Dec 15/16 SF Sunset District

by Michael Linnolt

A nice clear, reasonably warm fog-free night in SF! Did a number of AAVSO cataclysmic variables, including a close eye on U GEM, which had flirted with the "magic 13.5" heralding the outburst, but it hasn't happened yet. It dropped down below my visibility again, into the 14's. Seeing was somewhat worse than recently, with rapid changes from steady to blurred in a matter of seconds. When it steadied down, I could see all 6 trapezium stars. Another fine night to see Q2/Machholz! Quite a sight now with the tail becoming easier here in the city, pointing about pa 285 and maybe a degree and a half in the 8" at 35x. Been a nice stretch of good observing nights now, but the moon is coming back....

Posted on sf-bay-tac Dec 16, 2004 12:34:32 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Jan 23, 2005 19:16:17 PT