, Andromeda.I am always happy to get home safely – driving the "deer magnet"………..B
Dean, I too got out last night. Set up my "now working" scope on Molly's deck and saw Jupiter – two moons to the right and one to the left.
Venus was visible. Then invited the neighbor's children over to have a look and got the dad along with them. We had a good look see and caught the moon also. Just saw Mars popping over the roof line to the east when I was shutting down. BThank you to Rick Murray for giving me a guided tour of my telescope and the night sky on Saturday evening. Taught me about collimation – a LaserMate Deluxe has been ordered. From his driveway in Pine Island we saw – at first – a lot of clouds. Could make out Venus and Jupiter
revealed if we were patient with the cloud cover. Gibbous Venus and Jupiter with two moons on each side as well as rings with 10mm lens.
Saw galaxies M81 and M82 in the same field, M34 and M35 in Gemini, Crab Nebula, Orion Nebula with easily seen trapezium, Beehive in Cancer, Double Cluster in Perseus, the Pleiades. Looked for the Dumbell ??My new finder scope is working well – wasn't much use with out the primary mirror aligned! On to bigger (or is that smaller?) things. B
Scope is out on the deck – trouble……… Need help……… Can't see.,,,,,,,. Hope it is something simple ………Please post if you are going to Keller
and can take a look. BKirk, I too was driviing around trying to find a high spot with no trees. Got a call from Arnold when he was at the farm in Plainview
watching the eclipse. I took camera and headed NW out Valley High Drive. Managed to see the upper left quadrant eclipsed but
couldn't find a place to park and take pictures. Ended up in a farmer's driveway with enough time to take a few pictures. I too couldn't believe how fast it went. The moon did disappear into a cloud bank about 7:30. Was very disappointed when I got home to see my pictures. Not much to look at. But fun trying. BMagnificent sky. Say it again. Magnificent sky. Really, how long do we wait for that opportunity? I had a truly newbie experience – finding objects like a pro. I spent much of the time in Scorpius and Sagittarius, those low in the sky treasures. (I have little gravel indentations in my knees to prove it……) My first coup was finding the Jewel Box in Scorpius – TWICE! It is described as a bright and pretty cluster of stars and, indeed, that is what it turned out to be. M4 by Antares, M70 in Sagitarius came easily but M69 and M54
eluded me. On to M22 and I felt I had accomplished a lot. I ended the evening with the double cluster NGC 869 and 884 in Peresus.
The evening was punctuated with many (Eureka…….) I found it!!Astronomy wouldn't be astronomy without other astronomers. My thanks to Alan Cameron and Rick Murray for sharing the enthusiasm
and being accomodating to a beginner. Of course, I wouldn't have made these discoveries without being able to use the XT8 club scope,
so thank you for that and my little red finder scope.On the road by 12:30, encouraged to leave by "eau de moufette." It was AGGGNFA! B
I will try to be there by 8:30. There is a long wait for the first stars to come out. i.e., bring bug lotion…. and maybe a chair.
We should have a go/no go decision by 6:00 or so?? Anyone want to volunteer to make that call?Invitation is open to all for a lovely evening! I have to be in Mpls by 9:30 Sat morning so I will be on my way home by ll:30 or so.
My cell phone is 250-2947 if anyone needs information. SB
