Saw Messiers 35, 36, 37, and 38
My fingers are numb so I'll make this quick, and maybe edit it tomorrow.
Saw Messiers 35, 36, 37, and 38, tonight. Instrument was a pair of 7x50 binocs frozen to shaking hands. Transparency was really good, tonight, but the temperature is crazy cold. No way I'm hauling my scope out tonight, especially as late as 11pm. Besides, Auriga is directly overhead, and that's a real pain with a dob mount. If it were warmer, I'd be there, though. Great transparency, like I said.
They were all blobs, as far as I could see, but I wasn't really out there that long, and holding binocs steady when they're pointing straight up, the temperature is freezing, and you're not sitting down and not wearing gloves...well, it's just not that likely. I could've dressed better, put on some gloves, and all that, but I really only popped out on a whim to catch a quick glimpse before going to bed.
Also saw the double cluster...very briefly.
Anyway, I'm amazed at my confusion the first time I went hunting for the three Auriga Messiers; then again, I was trying to hunt them through pretty thick haze and outright clouds at times, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.
Weather forcasts for the next few days are not promising.
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Saw Messiers 35, 36, 37, and 38, tonight. Instrument was a pair of 7x50 binocs frozen to shaking hands. Transparency was really good, tonight, but the temperature is crazy cold. No way I'm hauling my scope out tonight, especially as late as 11pm. Besides, Auriga is directly overhead, and that's a real pain with a dob mount. If it were warmer, I'd be there, though. Great transparency, like I said.
They were all blobs, as far as I could see, but I wasn't really out there that long, and holding binocs steady when they're pointing straight up, the temperature is freezing, and you're not sitting down and not wearing gloves...well, it's just not that likely. I could've dressed better, put on some gloves, and all that, but I really only popped out on a whim to catch a quick glimpse before going to bed.
Also saw the double cluster...very briefly.
Anyway, I'm amazed at my confusion the first time I went hunting for the three Auriga Messiers; then again, I was trying to hunt them through pretty thick haze and outright clouds at times, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.
Weather forcasts for the next few days are not promising.
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