by Jeff Gortatowsky
So as the Southland dries out and we lick our wounds, I've been fortunate for the past two nights to take out the 11x70 Fujinons on a Bogan tripod in my driveway and observe Comet Machholz (aka CM).
I live in the heart of one of the most light polluted areas of the planet, or so it seems to me. Los Angeles. Tinsel Town. La La Land. However La Habra Heights actually has in it's general plan, a statement that viewing of the heavens at night is a goal of the light control statutes of the city. There are no street lights in 'The Heights'.
I was fortunate to be able to view CM Tuesday night in the 11x70s. It's drop dead gorgeous. Well at least for a comet that can be seen from LA County. I've observed quite a few comets that did not look as good in my 45cm dob at a dark site. So I appreciate one that looks like -anything- in binoculars in LA LA Land. Careful observation showed a distinctive fan shaped coma at the 10 or 11 o'clock position (an imprecise measure for sure, but understandable by anyone looking through binos). I'll not say I saw a tail. Only that I imagined I saw it as I knew about where it was from network photos. Once located, detecting the comet by naked eye was possible, if only 'just'. I must admit I can only look at such a fuzzball for so long... no matter how rare they maybe. So I took a long slow look at the Pleaides, at M42, then M41, then the double cluster, then I *THINK* M79 (yes the gobular in Lepus). It was one of those 'I know I am staring right at it, and I think I see something...' observations. :D
Last night though a real treat. My wife Kim bundled up and joined me in the driveway. What warm fuzzy feeling to have such a treasured soul join me as the lights of LA LA land twinkled below us and slower, more subtle twinkle of the winter sky was above us. First I showed her Comet Machholz.
Binoculars are the perfect instrument for sharing your enthusiasm with your wife. User friendly. All you have to do is lower (or raise) them. She oooo'd and aah'd looking at the Comet. I get the idea it was mostly to make me feel good. She's like that. "That fuzzy thing, right?", she said. "Ummm Yes", I replied, "that fuzzy thing..."
But then I captivated her. Well... not me... No way. I can not competel with the Pleaides. She seemed to swooned over them. "WOW!", she exclaimed. A realistic 'wow'!
"That is really 'Something'." After a bit of coaching, she even described the small double near the center of the 'bowl'.
Then we did a little tour as I best I could under the 'orange' skies. Together we took a washed out look at M41, M44, the Double Cluster, and M42. I made excuses for all of them as to my eye they were as washed out as some of the roads and bridges around here. I was wuite the proud papa as M44 elicited another "Oh Wow!"
"They call it the Beehive", I said.
"It's a beehive of activity!"
I beamed like a proud papa. Caroline Herschel... look out!
"My feet are getting a bit cold she wispered."
Thank God 6 years ago when I married her, neither of our feet got cold. It was a great 10 minutes. And like all of you, nice to see the heavens again after almost 15 nights of rain.
Posted on sf-bay-tac Jan 13, 2005 21:53:19 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Jan 27, 2005 21:26:00 PT