Observing Report – 7/27/13
by Tom Thibault
Tom Thibault and Jim Brenek – 12” Meade SCT
Opened at 9:00PM and Closed at 10:50PM
The weather had predicted clear skies but for hours before opening the skies were not looking promising. Cloud cover was prominent and did not appear improvement would be forth coming. When I arrived with my daughter, fellow member George was waiting at the entrance. I had arrived a little early to inspect the roof motor to prepare for its installation in the near future. Jim Brenek arrived as well as a number of other members to assist that evening, I opened 12 Meade and while Jim was opening the abutting roll-off determined a group of hornets had made a home in the 12” Patton. Since we had no hornet spray we were limited to the Meade for the evening.
Luckily a few break in the cloud cover allowed alignment of the Meade, it was now time to wait for the darkness and hopefully some clearing. Breaks in the cloud cover began around 10:00PM and we had around 10 -12 guests take in the views of M13, M57, and Albeiro as well as one fleeting shooting star. One of guests had even brought along with him binoculars and some telescopic lenses. He asked to try out his 16mm, 100 degree Orion lens, which we happily agreed. The views of M13 and Albeiro were magnificent utilizing this lens.
All in all, the evening turned out rather well considering the cloud covered skies that greeted us at the beginning of the evening. It just proves the old saying is true “In New England, if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change”.
Submitted by Tom Thibault
