by Albert Highe
From the Central Valley on Maui, the top of Haleakala is often hidden from view by clouds. The summit may or may not be clear. As expected, clouds obscured the top this past Saturday. Nevertheless, Casey and I met at 5:30PM and carpooled almost to the top, setting up at the Kalahaku Overlook, 699' below the summit. At sea level, temperatures were in the mid- to high- 80's and trade winds were gusting 20-30mph, typical Maui weather. After breaking through the clouds around 9000', we were excited to see clear skies. Just as important, there was almost no wind. We had a magnificent view, looking down on a sea of clouds.
Casey established a Yahoo Group for Maui amateurs called MAC (Maui Astronomy Connection). Already MAC is working to bring Maui astronomers together - a half dozen other scopes were set up in the parking lot when we arrived.
Just after Sunset, I noticed a close pair of "stars" low in the West. I didn't recall these stars - they seemed out of place. We quickly figured out that they were Mercury and Mars. Mercury was considerably brighter than the fainter, slightly reddish Mars. It was a very pretty conjunction - the planets appeared as a naked eye double, with Mercury hovering just above Mars. I estimated the separation to be no more than 20'. Our unexpected discovery foreshadowed what a special night we would have.
The temperature dropped quickly after sunset. I estimate it got down to the low 50's or high 40's. Humidity seemed non-existent. During the night, the clouds retreated further down the mountain, and eventually broke up to reveal the lights of Wailuku, Kahului, Kihei, etc. on the valley floor. The air was so clear we also saw the lights of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, over 100 miles away.
Telescope: Casey's C-11 Eyepieces: A variety of Naglers and Panoptics.
So how was the observing?
It was simply the best transparency I have ever experienced. Period.
Let me describe conditions this way - views of some objects in the C-11 were as good or better than I have ever seen with my 12-1/2" and 17-1/2" scopes. And I've observed with my 12-1/2" from Bumpass Hell in Lassen and with my 17-1/2" from Glacier Point in Yosemite, both at 8000', and during what I thought at the time were exceptionally transparent nights.
Seeing was also very good. Only stars very near the horizon showed a hint of twinkling. On some objects we used magnifications as high as 300X.
Here are some highlights.
Objects like M20, the Trifid Nebula, were exceptional. The view of this object was the best I have ever seen through any scope. I've never seen such extreme contrast between the bright nebulosity and the inky black dust lanes.
Details in the spiral arms of M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, rivaled those I've seen in my 17-1/2" from excellent skies in California.
One of my favorite pairs of objects, the open cluster NGC 6520 alongside the dark nebula known as the Ink Spot, was a real treat. Many of the Maui amateurs hadn't seen them before. The Ink Spot lived up to its name, appearing as an inky black hole in the Milky Way. For the first time I clearly saw inky black tendrils between the Ink Spot and NGC 6520. Again, this was the best view I've ever had of this area.
Stars were well-resolved pinpoints on a velvety black sky.
The very wide dust lane bisecting the galaxy was very prominent. I could just detect a wisp of nebulosity within the dust lane. Only the view from New Zealand with a 16" scope surpassed this one.
Excellent detail within the nebula. Brighter knots were easy to see. The dust lane was a dark river running through the nebulosity.
Views rivaled some of the best I've seen. Nebulosity wasn't as bright as with my 17-1/2", but detail was exceptional for an 11" scope. The dark spot under the swan's "head" was very black.
OK, here is one object that I've had better views of with my 17-1/2". However, that doesn't mean that the view wasn't good. Ever since someone on TAC mentioned that M11 looked more like an angel fish, I've called M11 by that name. It certainly looks like an angel fish. Also, the name is more appropriate when observing in Maui.
This almost equaled my best-ever view through the 17-1/2" from Glacier Point. At 100X, it was difficult to make out the apple-core shape. The "fainter" extensions were so bright, the overall shape looked like an eye. At 200X, the brighter apple-core was more evident, but the fainter extensions that transform the Dumbbell into an eye were still very prominent.
Casey had to work the next day and I had to catch a plane in the morning. Reluctantly, we headed down the mountain around 11:30PM after observing a few hours in paradise. I don't know if God exists or if any of His angels are amateur astronomers. But observing from the tops of volcanoes in the middle of the Pacific gives one a hint of what it must be like to observe in Heaven.
Thanks for the opportunity, Casey.
Posted on sf-bay-tac Jul 14, 2004 02:11:14 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Jan 04, 2005 19:36:14 PT