It's been a while. I would write more blogs if I knew anyone was actually out there reading them. More comments would be nice as well. While the hit count for this blog is over 75,000, comments are few and far between. I am still an active visual observer, still using my Orion 12" Push To and Space Eye, my 2" refractor. I continue to chip away at the NGC list, as viewable from my location in Essex County, Ontario (42 lat. N.). Every two years at this time I update my print list and recount how deep sky objects have been seen. Here are the latest totals:
NGC: 3045 objects viewed and logged.
IC: 540 objects.
Other Catalogues (every other deep sky catalogue): 985.
My grand total of deep sky objects viewed and logged currently stands at 4590. That does not include double stars, which I enthusiastically view but do not keep count. I am hoping to get back to the eyepiece in March. It has been a brutally cold and severe winter this year since mid November (my last observation) through February. It seems that cold weather will continue on into early March.
If and when I get back out there I will continue detailed work in Puppis, then continue on with Crater. By late March I should be able to resume in Coma. For the first time in my life I plan to tackle part of Virgo! Aside from the major Messier I have done no official work in this constellation. It took me 7 years to get through Leo, and it will take me at least that long to get through Coma. Of course if I had access to more clear nights.....
Mapman Mike
