WoW! I had wonderful success working in Virgo at Henry Coe this weekend.

The conditions were divine! Saturday was warm but Sunday was perfect in jeans and a thermal sweatshirt. There was little dew on Saturday and none on Sunday. Coe is a good spot for only a 45 minute drive. I can't remember how long to the peak but I think it's closer to 1 1/2 or 2 hours. The view to the North is extremely dark, but unfortunately San Jose to the East is brighter than at Eagle Rock.

On Saturday, Michelle was there with her 18" and Jeff Crilly with his 13". I was using Mark's 8". We were joined by Joe, who is a TAC lurker. Where is that observing report Joe? Just before moonrise another astronomer arrived, but I left shortly after that so didn't talk much with him.

I was impatient for it to get dark enough to start my work in Virgo. While I was waiting I enjoyed a look at M13 in Jeff's scope. That is my favorite globular cluster. Finally it was getting dark! Michelle started the night with a view of the supernova in M96. That's the forth supernova I've seen this year. Actually, that's the forth I have seen in my life! Then just as I was getting my bearings in Virgo she found M51. I had to stop and see. It looked incredible! Then I was down to serious business. I found eight Messier's in Virgo - M58, M60, M59, M90, M89, M87, M86 and M84. I drew M86 and M84 along with another galaxy that turned out to be NGC 4388. After moonrise I thought I would continue with some brighter objects. I drew a beautiful picture of M52 in Cassiopeia before deciding that it was hopeless. I did a little mooning before driving home.

When I got home I carefully checked all of my Virgo drawings against The Sky. A few weeks ago, when I tried Virgo I had much difficulty. I thought I was doing it, but the star fields weren't matching. My friends suggested that the star fields don't always match exactly. But you know, they DO always match! Exactly! I was so pleased! Except for M87. I crossed that off my list and decided I better check it again on Sunday.

Sunday I had the place to myself except for the owls hooting at each other. I joined in every so often. ;-) I got M61, M49, M87 and M104 to finish Virgo. The Sombrero looked awesome. I could see the dark lane using Mark's 28 mm meade eyepiece at 50 diameters but decided to draw a beautiful picture using the 10.5 mm at 135 diameters. I always used the 28 mm for location but drew most of my pictures with the 20 mm. Usually the 10.5 mm was too dark.

Then I went on to Hydra. I got M68 and M83 and then got M98, M99, M100 and M85 in Coma Berenices. I tried M91 and M88 but the mag 5 naked eye stars I was using as guides were becoming too difficult to see as Leo took a dive into San Jose.

I moved towards the East and got M26, M16, M17 and M18. The Swan was bright enough for a beautiful drawing with the 10.5 mm. I wasn't sure about the nebulosity I was seeing in the Eagle, but was pleased when I saw how closely my drawing matched in The Sky.

The moon cleared the trees at 12:15 and I called it a night.

Again, all the star fields in my beautiful pictures matched The Sky exactly except M87. My picture from Sunday was completely different from the one on Saturday, but neither matched The Sky. Oh well. Maybe if it's clear I'll try again tomorrow. I want to get in all I can before I start my new job.

Thanks so much to Rich and Jay for giving me some great ideas about how to get through Virgo! And thanks to Mark for the use of the scope!