Observing success in July?

[Mark Wagner]

I've tried twice this month, and wonder if anyone has what they'd call success observing?  Has the weather really been that bad?

I'm hearing current temps are record lows getting back to the mid 1960's for the bay area.

Still hoping to get out.

Anyone report any success?

[Mark Wagner]

I see Mark Scrivener had a backyard success with Saturn.  I'm interested in backyard too.  Mark, that sounds like a great session.  Such steady seeing is indeed a treat.

Even my backyard attempts were clouded or dewed out this month.  Sigh... we can't always get what we want.

[Peter Natscher]

Successful night until 1am before dew at Lake San Antonio July 19.  I'm planning to go again to LSA tomorow night.  Forecast to be much dryer. The cold moist marine layer is now dimishing!

On Monday, July 28, 2025 at 8:59:38 AM UTC-7 Mark Wagner wrote:

[Mark Wagner]

I wonder if I'm forgetting a good or partially good night in July.  Maybe someone will correct me.  I just know if feels like such a long time already.  What I do remember is the great company the last time.  I have to take notes to recall, lesson learned!

[Jeff Crilly]

The 7/26 Lick observatory volunteer event was my only outing in July.    It was good.  Mostly showed the bright stuff: M13, M17, M8, M32, M57, NGC7331.  Also looked for NGC5981,5982,5985 - could barely see 5981 and maybe 5985, but the “triple” was not discernible. 

 

Post-event we stayed for a few hours and observed Saturn at 375x.  IMO seeing was excellent.  

On Jul 28, 2025, at 9:07 AM, Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I see Mark Scrivener had a backyard success with Saturn.  I'm interested in backyard too.  Mark, that sounds like a great session.  Such steady seeing is indeed a treat.

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[Peter Natscher]

Didn't you and others have a great night up at Henry Coe a week or two ago?

[Mark Wagner]

Jeff, it would be fun to get out with a group of the original TACos if we could convince them.  Maybe September at Tranquility?

[Steve Gottlieb]

I had 3 successful nights along with a couple friends last week (Mon-Wed). We were observing in Glenn County near Stony Gorge Reservoir with SQM readings varying from 21.4-21.7.

I’m also planning to observe tonight (Monday) at Lake Sonoma, so I guess this is an OI !

Steve

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[Mark Wagner]

Maybe.  Maybe some of them recall.  Oh! That was the night I had my 18" back in top form.  Thanks Peter, that was indeed a great night.  Warmed again by the memories.  I guess I'm used to observing with Navarrete and he's been away.

Where's my Prevagen? ;-)

Mark

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-- 
Mark

"Always take the scenic route."

[Ted Hauter]

In the eye of the storm apparently, best solar seeing all year. Spectacular Quark views.

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[David Kirjassoff]

Some idiot must have bought a new telescope.  It’s been terrible most of the summer. 

On Monday, July 28, 2025 at 8:59:38 AM UTC-7 Mark Wagner wrote:

[Mark Wagner]

Is that self depricating, David, or is someone else the culprit?

[Ted Hauter]

I got a new Tele Vue Ethos sorry...

Its not for solar which has been best in a year lately. Even without a huge AR sunspot for some time.

Hope to use tomorrow.

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[Muriel Dulieu]

When will you be at lake Sonoma today Steve? 

Maybe I can come.

How do things work there?

How late do people usually stay?

-Muriel

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 28, 2025, at 9:31 AM, Steve Gottlieb <astrog...@gmail.com> wrote:

I had 3 successful nights along with a couple friends last week (Mon-Wed). We were observing in Glenn County near Stony Gorge Reservoir with SQM readings varying from 21.4-21.7.

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[David Kirjassoff]

It wasn’t me. I bought mine last year, but just found this group and have been looking forward to getting out for some dark(er) sky observing. 

[Jeff Crilly]

>
> On Jul 28, 2025, at 9:27 AM, Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Jeff, it would be fun to get out with a group of the original TACos if we could convince them. Maybe September at Tranquility?

I’m always looking to do that.. but other things like work get in the way.

Tho sept 17-21 is Calstar.

And iirc August new moon I’m going back up to Lick.

I could probably do a weekday trip sometime — been contemplating that. (Tried to get out last week before the new moon but work got in the way.)

-jeff

[Jaimie Henderson]

Yeah, gotta agree the sun has been extremely interesting lately (observing in H-alpha). With a binoviewer and a pair of Nagler 13's, an hour goes by in what seems like a minute...

Jaimie

[Mitchell Koerner]

I had an incredible night 2 days ago (Saturday night - July 26) at H2O. Working on an OR that if I finish I'll send out. The weather was beautiful out there, but only there. I got rained on on my drive home. Not a cloud in sight from the hill though and excellent transparency!

The highlights were:

Rocket Launch - viewed first stage burn, second stage burn, and first stage reentry

ISS & Tiangong passovers in a tracking 18" dob (TVS club member Randy's). I clearly saw the solar panels of both (ISS forms an "I" and Tiangong forms a "T")

NGC 7331 supernova was even brighter than the galaxy's core!!! Easily visible visually in both an 18" and a 14". Looks like a galaxy with 2 cores.

Explored various Scorpius Sh2 catalogue objects as well as some HA highlights with the night vision setup and my new Carbonstar 150

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[Akarsh Simha]

I’ve only gotten about 10 hours of observing this month, and four of them were “outreach”, so about 6 to myself.

But the power of a 28-inch is so new to me, that I’ve enjoyed myself thoroughly and wore myself out. It’s shocking to be able to see galaxies that are just smudges on the DSS2 plates from a Bortle 4 site, moderate seeing, no tracking and a dusty mirror.

So I’d say I’ve had a very successful July 

Regards

Akarsh

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[Francesco Meschia]

I took today off and last night I went with my better half to the Pinnacles campground. We had a great night of imaging and “owling”. SQM was 21.60 mag/arcsec2, and as for owls we heard Barn Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Western Screech-Owls. I call it successful.

Francesco

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[Akarsh Simha]

On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM Francesco Meschia <francesc...@gmail.com> wrote:

I took today off and last night I went with my better half to the Pinnacles campground. We had a great night of imaging and “owling”. SQM was 21.60 mag/arcsec2, and as for owls we heard Barn Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Western Screech-Owls. I call it successful.

Did you also image Owl Nebula and the Owl Cluster?

Francesco

On Jul 28, 2025, at 08:59, Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've tried twice this month, and wonder if anyone has what they'd call success observing?  Has the weather really been that bad?

I'm hearing current temps are record lows getting back to the mid 1960's for the bay area.

Still hoping to get out.

Anyone report any success?

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[Mark Wagner]

Francesco - did you image from your campsite?   Isn't your wife something of an owl expert?

[David Kirjassoff]

Mark, Steve, Muriel,

I’d like to join you at Lake Sonoma tonight  Any details besides what’s on the observing sites page?

[Francesco Meschia]

Hi Mark! Yes I images from the campsite. I had one of the spots (#12) on the cul-de-sac of Loop A. Across the road from the campsite there is a patch of dirt/grass that is not fenced off (the rest of the “inside” of the loop is), and is still so close to the campsite that I can pick up the PC’s wifi signal from the tent.

You remember right about my wife. She’s a member of SCVBA (new name of the former local Audubon chapter), and she is really into owls and their behavior. I think I had shared with you the article she wrote a few months ago about the owls in our county.

Francesco 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 28, 2025, at 15:57, Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

Francesco - did you image from your campsite?   Isn't your wife something of an owl expert?

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[Ted Hauter]

Cool Jamie! 

With my Tele Vue set up (NP 101) I can't binoview solar without cutting down the tube (maybe some day, yikes). Quark binoview, a must with all the dirty optics and their QC. Sunday solar was sub arc second seeing. Been awhile since I saw what our telescopes can really do!

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[Rod Brown]

In addition to the good night observing the Titan shadow transit I reported on earlier, our club (Nevada County Astronomers) had its annual trip to Plumas-Eureka State Park (outside of Graeagle in Plumas County) Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The first two nights (planned for club-only viewing) were cloudy and damp due to thunderstorms both days, including heavy rain and hail on Friday. But Saturday night cleared up at sunset, with good seeing and transparency. That was our public night, and the last visitor did not leave until after midnight. But they were an enthusiastic and curious crowd, and I had fun showing highlights and doing things like pointing out M 31 with the naked eye, then showing how to see it in binoculars, then showing it through my scope. Around 12:45 or 1, everything was getting damp, and we were getting tired, so we packed it in. 

On the positive side, the campground there is very nice, and the unseasonably cool weather and dust-dampening rain made hiking conditions great. The seven mile hike I did on Friday and four mile hike I did on Saturday were the most enjoyable hikes I had done in years, with beautiful valley and lake views and even a few late wildflowers. Even if observing was not all that I had planned, it was still a fun trip.

Rod