Very mini backyard report

by David Staples


ObserverDave Staples
Date21 May 2001
Time2130-2215 PDT 0430-0515 UTC
LocationSanta Rosa, Ca 38°16'N 122°40'W
WeatherChilly as the fog rolled in
Equip.C8, 40mm, 26mm plossls
Seeing7/10
Trans.5/10

The weather gods must be angry. Monday night I set up the scope and attached my new Telrad...first mistake, it only took 45 minutes for the weather demons to notice the new equipment.

While the fog rolled in quickly I did get a few observations in.

M68 - First time for this one and I wasn't that impressed. I needed averted vision to pick it out and then it was just a blob with no individual stars resolved. It was low in the sky and from my light polluted backyard (fog starting to roll in also). Must revisit this one from a darker locale. I don't think I would have found this one with out the Telrad.

I also tried NGC 4361 (P/N) and NGC 4462 in Corvus with no luck. I think I'll just give up on these from the backyard. 4361 has an apparent mag. of 10 and 4462 a mag. of 12, I have no idea of surface brightness.

Since I now have the Telrad I raced around the sky while the fog moved in enjoying the ability to get an object right in the center of the FOV every time. Now I know why everyone likes them so much.