Hello all,
Last night I went out to the RASC's observatory in Almonte. The site
is only 30min from home for me so I consider it close enough to use
for casual as well as dark sky observing. I was very happy with the
sight and I suspect I will start using it regularly. Al informed me
that they try and keep the site plowed during the winter( though
usually only around new moon), so this may become my year round
site. Carp may just be a once in a while site for me now. I am very
excited about having a darksite within easy reach of home!
Anyway here is my report as I continue to work through the RASC's
Finest NGC objects re-observe and log the Messiers:
Session: 01-010
Date: April 18, 2001
Time: 9:00-12:00
Location: FLO, Almonte, ON
Weather Description: -5 Deg, high haze
Limiting Magnitude: 5.7
Seeing: 6/10-7/10
Scope: Celestar 8
Targets:
1) M37: Open cluster in Auriga. Nicely compressed with ruddy red
star in center of cluster. Most stars appeared white. Some of the
spaces between the stars in the cluster seemed very dark compared to
the background, which was a bit washed out. This gave me the
impression of dark lanes twisting through the cluster. I counted at
least 70 bright stars in the cluster using 18mm (113x) but many
fainter stars were visible.
2) M36: Open cluster in Auriga. Loose cluster, unimpressive.
Mostly white stars involved. I counted more then 40 bright stars in
this cluster using the 18mm (113x).
3) M38: Open cluster in Auriga. Moderate to loose compression. I
counted 50-60 bright stars of similar brightness using 18mm (113x).
4) NGC 1931: Emission/reflection nebula in Auriga. Using 18mm (113x)
looked like a round fuzzy nebula surrounding a star. With the
24mm+barlow (170x), the core brightened and two stars were visible.
Using averted vision the nebula appeared to double in size and fan
away to the west. Using the 8mm (254x) three stars were visible in
the core with averted vision and I suspected a fourth.
5) NGC 2683: Galaxy in Lynx. Appeared edge on with position NE-SW.
Using 18mm (113x) the core was gradually brighter. Using the
24mm+barlow (170x) there was the impression of mottled structure.
6) M99: Galaxy in Coma Berenices. Large, face on with a gradually
brighter core. Appeared slightly mottled using averted vision.
Observed with 18mm (113x).
7) M98: Galaxy in Coma Berenices. Edge on oriented NW-SE. Faint
with a slightly brighter core. Observed with 18mm (113x).
8) M100: Galaxy in Coma Berenices. Large, faint, face on. Very
bright, tight core or stellar? Observed with 18mm (113x).
9) NGC 4126: Galaxy in Virgo. Oriented NNE-SSW. Edge on with a
suddenly brighter core. Observed with 18mm (113x). I could not
detect NGC 4206, which should have been in the same FOV.
Notes:
I was treated to a nice long view of the ISS as it passed overhead.
It was quite bright and slow moving. It traveled from west to east
where it slowly faded out as it entered Earth's' shadow. Also
observing at FLO tonight were RASC members Bruce McGlashin, Al Seamen
and Geoff Meek. A fun night!
Clear skies all!!
Looking forward to the 21st!
Matt
