Dec 12/13 Sunset district SF

by Michael Linnolt

Been able to observe 4 nights in a row now. Fog cleared almost completely at 11pm and stayed that way for 2 hours or so. Very transparent and steady skies. I had no problem seeing the 6 trapezium stars in my 8" at 257x. LM=14.3, very good! Saturn was gorgeous with a lot of details in the bands and rings and 4 satellites formng a nice arc around it! Did my usual variables for AAVSO and checked U GEM for the RXTE folks, still quiescent at V=14.0 (It has to exceed 13.5 to be considered to enter outburst). Q2 Machholz still kind of disappointing, though. Its so low in the south, the light pollution from Stonestown wipes out the tail, even tough I thought I detected a smidgen of it this time. Didnt see any Geminids in a few minutes of casual obs, though. Maybe 5 in a row tonite?

Posted on sf-bay-tac Dec 13, 2004 11:25:40 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Jan 23, 2005 17:39:33 PT