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[dewayne]

I start a week's vacation on the 14th, and I'm in a good mood.
Went out tonite for a couple of hours to look up. It was good nite. I was working out of my front yard. There were only about 2 million cars going down the street in that two hours.
Couldn't stand to stay out any longer, but it was bugs and the weather that forced me inside. The temp. was 73, but the humidity was 83%.
But, it was a fruitful couple of hours.
I had a very nice look at M13. Looked very nice despite my LP skies. I found the Sombrero Galaxy here at home. It was certainly not impressive, but I found it.
I decided to not exclusively use my 32mm 2" EP and go with my 40mm 1.25" EP.
I hadn't used the 40mm EP for some time. I love that EP.
I knocked down three more Messiers bringing me up to 22.
I've been complaining for some time about the LP in my skies at home. Perhaps that has been an excuse I cannot use as much any more. Perhaps the problem was inexperience. As I'm gaining experience I'm finding I can find more objects. They are faint, some looking like nothing more than an out-of-fous star. But, my eyes are trained enough now to pick that up when I'm using a 40mm or 32 mm EP. My brain just screams, "Stop stupid, check that out. Put in a higher power EP."
Anyway, below is a quick synopsis of my three new Messier's.

#20
M48
10:30 p.m.
6/13/04
Viewed at 120X/46X/34X at home in LP skies.
Nothing more than a faint fuzzy.

#21
M83
Orion XT8
10:37 p.m.
6/13/04
Viewed at 120X/46X/30X at home in LPskies.
Very faint, but stood out in my 40mm EP. Got much better in my 25mm EP, but not very good in my 10 mm EP.

#22
M92
Orion XT8
10:50 p.m.
6/13/04
Viewed at 120X/46X/30X at home in LPskies.
Despite LP this view was incredible. A special night of viewing. With averted vision this was very,very,very close to being as good as M13.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Now...Thats an observers log!

Thanks for the detailed observational log of this evening. I can't even remember when I went on a Messier hunt. I get so discouraged with the inner city LP that I mostly stick with the major targets.

I was tempted to set up by the lakefront this evening, considering the clear skies, but our night time planets are leaving us, and I rather have the moon up when I do. I like to set up after the new moon and catch the crescent in the west at sundown. Always a crowd pleaser. Look for me at my usual lakefront spot after the 17th.

Dewayne, thanks again for the log.

[stargazer]

Dewayne and Joe,

Congrats on the Messier finds. I have learned some are hard to find from my yard. Some that are easy to find are nothing but really faint fuzzy objects. Just keep plugging away and some day soon you will find them all.

Joe- where do you set up at the lake front and what time do you have to leave.

Becky

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Becks,

I don't have a set time. It's when time, weather and motivation all are in synch, and off I go. I prefer to go and set up here at my usual spot...

It's along side of the Copernicus statute. The lights certainly interfere with serious observation, but
I like it here for the car is five feet away, and I can jump in and out in cold weather, access to tunes and easy set up and put away.

I prefer nights after the new moon, where the crescent is in the west at sundown. This way I don't look too stupid there, with the scope set up and nothing to look at when the planets are no longer night time objects.

Sometimes, when I bring a friend along, I'll just set it up, unfold the chairs and spent a couple of hours chatting. People come up and talk, I show them what I can. I met most of the Newsletter readers in this manner, and this forum was a result.

If weather permits, I would like to set up again on the 18th onward. I'll post ahead of time when I do.

Thanks for asking.