From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 5:04 PM
Subject: Nightly News
Folks,
What a great night of observing last night out at the Gott Observatory! Curt Pfarr's imaging gear via the Orion 80ED with CG Plus mount was a site to behold. Some of the images Curt got, even pre-processed, were nice.
Otherwise, Don and me starhopped our way through the sky while Jerry pushed to and Stan just went to.  And did we go to a lot! I recollect this list o' objects, but your memory may vary...
M1 in Taurus
Curt's very sharp Orion Nebula in the ED80 Orion
Jerry got M78 (Don & I got it on Friday at Emma) in Orion
NGC 2360 in Canus Major open cluster
M50 in Monoceros open cluster
Jerry also showed the NGC 2244 cluster with some Rosette Nebula luminosity in Monoceros
Comet Machholz in Lepus
NGC 253 cigar galaxy with swirling arms in Sculptor
NGC 7331 in Pegasus
M31, M32 & M110 in Andromeda
NGC 7662 "Blue Snowball" Planetary Nebula in Andromeda
split Gamma Andromedae
Almach and his ghost (elliptical galaxy NGC 404)
M33 in Triangulum
Jerry got M76 (Don & I got it on Friday at Emma) "The Little Dumbbell" in Perseus
Double Cluster between Cassiopeia and Perseus
NGC 2392 "Eskimo" Planetary Nebula in Gemini
M35/NGC 2158 combo in Gemini
split Castor
Saturn (not as sharp as out at Emma)
M44 the Beehive Cluster in Cancer
a low, unimpressive M81 & M82
Stan's Blue Snowball was particularly interesting in the 11" Celestron GPS. Nice views all around, really. Don's Eskimo Nebula was impressive and his 6" I've been borrowing threw up some very nice images of the open clusters, especially M35/NGC 2158.
Overall the sky was okay. The wind was making things a bit turbulent and less steady than Don & my's outing to Emma on Friday night. Still, the Milky Way was beautiful and many things looked pretty good, while Sirius twinkled away.
Hopefully the skies will cooperate this Monday night when the Geminids peak. People, don't forget to come up to the Museum Saturday afternoon to look at the Sun through a safety solar filter.
Stay tuned for more late breaking celestial developments as they happen.
CDS

-----Original Message-----
From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 12:06 AM
Subject: Call to telescopes!
Folks,
Due to conflicts, Wednesday night is the only night I will be able to observe for the rest of this New Moon-ing week. Carpe Diem, right? I will meet folks up at SkyView around 8:30 on Wednesday night, December 8th.
Hope to see you there.
Ciao amigos,
CDS