Elecraft CW Net Report for October 28th & 29th, 2007

[Kevin Rock]

Good Evening,
   Just after the second net was over I got outside and found the sky clear and the moon not yet up.  I walked up the road until I was clear of the woods and found Perseus.  As soon as I saw the constellation it was obvious there was a 'star' not there normally.  Just a little dimmer than Mirfak and more diffuse than a normal star Comet Holmes was easy to find.  Tomorrow I'll have more time and hope to get my telescope set up to get a better look.  There is no tail to this comet but there is a large coma.  If I am lucky I'll see the cyanogen caused blue-green tinge.  
   Twenty meters was a breath of fresh air.  I had not had to work pileups like that in quite some time.  The conditions were great!  19 folks checked in from all over.  Forty meters was not as happy.  QSB on almost everyone and weak signals were the norm.  What a difference.  Ten folks did get through however.  Temperature reports ranged from 27 to 75 degrees F.  I don't think I got one report of clouds though.  Here it was a pleasant 60-65 so I had the windows open and let the fire go out.  Between nets I laid a new one and Sam is sleeping behind the stove digesting his dinner.  
   This coming week I hope to insulate the roof and cover it with plastic.  I don't think I'll get the drywall up but want to move back to the warmth and space for my radios, computers, electronics benches, and test equipment.  Now that I am back from Pacificon I'll not leave the mountain unless I absolutely have to.  I have quite a few projects which will get done by spring.  If I get snowed in all the better; fewer distractions that way.  My Sunday afternoon and evenings will be for ECN and the rest of the week will be for design and building.  Should be a fun winter.  

   On to the lists =>

On 14051 kHz at 2300z:
KJ7BS - Mark - AZ - TS-850s
KS7D - Mike - FL - K2 - 4443
K0WA - Lee - KS - K2 - 2056
W0CZ - Ken - ND - K2 - 1031
N9AUG - Larry - OH - ?
AK2B - Tom - NY - KS1 - 685
WB3AAL - Ron - PA - K2 - 1392
NO8V - John - MI - ?
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767    QNI #45!!!
W1WCG - Van - CT - K2 - 2634
WB8RTJ - Jim - OH - K2 - 5886
VE3XL - Ric - ON - K1 - 968
N0AR - Scott - MN - K2 - 4866
K5BGB - Rod - TX - K2 - 1126
KT5E - Jay - CO - K2 - 5037
K1THP - Dave - CT - K2 - 3942
KL7CW - Rick - AK - KX1 - 798    QNI #95!!!!
W0JFR - John - CO - K2 - 4507
KA9JOW - David - WI - ?

On 7045 kHz at 0200z:
K0WA - Lee - KS - K2 - 2056
KT5E - Jay - CO - K2 - 5037
KL7CW - Rick - AK - KX1 - 798
WC7S - Dale - WY - K2 - 4360
K7TQ - Randy - ID - K2 - 213
N7KRT - Jeff - NV - K2 - 5471    QNI #30!!
K1THP - Dave - CT - K2 - 3942
W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767
N9SF - Bob - IN - K2 - 5308
K6PJV - Dale - CA - K2 - 5345

   If there are any fills or corrections required in the above lists please send them to me via email and I'll update the database.  Thank you once again for your continued participation and support.  I hope you all have as much fun as I do.  It is interesting to hear about you all and I especially enjoy hearing the differences and similarities in our regional weather.  
   Please get outside this week and take a look at Comet Holmes.  It is an easy, naked eye object.  It should even show through lighted city skies or a little haze.  The full moon made it impossible to see because it was right next to Perseus.  Now that the moon is below the horizon it was easy to see at 7:30 local time.  Binoculars should help you see the coma and a telescope may elicit a view of the tail if it grows one.  The comet went from very faint to a third magnitude object in a short period of time.  It may have been struck by a bit of space debris to allow so much more volatile material to become exposed to the sun.  It is also moving away from the sun which makes its brightening even more strange.  Since comets are fragile objects it may be in the process of breaking up which will cause it to grow first brighter and then fade away as the pieces scatter.  Whatever happens it will be interesting to watch it over the next month.
   Until next week stay well,
      73,
         Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)


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