Living in the Houston area, I've learned to be patient for clear skies. You wait, and wait and wait..... This weekend my chance for dark skies came in the form of a cub scout campout in a national forest about 60 miles north of Houston. The problem was, I didn't bring my scope! It was either my scope or my family, and I opted for the latter.
The sky was overcast until about 11:00pm. I had just about given up hope. A fellow camper brought his son's Bushnell reflector, I think a 3 inch or so, but he packed it up and went to bed just before the sky cleared. I drank to much coffee and the temperature hovered around 35 degrees F, so any sleep for me was out of the question. I had brought a planisphere and the Star Atlas 2000. By midnight the sky became crystal clear and I was enthralled by the magnificant sights. The constellations popped out and burned holes in the sky. I found a few acres of cleared ground nearby, set up my chair, and just marveled, unaided, at the view until dawn. To see all the stars of Ursa Major, the visible cluster in Coma Berenices, Hercules, Lyra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, Virgo, Leo, and many others. Scorpius rising up was a beautiful sight to behold. And a new moon to boot.
I have a new appreciation for dark crystal skies. They have become a rare commodity. My neck is sore for looking up all night. It was worth every minute.
The sky was overcast until about 11:00pm. I had just about given up hope. A fellow camper brought his son's Bushnell reflector, I think a 3 inch or so, but he packed it up and went to bed just before the sky cleared. I drank to much coffee and the temperature hovered around 35 degrees F, so any sleep for me was out of the question. I had brought a planisphere and the Star Atlas 2000. By midnight the sky became crystal clear and I was enthralled by the magnificant sights. The constellations popped out and burned holes in the sky. I found a few acres of cleared ground nearby, set up my chair, and just marveled, unaided, at the view until dawn. To see all the stars of Ursa Major, the visible cluster in Coma Berenices, Hercules, Lyra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, Virgo, Leo, and many others. Scorpius rising up was a beautiful sight to behold. And a new moon to boot.
I have a new appreciation for dark crystal skies. They have become a rare commodity. My neck is sore for looking up all night. It was worth every minute.
