Daniel, Totally agree on what humidity does for details in DSO's. That is why I am heading out toward the Lakeside site since it has only around 30% humidity forecasted for tonight which is better than the 55% at SPOC tonight. Clear Sky Clock Lakeside <http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/SLAS2UTkey.html?1> Then again, I'll check Mesonet before I leave but I think the area up in the hills from the Lakeside site will be really good tonight. Thanks for the info. If I change my mind I'll go to SPOC. Jay On Sat, May 15, 2010 at 1:51 PM, daniel turner <outwest112@yahoo.com> wrote:
Jay:
I always consider dewfall to be the end of the line when it comes to deep sky observing. Even if you can keep your equipment dry, the air is full of hygoscopic dust particles which are picking up water, growing in size and slowly drifting down through the lower atmosphere. This gives a distinct halo to every star which can be seen in all optical systems even with 10x50 binoculars which are fresh from a warm car a thus still bone dry.
Last night as dew was starting to fall at Stansbury Park I was able to show people comet 81P/Wild and one of the McNaughts. One of them was slightly out of round but it was just too hazy to pick up the tails beyond the comas.
I'm going back to the Park tonight for some more social astronomy.
DT
--- On Sat, 5/15/10, Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Jay Eads <jayleads@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Weekend Observing To: "Utah-Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010, 10:36 AM Last night at the Pit I captured 10 more Herschel Galaxies and viewed some favorites. When I left (it did get dewy as it was the same day as a storm moving out) the summer Milky Way was extremely evident and beautiful, laying on its side and not straight up and down. I'm heading back to a dark site tonight, humidity is forecasted to be around 55% or so (I would expect 60%) so dewing shouldn't be a problem (but bring the dew heater if you need/have one always to be safe) if we get a spot up off the floor. Again, Lakeside or Rush Valley/Pit for me as I need that type of dark site for some of these Herschel Galaxies. I'll be leaving by 6:00p.m. so if interested contact me . . .
On 2010-05-14 04:23, JayLEads wrote:
I know that SLAS has a party at SPOC but I am planning on Rush Valley/ Pit n Pole on Friday and either that location or Lakeside (or the hills to the west of that site) on Saturday night. If anyone is interested in a darker site location and heading out let me know. I know tomorrow night the skies don't look so good on Clear Sky Clock at Camp Floyd until around 8:00p.m. and then clear skies. A couple of us are meeting at the LDS Church parking lot on Friday at 6:00p.m at Cedar Fort, right off Hwy 73. if anyone wants to meet up please feel free. No matter what or where, lets hope for a tremendous weekend of viewing or imaging!
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