--- astrodeb@charter.net wrote:
On Christmas Eve, I went out to LaVerkin to do some stargazing through my 15" scope. It was pretty warm for December although it was hazy. I've never been confortable in December but it has been rather balmy lately. I only stayed till 10:45 pm before driving home.
On the day before Thanksgiving I went out with a friend and caught a shallow inversion at 6000 feet. It was clear dry and 27 degrees. It was 5 degrees cooler and very damp just a few miles down the road, so it pays to look for a warm spot in the inversion. We did some Hydrogen beta work that's been waiting for good winter skies. The Flame ngc2024 we brilliant but the horsehead just wasn't there this time. The California NGC1499 was very easy as well as the Witch's head IC2118. Had the best view ever of M74 and M77. A wind came and we packed it in at 11:00pm after 4 hours of viewing. On December 23 went out to Rush Valley. The weather was listed as mostly clear but the cirrus was visable during the day and the jet contrails were very long and persistent. So I only took my grab and go scope. M42 is bright enough to burn thru the cirrus and still be grand even with on 80mm of aperture. Venus was spectacular with horns that circled more than half of the disk. Saturn was worth waiting for but at 10:00pm it was 17 degrees and frost was on everything so we packed it in after just three hours of good dark. Winter time dark sky viewing is fun, better than staying home getting cabin fever. Clear Skies DT __________________________________ Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year. http://brand.yahoo.com/cybergivingweek2005/