August 12th 2006 - Site A

Attended: Paul Stephen & Peter Duffy. Setup and begin by 23:30

Conditions: Gibbous moon washing out most of the fainter targets. 50% cloud at start but the bank slid away to the SE leaving a clear sky about 01:00.

Comments: Originally there were going to be more of us but at 21:00 there was a thick blanket of cloud covering the whole sky so it we all decided that the session was abandoned. At 22:30 though there was 50% clear sky so Peter and I decided to take a run up to the moor to see the Perseids. We saw a few bright trails but numbers were nowhere near as expected. Didnt time or count accurately but estimate only around 12-15 per hour. A bit dissappointing. Tested zoom EP on targets below and pretty happy with it.

Target 1: Moon - Good views at low mags with filters.

Target 2: M13 - Hercules Cluster - Able to resolve cluster with some individual stars at high mag with zoom EP.

Target 3: H & Chi Persei - Perseus Double Cluster - Good widefield views in both scopes.

Target 4: M31 & M32 - Andromeda - Pretty washed out due to proximity to the gibbous moon.

Target 5: M110 - Andromeda - FAIL

Target 6: M81 & M82 - In Ursa Major - Found in Pauls 8" - Very faint.

Target 7: M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy - Ursa Major - FAIL

Paul has to get up at 6 with baby so packed up at 2am.

Site: Hmmm what can I say. Several cars of boy-racers passed. One stopped and asked for a look through the telescope. Might have let them if there had been more than 2 of us but it didnt feel very safe so politely refused. Police stopped to see what we were up to but didnt get out of their car. Am having second thoughts about this site due to the frequency of traffic on the road. Doesnt feel very safe with only 2 observers there.

On a personal note: I really must make a list of potential targets for observation for future sessions. Darkness is really not the best time to go flipping through books lol. Maybe something like: