Dinosaur Point, 2/19/09

Albert Highe

The short break between storms was enticing - raising my hopes for a mid-week observing session. I was a bit doubtful about driving to Dino since a thin haze and a few denser clouds had started to move over Redwood City by early afternoon. The CSC and satellite images indicated clearer skies to the south, so I decided to pack up the 13" f/4.5 grab-and-go scope and head for the shores of San Luis Reservoir.

The temperature at Dino was in the mid-60's when I arrived. The sky was mostly clear except for the unusually long and persistent contrails. Jets traveling northwards left contrails stretching from horizon-to-horizon. The contrails from jets traveling southward were about 1/3rd as long. The contrails dissipated slowly while wafting eastward. Wind at ground level was calm.

After sunset, the contrails virtually disappeared as did the air traffic. Skies were dark and transparent. Seeing was very good. Temperatures dropped into the low 40's. Humidity finally climbed to the mid-90's by Midnight. Dew formed on some surfaces: windshields, tables, and some scope surfaces. Notes and atlas pages were clammy. But all optics, including finders, remained dry. It was a very pleasant and productive night. Six observers enjoyed the conditions. Most packed up just after Midnight.

I spent the night hunting down galaxies in Cetus early, and then switched to Ursa Major. I logged about 60 observations, 47 were new objects. I also managed to take a peak at two bright comets, as well as some eye candy.

Albert