Thursday, November 4, 2010

U(you) R(are)K(killing)M(me) Astro Report

Ti's that time of year to enjoy the treasures of the fall sky and this one is at the top of the list; Messier 15 (NGC7078) in the upside down flying horse of Pegasus. It is 33,600 lys distant with a light output of 360,000 Suns! With its dense central region and well aged looks this is a throw back in galactic history & stellar evolution.

And of course today my buddy Jim in Minnesota has to fill me me in on his excellent observe time last evening armed with Earl Grey Tea and scone. Not just any Earl Grey Tea but tea that has been brewed to perfection in the traditional British way. How does he like his? With milk or creme? Sugar or honey? Straight up maybe? I know how he likes his skies; clear and steady with as little moisture has possible.




Of course no observe time is complete without something to munch so why not some fresh scone from the wife's kitchen. These are the stuff of culinary legend and Jim will tell you all about them himself I am sure.

What is really KMT (killing me today) is his report to me via email: "Well, tonight is very mild but with a steady light breeze. My skies from the apron outside my garage are magnitude 6 and I just came in to thaw out and brag that I just saw M15 with the naked-eye... "

OK Jim. Little does my Mn stationed friend know that for weeks we have had haze without a let up. Yes and here he is in his country outpost looking up and bagging faint MefuzzierS with the naked eye drinking tea perfection with scone crumbs hitting the drive way. Mag 6 skies I can only imagine.........the tea and scone supreme will have to be imagined as well.

Tell me my brother under the skies did you also spy Pease 1 the planetary nebula associated with this cluster as seen in the picture? No silly not with your scope ( oh which one?) but with your eye? If you did I am ready to bag this hobby and move on to model trains!

URKM Jim!!!!!!:)

10 comments:

Paulie said...

Well, if you do move on to model trains, get in touch with Stargazer Tony of the High Desert Astronomical Society in CA. You guys will have something in common! Lol!

Jo said...

SUG....I LOVE when you include food in astronomy! Tea and Scones...oh so delicious!!! It makes an astronomy outing even more fun than what it already is when you include some food!!! I'd love to see more HEOC!

Paulie, what is your favorite HEOC food? I would love to see an HEOC post on your blog and how it relates to your astronomy session! Nothing like some good food and some astronomy! Yee haw!

Sidewalk Universe said...

Yes Paulie I do remember something about Stargazer T. and trains. I will come to a better frame of mind as my own opportunities to see stuff return. This fall has had really awful sky conditions. This week we have had warm temps but clouds clouds!!!!

Now Johany I do like the new I.D pic you are using - that appears to be a G.E.M 12"Newtonian f4.5 keeping you company under your dome! Nice choice for bagging and tagging fuzzy stuff and the potential for astro pics. This one seems fits your personality.....

Jo said...

Ah...thanks SUG. I got a little tired of my alien picture and wanted something different. At least I can change my hairstyle, clothes and background with yahoo avatar whenever I get tired of the same picture! :)

Paulie said...

HEALTHY eating? You're asking the wrong guy. My "dinner" last night was a pecan pie. Well, 3/4 of a pecan pie... I'll eat the rest later.

Jo said...

Paulie, I would love to hear your HEOC! It could be SHEOC (Sometimes Healthy Eating and Observing Club)!!! Let's hear some more! I might even add my own HEOC to this blog with pictures!!! Fun and Yum!

Jo said...

With your permission SUG, of course! :)

Sidewalk Universe said...

I will always welcome HEOC ideas to post here. Right at the start I welcomed my cultured, astro & food sophisticated readers to please send them my way........

Paulie was in the healthy zone of portion that is! What object(s) go with pecan pie? If I ate that much pecan pie I'd be in a coma on the ground beside my scope!!!!!!!!!

Thot Pran said...

Mmmm, Pecan pie sounds fantastic about now and 3/4 of one seems perfect!

Oh Richard, my friend, times are tough here in MN,as the leviathan blew down in an 85 MPH gust the other day. Alas, I will just have to content myself with 15 inches of aperture. On the positive side, I now am a master at polishing speculum metal!

Don't lose faith, bro, the skies will improve, probably about the time ours cloud over for winter.

Sidewalk Universe said...

Sorry to hear of the Leviathan's demise - just loved that barrel like tube and nose bleed heights of the eyepiece!