CalStar a Winner!

by Jane E. Smith

CalStar was fantastic. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was coolest on Wednesday with nighttime temperatures around 33 degrees. Then a warming trend hit. Thursday and Friday were a balmy 82ish during the day and around 39 degrees at night. Saturday reached 90 in late afternoon, but it was still pleasant, and our nighttime observing was the warmest of all 4 nights... high 40's. Skies were best on Wednesday night with transparancy falling off a bit on Thursday(low thin clouds). Friday around 2am was great as was Saturday night.

I spent my observing time going through the objects in October, November, December and January of Scotty Houston's "Deep Sky Wonders". My #1 object-of-delight was the Sculptor Galaxy, NGC 253. What a beauty!

All in all it was a great 4 days with only two minor disappointments.... the pigs didn't make a showing and I got whipped twice at Scrabble by Randy. However, I'm confident that both of these items will resolve next year. ;)