ISP at CGO on Friday 13?

[heinerv]

I hope I'm not dooming tomorrow night by thinking about it today. Anyone thinking about going to CGO tomorrow, weather looks good so far?

[rzylka]

will try , weather permitting

[Enberg]

thinking about it. Saturday night will be warmer. I'll be watching the weather.

[Dave Venne]

I'm planning on it for some observing program imaging.

[clayton]

I think I am going down Saturday night if the weather holds. Tonight is looking good now but the 10 degrees extra for Saturday will make it more enjoyable for me. I also want to get a new focuser on my telescope today. I hope to leave by 3:30/4:00 and I won't stay too late maybe 11/ 12pm. If someone wants to carpool let me know. I live in Woodbury. I will be driving as I need to take my dob. I will have room for another medium size telescope if you have one. However if you just want to ride along and share my telescope or use the CGO telescopes that is good too.

[Dick Jacobson]

I am thinking of going down Saturday night.

[heinerv]

Joan & I are going tonight, Friday. Bird in hand reasoning. We don't trust Minnesota weather.

[Enberg]

Saturday, weather permitting, for me.

[bhamil]

I think Vic's comments are spot-on regarding Minnesota weather. Therefore, I am planning on driving down to Cherry Grove tonight. Hopefully, more join in as well.
Brandon

[heinerv]

What a treat; several clear nights in November to enjoy the skies. This is especially nice since November can be quite cloudy.

Joan & I went to CGO on Monday and last night, Friday. Some of the highlights were, Gamma Andromeda and Gamma Aries both wonderful doubles. Also, the blue snowball nebula and Harvard 20 were interesting challenges. Of course, we visited many other objects.

It was also fun to get started so early, usually 6:30. However, traffic was a lot heavier with many cars passing by. On the way down we were wondering how many times the new power lines along 52 would cross over 52 after seeing evidence of construction on both sides of the highway.

It was nice to have a heated warming house to retreat to and plan our next targets. Dew was not a problem, frost was a minor one.

Several others came down also. Dave V. was there for a little while. Brandon & Gunnar also came later along with Greg B. All in all a good night.

Good luck to ones planning on observing tonight, Saturday.

[Dave Venne]

Grrr, I hate wasting a nice imaging night. Thanks, Vic, for those pretty double stars. I got my stuff figured out, so I'll be back tonight provided it clears off.

[FF2Rydia]

How did it go on Saturday?

[Dave Venne]

Five in attendance; about 15 degrees warmer than Friday night with a light southerly breeze that kept the dew and frost pretty much away. Some thin clouds late, but a nice evening overall. Spectacular when compared to a typical mid-November night. And yet another beautiful night tonight if the forecast proves true.

[rzylka]

Just wanted to thank Clayton for sharing his scope with me. Had a great time and i hope i wasn't too much trouble. Thanks every one

[heinerv]

Just to emphasize how good our fortune was: Astronomy estimates that the number of clear days in Minnesota is 3.5 to 6.4. So, given that, the fact they were clear for most of the time while the moon was not a problem was really nice. At least we are not in Washington or Oregon where the estimate is less that 3.5.

[rjcegla]

That's per year, right?

[Dave Venne]

I imaged on over 30 nights this year, so 3.5 to 6.4 days per year is a gross underestimate, unless the requirement is completely clear all night (or maybe for a 24-hour day).

[Deane Clark]

Units are important :)

[heinerv]

Oops, that was for the month of November. Most months, Astronomy magazine has a map of US showing the average clear days. So the number varies by region and month.