2011: 2x Risstal valley with Christian and Ralph

Two nights in 2011 with Christian and Ralph, in "Yellowstone" - that's my nickname for this lovely place in the limestone Karwendel Alps,
one of the darkest car-accessible observing sites within 100 km of Munich. It reminds me of the Yellowstone I know from films and images,
but it's without bears and wolves - while I actually don't miss them while observing ;-). But you can at least see and hear real ravens (not only
the all-present crows), and may sometimes glimpse a golden eagle.


Good conditions in the night Saturday/Sunday , April 2/3, 2011

From left 12" (Christian), 8" (Ralph) and 16" (Ben)

Our camp

Observing from 20:00 to 3:00. In the 16" many winter objects in the evening, among them IC 410 and the "Medusa-Nebula" (extremely OIII dependent).
Later many spring galaxies, including "my" NGC 2683 and the NGC 3190 group, plus the triple-clustering of NGC 3987-NGC 4005-NGC 4015,
and the "L" of five V=13 galaxies in the NGC 4065 group. Christian offered a nice M101 face-on in his 12-inch, and "his" galaxy NGC 3877.

Setting winter sky (Image: Ralph Muth)

Familiar northern views (Image: Ralph Muth)


In the morning: Ralph leaves first, ...

... on a beautiful day in the mountains


Excellent night Fr/Sa, September 2/3, 2011

Christian once again took along his 12" Dobson, while I used my 120mm refractor. The night was excellent, easily fst=7.0, and the (few)
clouds contrasted very dark against the starry sky. Comet Garradd was close to the "Coathanger"-cluster, with tail, and the supernova
in M101 was already close to the maximum of V =9.9.

In the morning: Here Ralph, ...


... and there Dobson and Refraktor, with Christian ...

... showing the sun to a casual hiker


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