GSSP

by Richard Navarrete

The actual observing was incredible. The seeing and transparency was the best I have ever had up there, and it reminded me what I was missing while observing at SSP. It was great to stay set-up there, but the seeing, darkness, camping, temperature and natural beauty of Lassen trumped having to set-up and tear-down each night. We were able to observe late every night this year, even though it was raining a bit while we were setting up tents earlier on the first day. Camping under the trees of Lost Creek and having a quiet and relaxed cool morning was terrific after getting to bed after 4 a.m.

I observed with an 18" Obsession dob and used 20, 12, 9 and 7 Naglers, as well as a 16mm UWAN. Mark Wagner and I set-up next to each other each night, and sometimes worked Steve (the man) Gottlieb's Off the Deep End list that he prepared for us. I observed NGC's, IC's, PGC's, MCG's, CGCG's, and even a KUG which I had never heard of before. I found objects on lists like Abell Galaxy Clusters, ARP's, Hickson's, Sharpless, Palomar globulars, Shazbakian's and Barnard's. Spent a good amount of time in the Hercules Galaxy cluster as well. In the end I logged 108 objects over three nights.

The highlights were Arp's 283, 124, 81, 122, 272, 112; Abell Galaxy Groups 2197 (14 members) and 262 (10 members); Barnard 92, 93, 307, 285, 85, 86, 142 and 143; 14 members of the Hercules Galaxy Cluster; Palomar 9 globular; Sharpless 2-108, 2-112 and 2-125 (the Cocoon) ; Seyfert's Sextet (I saw 3- Wagner got 4); Hickson 82, and Shazbakian 166 - a really dim chain of galaxies. I bagged 6, Wagner got 7. I need to see Mark's eye doctor. I also found and observed objects from the Herschell 2500.

A great time was had by all, and many thanks and kudos to the organizing committee. A special shout-put to friends from Southern California who made the trip to Lassen.

Clear skies to all!

Richard