by Kevin Schuerman
Since Rich N. suggested to JVN to give Dino a chance (wind permitting), here's a recent weather report:
We were headed to Yosemite on Friday night to attend a family reunion. I had my 10" SCT and G-11 packed. Since we wouldn't arrive at Yosemite until the wee hours, the plan was to possibly observe at Dino, since it's on the way to the south entrance of Yosemite, and then finish the drive in the morning. We arrived at Dinosaur Point at about 10:30. It was plenty dark, but the winds were a sustained 20 to 30 mph. Forget Dino. This evening, on the way back, the winds were quite a bit less when we drove by shortly after sunset...
I did manage to get in about four hours of observing on Saturday night from the Redwoods near the Wawona Hotel. The temperature was in the high 50's, there was no wind, the sky was dark, seeing was about 3+/5, and dew was not a problem. I started with C/2001 A2, which showed a large, bright coma, but no tail. Well, maybe a hint of one to the SW with averted imagination!
Next, I enjoyed the Veil with an OIII filter and 21mm Pentax. I saw the eastern and western portions of the nebula very clearly. I've gotta get the 2-inch OIII so I can take advantage of the 35mm Panoptic. The NGC 6960 portion was the most memorable -- a long, thin, snake right through 52 Cygni that split into to two further to the south. I then indulged in some M31 eye candy (what the heck, you take whatever's above the trees.)
I did most of my observing in Aquarius and Capricornus, since they were favorably placed in between and above the trees. I logged the Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009) but didn't see the projections. The Helix Nebula was large and impressive and also stood out nicely with the OIII filter. I managed to log M30, M73, and M72, bringing me to within 7 of completing that list...
I also looked at a few other objects which I'd logged previously. It was a good night that ended about 4am. The Pleiades were on their way up -- w here is this summer going?
I have the Southern Hemisphere observing report almost ready and will post it soon.