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Fri/Sat, Mar 23/24, 2001

The third clear night this week, imaging from the backyard in Oshawa! Temperature range was from +5C to +2C (18:00 to 01:00). Imaging camera was the MX916. The weather forecast was for clear skies until midnight. I imaged M81, NGC 4236, and M101.

At 23:50 a bank of cloud started moving in from the west. It rolled over top of M101 at 00:02 (talk about precision forecasting!). I only had 30 minutes on M101 at this point. About 15 minutes later, it was clear again! I got another 25 frames or so before the sky clouded over for good! After doing some dark frames, I packed up and went to bed for some much-needed sleep.

M81 62 minutes (62 x 60s)
M81 opens in new window

NGC 4236 60 minutes (60 x 60s)
NGC 4236 opens in new window

M101 47 minutes (47 x 60s)
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Hiding from the Wind! Backyard Setup
Windbreak
Here is my home-made windbreak. The gallon can of paint hangs from the eavestrough and holds one end of the tarp down.

Hiding from the Wind! Backyard Setup
Windbreak
Here is my home-made windbreak from the other side. The house shelters the north and west sides (the prevailing wind direction in the winter).