Observing Reports
I've started putting my ORs (Observing Reports) together. I'm working roughly backwards. Also the notes listed on the pages are pretty much straight out of my notebook.
The intent of this page is to encourage observers to go out to hunt these obscure and off the beaten path objects. I do observe a few bright NGCs from time to time, I purposely leave them out as I wanted to focus on the more obscure objects.
October 28, 2011 at Shot Rock - Too a shot at observing on a Friday night at Shot Rock. Good conditions, ot optimal, despite the number of controlled burns in the area. NELM was about 7.0. Observed a bunch of galaxy trios.
October 22, 2011 at Shot Rock - New moon weekend on the month. Observed at Shot Rock with five others under 7.1 - 7.2 skies. Objects include a mix of trios and flat galaxies.
September 30, 2011 at Blue Canyon - Short observing session at HGO under NELM 6.2 to 6.5 skies
September 2 and 3, 2011 at the Oregon Star Party - The skies were average for OSP at NELM 7.2 and 7.5 respectively. Didn't observe many objects as I spent much of my time talking with others and sharing views. But I did observe some Hicksons, those which I missed a component or two in my earlier survey back in the early 2000's. Took a peek at some Abell Galaxy Clusters and a few planetaries. Also gave a well received talk on Observing Galaxy Groups and Clusters.
August 27, 2011 at Shot Rock - New moon weekend of the month. Observed under NELM 7.2 skies at Shot Rock. Objects include a mix of planetaries and Shakhbazian compact galaxy clusters.
July 23, 2011 at IHOP - Third quarter moon cycle of the month. I browsed around Paul Alsing's site and found several planetary nebulae that I've never observed, so I decided to hit them and got all but one of them. The last tough object of the evening was the Sweet Pea.
July 3, 2011 at IHOP - Observed some flat galaxies and a recently discovered planetary nebula, Ethos 1. This was my first time observing with my 22" at a dark site since November 2, 2010 due to the weather and snow.
April 30 - May 2nd at Fort Davis - About time I got around to completing this observing report. I've pulled only the highlights on interesting and tough objects. Contains fairly raw notes.
April 30 - May 3rd, 2011 at Fort Davis - This link is a short photo journal showing that Fort Davis is alive and well after a catastrophic Rock House fire that burned over 310,000 acres in 24+ days. Observing Report with the 48" reflector will follow after I'm done writing it. As of July 8, 2011 - still working on it.
November 2, 2010 at Shot Rock - We decided to take the opportunity of great skies in the middle of the week to make an observing run. This report includes a mix of objects, including dwarf galaxies, flat galaxies, Shakhbazians, planetary nebulae and a protoplanetary.
October 9, 2010 at Shot Rock - new moon weekend at Shot Rock. This is a new site that we will start using as it is only 10 to 15 minutes further drive than our regular site at IHOP. Best thing is it is located in the border of blue and grey on the Bortle Light Pollution Map and it is at 7600 feet. Elevation helps - a lot.
September 11, 2010 at IHOP - new moon weekend at IHOP (Ice House Observation Plateau) at the Sierras. This site is at 5100 feet and about 1.5 hours east of Sacramento and 30 minutes west of Lake Tahoe. The skies were average at NELM 6.5 - 6.8. Seeing was above average.
September 5, 2010 at IHOP - regular weekend at one of TAC-Sac observing site at the Sierras. The skies were above average at about NELM 6.8 with great transparency to the horizon. Could see mag 5.5 stars near the horizon.
August 14, 2010 at IHOP - regular new moon weekend under average skies. NELM was 6.5. Observations focused on flat galaxies.
August 07, 2010 at IHOP - Evening started totally cloudy, but as we expected, the clouds disappeared within an hour after sunset, but the transparency took a hit. Focused on flat galaxies.
July 12 and 13,2010 during the last two nights at the Golden State Star Party.
June 12, 2010 at Blue Canyon. New moon weekend at one of my old stomping grounds at the SVAS dark sky site in the Sierras. It is just off I80 at 5200 feet. NELM was at 6.5. Observations was focused on flat galaxies.
June 5, 2010 at IHOP during 3rd quarter moon, so this was a short night. NELM was at 6.5. I focused on flat galaxies.
May 11 and 13 2010 during the week of the Texas Star Party with Jimi Lowrey's 48" f/4.0 reflector. I'll update this page with observations of the Sweet Pea.
May 10, 2010 at the Texas Star Party. This report contains notes during my quest for the TSP AO 2010 Observing Pin. We did it in one night.
April 9, 2010 at Cronan Ranch - We ran into the group Sierra Star Gazers with about 15-20 observers. The funny thing is that they all left by 9:30PM!!! Why the heck do they bother to go out if they leave so early??? Anyhow, the skies were average for this site t NELM 5.8 - 6.0. Spent the entire time observing flat galaxies in preparation for the TSP.
October 18, 2009 at Blue Canyon Variable Galaxies, Flat Galaxies, Ring Galaxies and some selections from Wolfgang Stenieke's book, "Galaxies, How to Observe Them""
May 16, 2009 at IHOP - Rose Compact Galaxy Groups. This link will download the Rose Galaxy Catalogue.
October 26, 2008 at Blue Canyon. Obscure Planetaries.
September 26 - 27, 2008 at CalStar. Shakhbazian Compact Galaxy Groups and others.
September 26 - 27, 2008 at CalStar. Planetaries.
August 30, 2008 at Plettstone Obscure Planetaries.
August 2, 2008 at IHOP. Tough globular clusters and a couple Shakhbazians
Here is what I use for recording my notes over the years. I print these out on half sheets on both sides, then I bring them to Kinkos to have them coil bound. Hope that this can be useful for you.
Observing
Reports under construction
I'll work on these
and as they go live on this site, they will be moved to
the active section above. After these are done,
I'll continue to work backwards...picking out only the
more obscure objects, which is already most of
them. Now it seems that I might not get to these,
but I'll leave them up to encourage me to do so.April 2, 2011 at Cronan Ranch
March 31, 2011 at Cronan Ranch - Flat Galaxies
April 17, 2010 at Cronan Ranch - Battled high clouds for part of the night. Ended up as a short night.
November 14, 2009 at Blue Canyon
September 18, 2009 at Blue Canyon. Variable Galaxies and some galaxy trios
August 15, 2009 at Blue Canyon. Planetaries
July 18, 2009 at IHOP. Globulars and variable galaxies
June 2009 at GSSP
May 24, 2009 at Blue Canyon. Bright galaxies with a 6" refractor
May 23, 2009 at IHOP. Small Galaxy Groups
May 22, 2009 at Blue Canyon. Wrap up Rose Galaxy Groups, some Hicksons and other galaxies
April 2009 at the Texas Star Party and Jimi's 48"
January 18, 2009 at Cronan Ranch
November 29, 2008 at IHOP. Obscure Planetaries.
July 2008 at GSSP
May 3, 2008 at Blue Canyon. Galaxy Trios
April 25, 2008 at Blue Canyon. Galaxy Trios
March 30, 2008 at Cronan Ranch. Galaxy Trios
March 2, 2008 at Cronan Ranch.
February 8 at Cronan Ranch
May 2007 at the Texas Star Party
Any questions, comments or suggestions - email
All observing reports at copyrighted by Alvin Huey. You an print/use them for personal use only.
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