Impromptu Observing Session on June 16th at Howell Woods
June 15 – Impromptu Observing session at Bigwoods:
Sky conditions for this event were simply amazing and offered a rare clarity that is seldom seen in the later spring and early summer months. Five RAC members were on hand for this event. Mike Keefe provided the following account of the session:
“The wind occasionally gusted and made viewing a bit tricky for some of the larger scopes but the wind also eliminated the mosquitoes as well as any dew. The transparency was definitely better than most nights at Big Woods and the seeing was fairly steady.
Saturn was a favorite target early in the night. Several of us were comparing views and could all see not only the Cassini division but the moons Titan, Rhea, Tethys and Dione. At some points of the evening the transparency was so good that galaxies were revealing some seldom seen structure, the view of M51 & the Whirlpool Galaxy was one such example. The wispy details of M51’s spiral arms were quite discernible in Chris’s 12″ dob while structure in M51’s companion (NGC 5195) was definitely starting to take shape.
By 1am the eastern light dome from Cary/Raleigh had dimmed sufficiently that the Milky Way was quite visible and was seen stretching from the teapot’s spout of Sagittarius almost to Cassiopeia. At about 40 degrees above the horizon, the dimmest of the Ursa Minor’s bowl was plainly visible. Therefore we easily had mag 5+ skies at that time.
It was about 2:30 and most of us were losing steam. However we decided to look at one final object, M31 & the Andromeda Galaxy. M31 was low in the sky and mediocre view reflected that.
All in all it was a great observing session.”
June 16 – Impromptu Observing Session at Howell Woods
This session was an attempt to replicate the successful viewing night on Friday June 15th but with darker skies. Ten RAC members showed up at Howell Woods with eager hearts and hungry for some million year old photons. We all viewed different objects. I found to NGC objects (NGC 4546 & 4550). Other’s astronomers concentrated on Saturn and clusters around Sagittarius. However, much to our dismay the clouds just kept rolling through from the West to East occluding our view of the night sky. We all packed up and left by 12:00AM.
RACOBS – Cloud Out & Venus Transit Discussion
The regularly scheduled June RACOBS (RAC Observing Session) was canceled due to cloudy conditions. Instead 7 members of RAC met at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences to talk about their experiences with the Transit of Venus. Since the Transit had occred only a couple of weeks prior, this meeting afforded all of the members present an opportunity to share slides, videos and personal experiences that will no doubt forever live on in our memories. The meeting lasted about an hour after which we all retired to the Carolina Ale house for some food and fellowship.
— Doug Lively
July 2012
