Patience Pays...

It turned out great at Willow Springs Saturday night. It sure didn't look that way early on though. A few of us met for dinner at Jardine's in San Juan Bautista at 5, and by the time we arrived at the observing site, it seemed the best part of the trip might be the dinner together. The sky was a combination of 75% cloud cover, crisscrossed by fat contrails in several directions. Some great sun dogs, talk about the Gegenschein (and galacti-gegenschein), our solar direction through space, and GSSP were among topics that passed the time as we watched, hopefully, for conditions to improve. There was also talk about bailing out at midnight if conditions did not improve dramatically.

Some time around 10 p.m., as we were talking, I looked up at Ursa Major and thought it and Leo were looking suspiciously clear. I headed for the eyepiece. So did another observer or two. Soon we were all at it, and continued uninterrupted until after 2:30, when I turned in. Transparency may have been compromised a bit, and a breeze after midnight was chilling, but it paid off, and I think all had a very good night.

Highlights for me had to be galaxy-hopping the limits of perception in AGC 1213 and AGC 1185, logging 25 and 15 galaxies in each, respectively, nearly all in single eyepiece fields (although I magged up and indeed did hop in the clusters). Two other objects were very notable - Omega Centauri in a 12.5" f/5 Dob - pinpoint stars throughout the glob, and M51 in an 18"f/4.5 showing just tremendous detail.

It was a good night. I woke to a chill wind from the west blowing low scud a few hundred feet over our heads. The drive home through the wild unknown country, CD playing old favorites, winding roads and spring's vibrant colors, all capped off the trip perfectly.

Thanks to Kevin and Bob for the generous invitations. Looks like everyone had a good night, if they waited. Patience pays.

Mark

Here are my observing notes....

Arp 217 UMA GX 3.1'x2.4' 10.8 10 38 46 53 30 16 NGC 3310
18" 7mm - large, round, very occasionally a pinpoint bright stellar nucleus, large bright core offset west in a much larger dim halo. Unusual appearance, almost mottled across core.

N3583 UMA GX 2.8'x1.8' 11.1 11 14 10 48 19 06
18" 12mm - fairly bight and elongated 3'x2' WNW/ESE. Dim stella core.

NGC 3198 UMA GX 9.0'x3.2' 11.0 1019 54 45 33 09
18" 12mm - large, 9'x3', elongated SW/NE. Core is slightly brighter than extensions. Appears odd, like its disrupted or mottled, uneven looking.

N3319 UMA GX 6.2'x3.4' 11.1 10 39 09 41 41 14
18" 12mm - long and thin, dim due to poor transparency. 4'x1' NNE/SSW.

Arp 148 UMA GX 0.6'x0.5' 15.4 11 04 00 40 51 00 MCG+07-23-019
18" 7mm - very dim, averted only, elongated slightly WSW/ENE. Dim pinpoint stellar nucleus pops in and out.

NGC 3294 LMN GX 2.6'x1.2' 11.4 10 36 18 37 19 30
18" 12mm - elongated and bright, 3'x2' WNW/ESE. Kind of chaotic appearance, Slightly brighter middle. Possibly an arm extending from E around to N then 'W. Dark intrusion on both N and S sides of galaxy.

Arp 206 LMN GX 6.8'x1.5' 11.3 10 52 31 36 37 12 NGC 3432
18" 12mm - very elongated 7'x1' SW/NE. NE section appears brighter than fading SW portion. Slightly brighter nucleus, maybe warped, or has some dark intrusions.

Arp 206 LMN GX 0.9'x0.7' 17.0 10 52 17 36 35 34 UGC 05983
18" 7mm - negative observation.

Arp 270 LMN GX 3.1'x1.2' 12.2 10 49 56 32 58 58 NGC 3396
18" 7mm - SW/NE 2'x1' pinpoint bright core and mottled. Interacting with 3395. Core, is 1'x1' and brighter than the extended disk.

Arp 270 LMN GX 2.1'x1.2' 12.1 10 49 49 32 58 58 NGC 3395
18" 7mm - E/W 2'x1' spindle, dim but very bright nucleus.

N3430 LMN GX 4.0'x2.2' 11.6 10 52 11 32 56 59
18" 7mm - 3'x2' NE/SW appears to be classic spiral galaxy tilted toward us. Slightly brighter nucleus.

N3424 LMN GX 2.8'x0.8' 12.4 10 51 46 32 53 59
18" 7mm - elongated 2'x1', appears disrupted, uneven brightness, brighter areas pop in and out like sprites.

NGC 3621 HYD GX 5.0'x2.0' 10.5 11 18 18 32 48 49
18" 7mm - Large, bright, 6'x2.5', N/S classic looking spiral, even brightness but has a dim stellar nucleus surrounded tightly by a slightly brighter core. Fun find.

Arp 267 LMN GX 2.0'x1.2' 14.7 10 36 42 31 32 51 UGC 05764
18" 7mm - oriented ENE/WSW but very very dim, averted only occasionally, slightly brighter middle.

Arp 107 LMN GX 1.9'x1.2' 14.6 10 52 18 30 03 25 UGC 05984
18" 7mm - barely visible averted only 10% of time.

Arp 21 LMN GX 0.8'x0.7' 14.7 11 04 58 30 01 37 CGCG 155-056
18' 7MM - round, dim, possible dim stellar core or star overlaying galaxy. Maybe elongated E/W but very difficult to tell. MCG 5-26-48 visible nearby.

N3254 LMN GX 5.0'x1.6' 11.7 10 29 19 29 29 30
18' 7mm - Nice edge on 6'x1.5' WSW/ENE with a bright core 1.5'x.8', bright stellar nucleus.

AGC 1213 UMA GXCL 22.4' 14.5 11 16 30 29 15 00
18" 7mm - excellent cluster. 25 galaxies logged down to mag 16 using Megastar. Easy asterism near brightest UGC in group.

Arp 105 UMa GX 0.7'x0.7' 14.7 11 11 12 28 41 46 UGC 06224
18" 7mm dim and part of next target.

AGC 1185 UMa GXCL 28.0' 14.3 11 10 48 28 40 00
18" 7mm - excellent cluster, while most galaxies are 15 - 16 mag, there are a few brighter to work off. Prettiest section is five galaxies in a chain off of NGC 3550. Total of 15 galaxies observed in group.

Arp 105 UMa GX 0.8'x0.8' 14.3 11 11 13 28 41 46 NGC 3561
See above.

NGC 3277 LMN GX 1.1'x0.9' 12.0 10 32 54 28 30 43
18" 7mm - round, bright, 2.5'x2.5' dim halo with 0.5'x0.5' bright core and a sharp fairly bright pinpoint stellar nucleus.

NGC 3245 LMN GX 1.8'x0.9' 11.2 10 27 18 28 30 27
18" 7mm - NW/SE orientation, 4'x2.5' elongation, dusty, bright core is small and possibly offset in disk, with a very small stellar nucleus.