Comet Machholz et al, TV76, 1/14/2005

Date: Night of Friday, 14-Jan-2005
Location: Backyard, Palm Springs, California
Equipment: Tele Vue 76 (3" f/6.3) refractor

Backyard stargazing with the TV76. First object was comet Machholz. Easy =

naked eye object. Through the 3" can just detect the ion tail. Would be=20
much better from a darksky site. Rechecking after an hour or so movement =

was apparent. (I love stuff that moves!) Spent some time just sort of=20
randomly wandering around the sky. Open cluster NGC 1342, Melotte 20 =
(best=20
in binoculars), M34, M42/M43 region, M78, Orion's belt region, NGC 2238=20
Rosette neb can just detect a bit of nebulosity. To the south NGC 2362=20
Tau Canis Major, M93, M46 and M47, NGC 2451 and NGC 2477. Quick peek at=20
Saturn and its moon Titan where the Huygens probe landed yesterday.

-Florian
Stargazing.com