A few weeks ago, Lowell reported on observing omega Cen from Natural Bridges. For the last two weeks, I have been on a family business trip to Tuscon and northern Arizona, finishing up with driving back on Highway 89 through central Utah. The following are my notes on the most northerly observing point from which globular cluster omega Cen can be seen in Utah. In summary, checking with a planetarium program, omega Cen should be visible from any southeast high ridgeline at Bryce National Park that drops off into Tropic and the Escalante basin during the June 17 to 19 Bryce Astronomy festival. Picture and News Story on omega Cent April 2008 http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2008/14/full/ Glob cluster omega Cen (NGC5139, 36' at 3.7 mag and 4.85 kparsecs distance and 26.3 parsecs true dia) is the showcase king of globular clusters. If it is something you have not seen, it is worth the effort to drive and catch a glimpse even though it will only be a few degrees off the southern horizon. To repeat Lowell's emphasis, the northern hemisphere showcase clusters currently visible (M4 in Sco at 36' and mag 7 and 2.2 kpc distance and 10.2 parsec true dia; M13 in Her at 23' and mag 5.8 and 7.7 kparsecs distance and 25.7 parsec true dia) pale in comparision to omega Cent. Under a ZLM 6.0 sky, omega Cen looks about four or five times the size of M13. Where M13 and M4 are faint smudges in binoculars, omega Cen takes up 1/3 the short dimension of a binocular view. The depth of stars and density at half-maximum are greater than either M4 or M13. In an antiquated 60mm refracter at 100x, it filled the entire eyepiece. At all observing points described below, omega Cen was only 2 to 4 degrees off the southern horizon. Even so, it was an overwhelming impressive site. During the Bryce Astronomy Festival, civil twilight will end at about 9:25pm MDT. At that time, omega Cen will be just past due south transit and at an alitude of about 4 degrees. At astronomical twilight, NGC5139 will be at about 3.5 degrees in altitude above the southern horizon. The easiest way to find omega Cent is sweep with binoculars south to the horizon from iot Cen or west from zet Cen. Or sweep south-west-west from a naked eye triangle asterism formed by phi Cen, mu Cen and nu Cen (within the Cen constellation figure). Once located, I found the easiest method to reacquire the cluster was to note its azimuth relative to a tree or other object on the horizon and then sweep up from the horizon. Recent research indicates that omega Cen may not be a true globular that formed with the Milky Way. Like M54 - the core of another captured galaxy remnant - the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy, omega Cent may the stripped remnant of another galaxy that the Milky Way captured and cannibalized. See Hubble org article above. Based on motion studies of stars in omega Cen, it is thought there is a medium sized black hole at its center. Observing notes: Because I flew to Tucson at the start of the business trip and drove back at its conclusion, I was principally using 7 x 50 binoculars instead of a telescope. Mon, May 11, 8pm Arizona ST, from the turnoff road to Biosphere 2 about 25 miles northeast of Tucson, AZ. omega Cen acquired with 7 x 50 binos about 3 degrees off the south-southeast horizon. Thurs., May 14, 8:30pm AST, from about 10 miles north of Overgaard, Arizona in north central Arizona (100 miles south of Flagstaff), omega Cen acquired with borrowed 900mm fl 60mm dia refractor about 3 degrees off the south-southeast horizon at 100x. Sat-Sun, May 16 10pm to midnight MDT, on Highway 89. Using 7 x 50mm binos, I stopped along Highway 89 every 10 miles while traveling north from Kanab to the I-70 junction. This stretch of road has an unique grade - it is "always rising" grade for about 150 miles. The main limitation in acquiring omega Cent in central and southern Utah is interference from mountains surrounding the Highway 89 valley. (Mileposts on Highway 89 do not pair directly with those on I-15. Milepost 170 on HIghway 89 corresponds to about milepost 120 on I-15. ) Terrain blockages ended between milesposts 90 near the Long Valley Junction (the intersection of Highways 89 and 14) through milepost 170 near Thompsonville, Utah. There is a blocked stretch for about 10 miles around Spry, Utah. The altitude of Highway 89 varies from 6000 to 9000 feet between mileposts 90 and 170. Omega Cent was specifically visible at the junction of Highways 89 and 12. Highway 12 is the turnoff to Bryce. Presumably, any point on the east side of Bryce National Park where the land falls off to Tropic, Utah would be unobstructed to the southeast and omega Cent could be seen. Beyond milepost 170, Highway 89 north to the I-70 junction enters a narrow winding canyon, blocking the omega Cen view. I tried several times to acquire omega Cen along I-70 and north on I-15 outside of Cove Fort. The mountains blocked the terrain at all points north of Thompsonville on Highway 89. Clear Skies - Kurt