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You should come and have a look at my dark skys! LOL
The evening started rather sadly, when Ron told me of Erwins passing. I think that most of us dedicated our nights viewing to his memory.
My observing schedule was based on two articles I had recently re-read from Sky and Space, Nov/Dec 2004. The first was written by Ian Sansom called Star Hopping, and the other called Blowing Bubbles a Wolf-Rayet Star Tour by Andrew Murrell and Ian Sansom. More on that later.
The evening started with Venus then a disappointing Jupiter.
Followed by Omega Centauri, 47 Tuc, M8, M20, M17, M16.
Ngc 288
NGC 55 and NGC 253. Paul guided me to these two. But due to the social factor I couldn't spend as much time there as I would have liked. ( I can stop talking when I am on my own LOL ) Both top my list for further observing.
Andromeda M31, M32 and M110 knocked my socks off. It was my first time seeing them with a big scope when reasonably high up in the sky.
The dew by now was dripping of our gear. Hair dryers couldn't keep up with it. Some felt it wise then to pack up and go home.
Those of us who stayed were treated to smorgasbord of galaxys in and around Fornax. I had pictures in the magazine of what I should be looking at, and I wandered from scope to scope comparing.
Ron was my lecturer for the night. I learnt about the nature of Wolf-Rayet (pronounced Rayay, not Rayette) stars. Once Canis Major has risen, Ron keyed NGC 2359 into the Argo Navis, swung the dob down to Thors Helmet, just as the fog was rising up to meet it. But I can look for it at home now I know where to look.
Again, I learned more at this Star Party, than I could learn in months mucking around on my own.
Thanks for inviting us to your place Ron. I enjoyed myself immensely.
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