Observing Sessions

As it can be very difficult for any advance planning of observation sessions due to weather conditions (at least for those of us in the more “temperate” climates) what do you guys do when the clouds suddenly part and you find clear skies ?

Do you work from a plan? Do you have prepared lists of objects ?

Do you record all your sessions ?

John

John --

I generally work from a plan. If the weather looks like it might cooperate, I'll use AstroPlanner to draw up a list of 8 or 10 objects, and write them down on A4 paper. If the weather turns bad, the plan goes in a drawer. On the occasions when the weather wasn't supposed to be good but turns out to be, I've usually got several plans in the drawer recent enough to be used. If not, I watch TV with my wife.

In the observatory I write down notes and do some sketching on the A4 paper. Usually I won't even get through the 8 - 10 objects, but sometimes I add on a few when I'm out there (I use either my mount's handbox to find additional targets, or a copy of S&T's Pocket Sky Atlas that I keep out in the observatory). When I get back inside I transfer my notes back into AstroPlanner. My sketches aren't good enough to save yet, but when they are I'll probably scan them in to AstroPlanner as well.

-- Jeff