OI tomorrow night, Sunday at Coulter Row on the Peak

[Jamie Dillon, DDK]

In case you're having urgent ideas about getting out tomorrow night ...

I'll be at the Peak tomorrow night. Will check out Coulter Row, figuring the odds of campers behind there are still slim, in early February.  

Have the SW lot for a fallback in case someone is camping at Coulter.

[Jamie Dillon, DDK]

Here's a casual Conditions Report from tonight.

Peter lucked out and had a better night last night. But tonight was fun, and significantly Better Than In Town. Saw the Hyades for the first time in 3 weeks.

There was a clear patch of stars moving out some 40 degrees in each direction from the figure of Orion. Ever notice how if one part of the winter sky is going to be clear, it's around Orion?

Had the SW lot to myself, along with an owl who was hooting regularly. Saw a fox on the way in, who was scooting up a bank.

Didn't unpack the scope, instead took a binocular tour of bright open clusters, including M41 in Canis Major, Paul Sterngold's favorite. Also M50 in Mon, M37-38-36 in Auriga, M35 in Gemini and the Beehive for the first time this year. Also gawked at a favorite, ngc 2244, the sharp rectangle at the center of the Rosette.

Enjoyed the dark and the quiet and the Peak. Glad I went. I'm seeing Gortatowsky looking over my shoulder, with me saying, No Jeff I'm not wasting bandwidth.