Observation Log
ENTRY: 2016-01-13
Quick Look From Meadow Run
I observed from Meadow Run Road a little ways before the entrance to Forest Run.
There is a space between two streetlights where the road is unlit and relatively dark. I
was out between 7:30 and 8:00pm in cold weather.
I took my 10x60 binoculars out to see what could be seen in my (new)
neighborhood. The sky conditions were decent: clear and probably as dark as it gets
around here. There was a waxing crescent moon in the southwest but it was not a major
source of light and it was also partly obscured by clouds.
The Orion Nebula gave a nice view (as always) in the binoculars. However, I saw
no evidence of NGC-2024 and I recall seeing that in my binoculars when I lived in
Tunbridge (on a very dark night). The Auriga clusters M-37, M-36, and M-38 all gave nice
views. M-35 in Gemini was also nice. NGC-7789 in Cassiopeia was also visible but not
spectacularly so.
I spent some time scanning for comet C/2013 US 10 Catalina which is supposed to
be near naked eye brightness around now. I didn't see it. On the other hand I didn't
have a good finder chart with me and, after later consulting the chart in Guy Ottewell's
Astronomical Calendar, I could see that was focused on slightly the wrong area. Also
there was some haze to the north that may have inhibited the view as well.