Mount Wilson

While channel surfing earlier tonight, I stumbled across Huell Howser's visit to Mount Wilson observatory. Kind of entertaining, and definitely worth a watch.

One thing the show doesn't make clear is that you can't just drive up there and look through the 60" telescope. You need to make a reservation and pay a fee. One of these days, I'm going to do have to do that.

Comet McNaught

There's another Comet McNaught swinging through our vicinity this month. Here's the Sky and Telescope write-up.

I got a pretty good view on Sunday morning from a dark-sky observing location in the Mojave Desert. I couldn't make it out with the naked eye, but it was easy in my small, rich-field reflector. It's also been report in binoculars.

In the low-magnification view, the comet looks pretty small but definitely has a tail. In my larger telescopes, both the dust and ion tails are easily visible.

It's nothing like the spectacular 2007 Comet McNaught, but it's been over a year, I think, since the last binocular-visible comet has been around.

June 2010 Sidewalk Dates

Old Town Astronomers sidewalk dates for June 2010:
Friday, June 18 in Pasadena.
Saturday, June 19 in Monrovia.

As usual, I intend to participate in the Monrovia event.

Also, there's a chance of some summer sidewalk astronomy nights in a park in Duarte. I'll post more if firm dates are set.