From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 6:55 PM
Subject: Gemini cricket!
SPACsters,
Wow! What a night! Sorry no one from the Museum came along, but for the old hands who were new to Emma, see what you've been missing? Another spectacular evening at Emma.
A little less cold in temperature but more intolerable because of the wind, Nic, Don & I did an Emma observation on the previous evening, Sunday. A memorable experience while looking at NGC 7331 through my 6" dob, a jet we had watched fly in from the East DIRECTLY crossed over the galaxy in my eyepiece. Pretty cool! Nic arrived at 6:30. When I arrived at 9:00, the stars that had fallen stood at about 35. By the time we left, somewhat compelled by the unpleasant wind, Nic had recorded 181 Geminid meteors.
But last night was Geminid heaven! Despite a pessimistic forecast, the sky was pretty clear with only a few upper atmosphere clouds. Though much colder in temperature, the wind was mercifully almost absent. The Milky Way just glowed down on us, and the Geminids didn't disappoint. Again, I arrived late, about 9:20, followed less than 10 minutes later by Tom Heisey, his first Emma experience. And this was a first for Patrice, Rick and Marc. Nic tallied the meteors again with contributions from all. And did Nic count. The total stood at 350 by the time we called it quits at midnight. Yee haw! I saw three more myself driving back home to the west. Tom counted five from his car on the ride back.
Patrice and Rick brought their Orion XT8, Marc, his Meade 12.5" dob, and I had my 100mm F/6 refractor. Don helped Marc with the big scope, while Tom used his new 10x50 Orion binoculars, not bothering to set up a scope with three already up and the sky putting on such a wide angle shower! Besides, out at Emma, Machholz is just barely a naked eye object, while the Double Cluster, Andromeda, and Beehive brightly beckon from the wonderful blackness.
And we caught a few things alright:
Eskimo Nebula in Gemini (thanks Patrice!)
NGC7331 galaxy in Pegasus (interesting in my refractor, spectacular in the Meade!)
the Double Cluster between Perseus and Cassiopeia
M76, the Baby Dumbbell, in Perseus that Don found in the 12.5"
M1 & M45 in Taurus
M42 in Orion
M78 in Orion (thanks for egging me on, Tom!)
Comet Machholz near Lepus
NGC253 cigar galaxy with arms in Sculptor (again, nice in the 100mm, GREAT in the 12.5")
M41 in Canus Major (Tom in binos and me in the 100mm)
NGC2360, Caroline Hershel's nice, mysterious-looking open cluster in Canus Major
M31, M32 & M110 in Andromeda
M33 in Triangulum
M35/NGC2158 in Gemini
Saturn also in Gemini
M36, M37 and M38/NGC1907 in Auriga
M44, the Beehive in Cancer
M81 & M82 in Ursa Major
Those last two were such a prize! Earlier, Patrice had tried to pull them up in the XT while they were low on the horizon with unimpressive results. We had done the same with similar results a previous evening. But by the time Marc put the 12.5" on them later, though, they were stunning! Even my 100mm refractor was pretty nice but kudos to the 12.5". On the other hand, no image of Saturn has been as good, so far, as what Don and I got out at Emma on Friday night the 3rd. It was COLD and Don and I almost froze to death, but Saturn was absolutely clear, with could bands visible and the inner, translucent ring in Don's custom 8"
The many bright meteors, and even the quick dim ones, sure were exciting. Marc noted that some came with sound effects, often from me! A few even had streak trails and brilliant colors - green, blue, yellow and white.
Had to leave my telescope set up with all dust covers off the optics (and eyepieces) to allow everything to thaw out and dry off, a small layer of frost on most everything. Wow, was it worth it! I'm looking forward to many more nights out there.
I'm sure I've missed some things. Still, was nice to see everyone out and I know a good time was had by all. We'll do it again. Also, don't forget the SPAC meeting at the YWCA on Thursday. Things are a happening. Let's keep it going!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
CDS

-----Original Message-----
From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 5:17 PM
 Folks,
Tonight is the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, and we're planning a trip out to Emma to see it. A couple of us were out there last night and counted 181! Should be a nice view. I will be at the east side turn-around at the Museum at 8:45 to caravan folks out there, if you feel unsure about driving out yourself, meet me and we'll take off. Last night, I counted 8 stars in the Great Square. Excellent skies!
Dress VERY warmly. It will be bitter cold tonight!
Until tonight,
CDS