No, not completing the Herschel 400, although that would be nice. I have finally filled up all the pages in my first observing notebook! My first entry in this notebook is dated 22 March, 2006. The target was NGC 2264, an open cluster in Monoceros often known as the "Christmas Tree Cluster." I started keeping a notebook as soon as I decided I wanted to be a bit more organized and methodical in my observing, particularly after I started the Astronomical League's "Urban Club" list. I work under the modus operandi that if you haven't logged it, you haven't seen it. Interestingly enough, while I've never been able to successfully keep a diary, I haven't had a problem sticking with my astronomical note-recording. Although my attempts to create a digital version of my observing notes have not been as successful as I like (takes so much time!), I take comfort in the fact that everything I have observed is recorded in this book. But now it is full. The last observed object was sunspot group 1024 on 5 July, 2009. In between there is a whole lot of stuff! In those pages lie my notes on the Messier, Caldwell, SAC 110 Best of the NGC, and quite a few double stars with the occasional planetary and lunar observation thrown in. If each observing session is an episode of Star Trek, and my scopes the Starship Enterprise, my notebook is the Captain's Log! (I guess that makes me Captain Kirk...) It has stood up quite well considering how many times it's been soaked with dew and dried out. I'm sure there are a few smooshed mosquito corpses and coffee stains in there, too.
Now what? Well, I picked up a new notebook at Office Max (the same time I finally laminated my Greek Letter Chart), another Meade. It will probably last me another three years, and hopefully record the further adventures of the starship called Amateur Astronomy.
Until later,
Clear Skies!
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