One Man's Lassen Highlights

by Matt Tarlach

Hello all, and to open I want to wish all the best to Rod Norden - Belinda & I really enjoyed your company and the views you shared through your "Toy." Glad to hear you're ok.

We just got back from an abbreviated 2-nighter at Bumpass Hell. Conditions on either night (Friday or Saturday) could be called the best I've observed under, though I'd have to give the edge to Friday for steadier skies and (it felt) a little more comfortable temperatures. Thanks to Mark W and anyone else in TAC who helped with the organization!

Belinda & I stayed at the Mineral Lodge, about 14 mi from the South gate to the park and 30 minutes from Bumpass. Location was convenient, and it was clean and comfortable enough, but overpriced. We spent Saturday afternoon checking out other lodging options, and I'll post a report if there's interest.

Looking over my log, I see 47 entries made over the two nights. 23 of these were new objects for me, and some "old favorites" revealed new splendors under the black Lassen skies. I won't take everyone's time with all the details, but here's the highlight reel, with descriptions from the logbook:

Friday:

NGC4490 & 4485

The Coccoon Galaxy is large and bright, much extended with strikingly pointed ends, brightening to a lumpy core with many bright patches. One end curves like a lazy spiral arm toward the small irregular companion galaxy.

NGC6302

The Bug Nebula is bright, very much extended, preceding end hooked slightly to North, bright patch or embedded star to North-preceding side of center. Dark lane crosses to preceding side of center.

Hickson 79 = Seyfert's Sextet

Steve Gottlieb's description as a "small, confused glow" is very apt...prolonged examination at 315x (6mm Radian) under steady Bumpass skies resolves 4, possibly 5 members. Perhaps the toughest objects detected yet the most satisfying of the weekend!

M20

The Trifid is huge!! Three lanes obvious at 150x, with much mottled detail in dark areas. Star near center is exquisite triple, with 3rd component a beautiful strawberry blonde.

M16

The Eagle is large, fairly bright and diffuse. Three dark lanes (the pillars of HST fame?) are apparent as shadows cast across the nebula, though no detail is visible.

Saturday:

Barnard 86

the Ink Spot is right next to NGC6520, a fairly small, sparse, fairly bright, "cute" open cluster with two prominent orange stars near center. B86 is fairly small, irregular, coal black patch on rich Milky Way field.

M8

The Lagoon is fascinating, at 212x and 315x the Hourglass feature at the heart is revealed, bracketed by two dark patches. At least one dark globule was easily seen to preceding side of Hourglass, 3 or 4 other dark spots likely.

NGC5981/2/5

a chain of 3 galaxies in Draco, one somewhat faint and round, one extended N-S, the last faint and nearly edge-on, all visible in the same 212x field.

NGC6543

The Cat's Eye is very bright, very small, brilliant bluish green. At 315x it appears annular, somewhat extended N-S, with the ring brightening toward the edges rather than fading away. Central star is bright and easy; very striking!

All observations with 12.5" f6 newtonian, mostly at 212x (9mm Nagler). Transparency was excellent both nights, seeing was very good Friday, good Saturday.