OR: Coe July 29, short notes.

[Mark Wagner]

For a last minute announce, it was indeed surprising how many of us turned out - including first timers to Henry Coe State Park.  The views and comradery combined to create an "astronomy high" I'm sure all were (as still are) feeling.

As the evening progressed the valleys dimmed as fog settled in, to the point that this morning it was a thick blanket in all directions, including fingering up through the eastern mountain valleys toward Pacheco Pass.  And the Milky Way, even while the Moon was still up in the west, showing structure and granularity.  Spectacular!

The only drawback, the wind which settled substantially during the night but never entirely abated.  Otherwise, the still razor sharp (but unsteady) views of Saturn would have been the headline of the night.

So I hear there were two meteor showers last night.  Yes, there definitely were shooters.  Late in the evening one lit up the lot making everyone think a car headlight had turned toward us on the road outside the gate.  Fortunately I was facing its direction of travel from just past zenith toward to the north-northwest, streaking and spitting colored sparks that left a smoke trail over a good 20 to 30 degrees.

It was unusually chilly for end of July.  By late night I wished I'd brought gloves, but did bring plenty of clothes (a lesson learned long ago) which I loaned out as needed.

Sleeping four hours in the car on a full bed is a treat; waking to views of the new day up there the reward. A quick pack then driving the winding ribbon through scurrying carpets of Quail and down into the fog after a great night out under a canopy of stars - a salve for the soul.

Thanks to all who helped make it so memorable.  More like this, please.

Oh, the OR part: I did see something new (or from the distant past) through my 10" Dob.  But the star of the night (clearing a high bar) was the company.   Others might mention objects they viewed or imaged.

Still seeing stars,

-- 
Mark in the Dark