by Rob Mackie
The Clear Sky Clock indicated good transparency and clear skies for Lake Sonoma Friday night so I departed El Cerrito at 5:45 Friday evening. Surprisingly, the Lone Rock lot was deserted. I had it all to myself. Intermittent thin clouds dissipated after sunset and temperature was in the 60's with a steady breeze. With accompaniment from the Canadian Brass on my car's CD player, I dove into the NGC 2565 and environs in the Coma cluster. Transparency was definitely better than last Saturday night at Lake Sonoma. Objects were more extended and I didn't have to imagine that I was seeing spiral structure in M51 through my 12.5" dob. Finally at 10PM I got some company, Steve from Petaluma and his 14" dob. Pleasant conversation followed and Steve too then dove into the Coma cluster galaxies. He agreed that transparency was better than last week.
It was an altogether pleasant evening of viewing, not the least because of warmer temperatures and diminishing breeze. It was 60 degrees when I left around midnight. I would have stayed longer but another Saturday work day beckoned. I'm still surprised that I had such a fine viewing site with good conditions virtually to myself Friday night.