Observing from a Mountain Top - North California

[Mark at Beaufort]

Some members will be aware that I am currently staying in Livermore close to San Francisco. I have had many clear nights since my arrival over 2 weeks ago.

On Saturday night I had the excellent opportunity to be allowed to observe with the Tri Valley Stargazers Astronomy Club - http://www.trivalleystargazers.org/ at their dark site on a location looking across the valley to Mount Hamilton (Lick Observatory Site). The quality of the sky was fantastic and members brought a number of scopes to add to the 17.5 inch Newt sat on a extremely large Eq mount. I was particularly interested with one scope a Questar 3.5 which I had not seen before although knew of its quality. It was great to view Venus at the start of the session through this lovely scope. 

I made the decision before leaving the UK to take some Celestron 12x70 binos  with me and I started to use these when the sky started to get dark. To give you an idea of the quality of the sky I could see, very easily, M82, M81, M51 and  M101 which was so clear.

I was hoping to be able, when visiting the United States, to see M83 (not easy from the UK) and some of Centaurus. Well here is what I achieved with the Binos together with a Celestron 9.25 SCT (thanks Ross) and the big Newt (thanks Chuck). These are not in order but it was the list that I wrote down the next morning.

M63, M94, NGC 4485 + NGC 4490, M13 including the Propeller, M92, ( M65, M66 and NGC 3628 fantastic in the big Newt), NGC 2903, (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 - never seen the  Antennae Galaxies so well), NGC 4361, M104, M57, M53, M64, M3, M97 NGC 4656 and NGC 4631.

Now whilst sitting in a comfy picnic chair I looked towards M83 (Seashell Galaxy) with the Binos - I cannot believe how clear it was. I then went over to Ross's C 9.25 and what a sight. I moved down and viewed NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) although there was cloud cover in this area which stopped me viewing Omega Centaurus.

I also had the opportunity to view Jupiter, much higher in the sky than the UK, in the Questar, C9.25 and the 17.5 Newt.

We observed until midnight and then drove back down the Mountain roads to Livermore - an experience all of its own.

I will always be grateful to the kindness and friendship of the Members of TVS astronomy club plus I also had the opportunity to socialise the following evening with Ron (Club Secretary), Ross and Chuck and their Partners at a great Ale House in Livermore.

I attach some photos but may add more when I return to the UK. 

[Littleguy80]

Glad you’re having a good time, Mark. Very enjoyable write up. I had a go at M83 last night but just too low here sadly. Must be exciting to start to see some of the constellations we can’t see from the UK

[25585]

Friendly looking people

Mark did you see Centaurus A galaxy, forget it's NGC #. 

[Stu]

4 minutes ago, 25585 said:

Mark did you see Centaurus A galaxy, forget it's NGC #. 

Mark’s report implies yes.

1 hour ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

I moved down and viewed NGC 5128 (Centaurus A)