August 12 – 13, 2007
Spencer Theater off Hwy 220, between Alto & Ruidoso, New Mexico

Scope: AT80ED Pentax 12XF, 25mm Antares Elite Plossl

Folks: Neetu Arora & Collin Smith

All with 25mm Antares, except M11 …
     Double Cluster
     Pleades, M45
     Mars
     M31, 32, 110
     M11, Wild Duck Cluster (25mm & 12mm XF)
Perseid count: 49 meteors in 50 minutes between 1 & 2 AM MDT

Without a handgun handy and having forgotten my nice deer cleaning knife, the howls of coyotes spooked me. Given Neetu’s small frame and having recently watched a pride of lions devour an elephant on an episode of Discovery’s Planet Earth, I packed us up sooner than I’d have liked. Better remember my knife next time.

Excellent skies there in New Mexico, but bring your warm clothes. Neetu, with layers of clothes, a foam life vest topped off with a handy beach towel demonstrates below.