One good thing - well, probably the ONLY good thing - about the cold wave that's just starting is clear skies.
Tonight's our first clear night in at least a week, after all the snow, ice and rain we've just endured. It's 6 above now which is about as warm as we'll see until Tuesday.
Took advantage of clear skies and the relative warmth - 6 above is relative warmth?!? - to get out the telescope for the first time in a few months and check out Comet Machholz. I was spoiled by the back to back once in a lifetime pair of Hyakutake in `96 and Hale-Bopp in `97. Machholz doesn't measure up to that, I think I made it out with naked eyes, but that's pretty good for a comet.
Also saw a Space Station pass and took a quick peek at Saturn. It was a little windy and I could barely resolve the rings, but I managed to glimpse Titan. Which is especially timely.
If you're up for it in the cold, the next couple nights are your best bet. Moonlight gets in the way for a couple weeks after that, but there's another good chance by the end of the month. The angle is great, nearly overhead in the circumpolar northern stars. (The link gives you the where and when.)
Science
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