Observing at Deep Creek Lake on Thanksgiving Eve

The report:

EP info for the 20":

9mm Nagler 282x with 0.29 deg FOV = 9N
12mm Nagler 212x with 0.39 deg FOV = 12N
22mm Nagler 115x with 0.71 deg FOV = 22N

31mm Nagler 81x with 1.00 deg FOV = 31N

Abbreviations:

G – galaxy
OC – open cluster
GC – globular cluster
RN – reflection nebula
EN – emission nebula
PN – planetary nebula
EP – eye piece

Dobservations:

Observing report:

20" Obsession f5

location: In-laws driveway, Deep Creek Lake, Western Maryland

weather: cold but clear and dry, turbulent atmosphere

black bears: 0

On Thanksgiving, my brother-in-law wanted to look through the scope, so in spite of predictions of bad weather I set up the scope on the driveway of my in-laws.

First we observed the moon, Albereo, the Double Double in Lyra, and the double cluster through a veil of thin clouds. Albereo showed nice color. The double double was hard for them to split. The double cluster seemed washed out with fewer stars seen then last night. The moon overpowered the clouds. It was bright and a fair amount of detail was noticed. We observed until cold drove us in.

Later we came out to look at Saturn. Turbulence vs. hot mirror muddied the views at 220x, It looked better at 115x.

Revisited the double cluster, It was much more impressice with the darker sky and no clouds. Many more stars were resolved. Though the views were not quite up to the standard of the previous night where there was no moisture in the air and no moon either.

We visited M31 and M32 and then they had it. Viewing these was a challenge. Objects that are right over head are always tough for me with the big dob.

I put the scope back in the car. Omph. Grunt. Speedgazing with a 20".