Plettstone 7-5-08

Greg LaFlamme

Getting around to this OR kinda late. Better than never though:-) After missing Adin, reading the OR's and feeling the loss, I took Michelle up on her offer to come gather light at her wonderful property. Greg Claytor and I went in on it together. We fit our modest aperture scopes into the back of my truck and hit the road around 11:00 Saturday morning. The drive up was very nice, as usual and went by fast. The property is beautiful and despite the 95 degree temps, there was a cool breeze blowing through the area and we were all very comfortable. We were joined a couple hours later by Richard Navarrete followed close behind by Carter Scholz, who was ready for his second night! Michelle took off briefly for an orchestral appointment and we got ready for night. The four of us took shade under the front yard tree and, drinking our Margaritas (provided by Super-Paul) and watched the shadows grow long. As they fell on Michelle's open observatory, Greg and I popped in to remove the front covers from her new Tak Mewlon 210 and TV genesis scopes. These scopes are bolted to a mounting plate the likes I never seen. The plate is like 20" long, 8" wide and an inch thick. Got wires laced for heaters and Rj11 guidance cameras, man that Paramount ME gear is serious stuff! Michelle returned long before dark and everything was ready, except for the Deviled egg potato salad I had just purchased for the BBQ, I forgot and left it at home:-( -next time.

The BBQ! It was great! Super-Paul had the links, sausage, hamburger pattys and steaks made perfectly. Carter didn't know about the BBQ, so he came back with two huge pizzas from a parlor in Mariposa, they were cheese and basil I believe. SO much food, all of it incredible, so little stomach. Didn't slow me a bit, I had one of everything! Paul's forman Tony, wife Toni was it? and two kids Orion and I forget the little girls name, were there for a visit and early on joined us for some eye candy. Too bad Orion wasn't up, I'd love to show him his namesake:-) Great folks. After they had their fill of objects, we set up our charts, manned our eyepieces and got to some fun. A thin layer of smoke was evident in the sky during the day and remained present the entire workable night. Hey, great conditions to take on Hickson 82! I managed the three NGC's pretty easily but wasn't able to tease out the D component in my tiny 12.5 f/5 ;-) Richard to the rescue! He'd been calling out cool objects earlier and helped out on this one too. With his laptop and our averted vision, we landed it with his 18". If it wasn't for the smoke though,,, maybe, just maybe. I understand that its listed as mag 16.5 ish but I've been surprised before at how dim but small galaxies can be picked off in various sized instruments and I have to say, that 12.5" surprised me all night. I'll have to try again to be convinced I can't see the "D". I managed 18 objects including a few star hops with Greg C, all of them great, first light for my new scope went very well. I observed until 1:00 am in shorts and sandals, then a light jacked and shoes till we knocked off around 3:30. Over already? Darnit.

Thanks to Michelle and Paul, your hospitality is again much appreciated.

Great fun, great company!

GML