by James Turley
A quick report.
Exceptional seeing at Coe last night (9/23). Parking lot was still packed at 2AM. I left at 4AM. Clear, steady conditions. Dead calm after Sunset. Coyotes light to moderate, with occasional bursts >80db. Pumas absent.
I'm new to Coe, but everyone was saying this was "as good as it gets". Virgo Arm of the Milky Way casting faint shadows.
Jupiter and Saturn reigned in the Eastern Sky, showing great steady views all night. Shadow of Saturn cast on the rings. Everyone's telescope was showing great seeing. This was a Planetary Evening. A Refractor showcase! Michelle's Annie at 900x looked great too pointed at Jupiter and Saturn, especially after she stopped down with an 8" Aperture mask.
My VX114ED performing nicely and sweetly between Michelle's 17.5 and Steve's 12.5 JMI. SS2K spot on, with occasional minor motor issues. Steve Caron chasing faint Galaxies.
Saw Pleides M45 in Vixen Mega Binos. Incredible. Michelle's Fujinon 16x70 on her Virgo mount was my finder all night. Yummy views of everything. Even M1.
Mitch wanted to see a Red Star at 2AM, just as Orion was rising to start the hunt. Red Star? Michelle says Antares doesn't count. Hmmm. How about the little orange one between the Double Cluster? No.
OK. NSOG. The R Leporis Variable, Hind's Crimson Star. Punch in RA, Dec in my SS2K. Hmm...maybe. NSOG says:
In October 1845 John R. Hind of London discovered a blood red carbon star R Leporis, a long-period pulsating red variable....It is one of the most vividly hued stars in the entire sky.
Varies between 6 and 11.5, with 432 day cycle and a 40 year secondary cycle. I think we were catching it at 11.5. Sure enough, Crimson Red. Carbon stars are cool with surface temperatures less than 2600K.
Cool. The journey is the reward. Mitch got to see at least one. Anyone know about the "Garnet Star"?
Good Moons. Jupiter's, Saturn's, Earth's. Confirmed that my Visor's (Palm clone) JMoons program was right on, re configuration of the Galilean moons. Thanks Kepler.
So many other objects. So much fun. I'll let others hopefully report on this exceptional evening of seeing and fun under the stars.