It was both fun and convenient to fly into a remote airport for a night of astronomy. One of the driest and “most clear days spot” in the US is Desert Center. The Desert Center airstrip was constructed by General Patton on what was then Camp Young Desert Training Center during World War II. The county had long since taken authority for the airport, and by the early 2000’s it was public land. Over time it became our preferred winter site, but far too hot during the summer.
https://www.astrobin.com/wdn9ft/?nc=userOn occasion a friend would drive his 18” Newtonian to the airstrip and we would setup near an old hanger, and a vintage but broken airport beacon. Skies there were extremely dark, Bortle 1-2 at the time.
I recall one spring seeing M64 in the 18” with its dark “Black Eye” so distinct and eerie that seemed to eating the heart out of the galaxy.
Discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779. The Black Eye Galaxy (also called Sleeping Beauty Galaxy or Evil Eye Galaxy and designated Messier 64) is some 17 million light-years distant. It spans about 65 light years, and is a type 2 Seyfert galaxy. There is an inner area of molecular gas not feeding the core and not rotating. The galaxy contains an inner disc and an outer disc that are counter rotating! Strange and unique…
This image was taken over several nights using a 6" F/6.45 Melior Apo, and a QHY 600 Pro with Astrodon RGB, Gain at 56 and offset at 64. Imaging was done by remote control at the solar powered observatory in Kennedy Meadows California, USA.
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