From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 5:34 PM
Subject: Observation report, last of '04
Folks,
It's been an enjoyable year of South Plains observing despite the weather, and on Thursday night, Dec 30th, we put 2004 behind us with one final look-see. I met Johnny Upchurch out at SkyView around 8:00 PM. Don Fritz showed up about a half hour later. The moon came up at 9:36 and I had to leave at 9:50 anyway, so we crammed in what we could for this final observing night of the year.
Before Don got there, Johnny and I found these...
 1) Comet Machholz
 2) M35/NGC2158 in Gemini
 3) M37 in Auriga
 4) M36 in Auriga
 5) M38/NGC1907 in Auriga
Another memorable moment for Johnny and me was catching a airplane - again! - while looking at M35. Flew right threw our FOV.  Pretty cool. We had just started looking at...
 6) M1 in Taurus
... as Don arrived. We went back to Machholz, Don at his 8". We all noted that Machholz is now a dim, fuzzy naked eye "star" in Taurus from a dark sky site. And then we moved on to these...
 7) NGC 7331 in Pegasus
 8) NGC 253 in Sculptor
 9) NGC 288 in Sculptor
10) Double Cluster between Cassiopeia & Perseus (NGC 869/884)
11) Almach & his ghost (NGC 404)
12) M31-32-110
13) M42 in Orion
14) M78 in Orion
Don pointed toward Saturn as I got packed up and headed out. Conditions were hazy.  NGC 7331 wouldn't take high power (15mm TV Plossl highest Don could go in his 8"). But a good time was had by all.
Hope to see you under the stars in 2005!
Happy New Year!
CDS

-----Original Message-----
From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 12:12 PM
Subject: Telescope time!
SPACsters et amici,
Tomorrow is supposed to start off cloudy, then get windy with clearing. Thursday night the 30th is forecast to be mostly clear with a westerly breeze. Still, if the high makes the forecasted 70º F (21º C), then it shouldn't be too brutal tomorrow night.
Now the sun sets at 5:50 and the moon rises at 8:33 tomorrow night, so I'd say we may be into two good hours of dark sky (6:25 - 8:25), Dame Fortuna holding up her end of the weather forecast bargain. Therefore, let's plan on meeting at SkyView around 6:20 PM, December 30th. We can park the cars just west of the concrete pads to help break some of the wind effects.
Of course, if Fortuna changes her mind, well, she can do that! So, if you look up on Thursday at dusk and the sky is overcast, it's not the first time the Goddess has made a fool of weathermen, and it won't be the last! But you won't find me there and I don't recommend you go, either.
Be careful of the roads up there. The snow has melted away, but the high humidity has left fields dew covered and things can get a bit muddy. Feel free to contact me if you need help, additional info, or have a lot of money to throw away and need to discuss disposal options.
Happy New Year one and all!