2/25 @ Dino Point

by Tony Hurtado

Well, it's been said already that we had a pretty short night @ Dino on Sat., but the couple of hours we did get were very nice. Didn't take a LM count, but it was way darker than MB from the previous Wed. and that came in at a solid 5.3 (8 stars in Alp-Eps-Bet Gem). I'd give it ~5.8. A 6 star Trap was easy... until later.

Among other firsts for me last Sat, this was my first trip to Dino. It's a little longer drive for me than Coe or Coyote, similar to the Peak, I guess, coming from Cupertino. Horizons are generally low except to the west where we get down to maybe 25°; every other direction being lower esp. to the East. I'll definitely be back, but I understand that the windy season for Dino approaches and it may be pretty inhospitable for astro-folk until the fall. One of the real good attributes is that it's a way easy drive - no narrow mountain roads like Coe and FP.

Another first for me was the Zodiacal light. I guess I've seen it before but never appreciated it for what it is. It was definitely vivid, climbing well into Aries. Now I need to see the geigenschein!

Yet another first for me was the Flame Nebula. While searching the nebulosity around Zeta Ori, I came around to the Flame. Once you take Alnitak just outside the FOV, the Flame jumps right out at you. Saw a fair amount of detail with Jamie's Ultrablock. Also saw the reasonably defined ridge of IC434, and frame where the Horse Head should've been, but no love this time. Maybe with darker skies or an Ha.

Saturn was nice while skies lasted, as was M46 with it's planetary NGC2438. Also had a nice wide field view of M42 with Mark's 35Pan.

Glad to finally meet up with some of the guys whose posts I've read over the past few years. FP opens up this week, so maybe that's the destination for the next new moon.

Tony Hurtado
Yet another Canadian TACo
NSS 18"

Posted on sf-bay-tac Feb 27, 2006 09:47:01 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Mar 02, 2006 19:50:59 PT