GSSP 7/11/07-7/14/07

by Rob Enns

I observed at Devastated on 7/11, and at Bumpass Hell 7/12-7/14. Devastated was a bit damp on Wednesday, but otherwise fine. Bumpass was really, really great on Friday and Saturday. The seeing was very good to excellent, and the sky was very transparent. As others have remarked, the views of Jupiter early in the evening were the best I've seen this year, and Hubblesque at times.

A few highlights of the weekend:

o Alpenglow on the peaks seen from Bumpass around 8:30pm each night. Truly awe inspiring.
o Seeing the Crescent with an OIII for the first time.
o Jim from Susanville and his 25x150 Fujinon Binocular. Wow.
o The massive dark lanes encircling M31, and seeing the big galaxy stretch for miles and miles.
o Steve Gottlieb's talk on Friday. Steve pointed us to Barnard's
galaxy and many more objects that evening and for years to come.
o B86. Way cool, and a bit scary. Don't fall in.
o Touring Stephan's quintet, NGC 7331, and friends.
o Climbing Lassen Peak, and the views of Mt. Shasta from the summit.
o Sun on my tent at 8:30am every morning. NOT! :-)

Later,
Rob