The most memorable object I saw in 2010 was M31 with my 10x50 binoculars back in August at Wolf Creek. The weather forecast was dreary so I was the only SLAS member who went (I went primarily because I had never been to Wolf Creek and I wanted to see what it was like). As I posted back in August, it turned out to be a wonderful night (as dark a night as I have ever encountered--better than at Bryce). Among several wonderful objects, the true standout (and the memory of it still thrills me) was M31 with my binoculars. My binoculars have a view of 6.5 degrees. Based on that, M31 was 5 to 5.5 degrees in length (I didn't believe it was that big; but when I checked in a reference book, I found that it is). Also, it was incredibly bright. The view through my 10-inch telescope showed more detail but didn't give at all the same view. My first impression with my binoculars (other than "whoa, what is that?") was that M31 had decided to come early to merge with the Milky Way. If I were given to stories of little green men, I easily could have imagined that I was looking at an invading alien fleet. Of course, I have seen M31 many times (including Bryce and another night at Wolf Creek) through a variety of instruments (very few would be able to have a full 5.5 degree view), but I have never seen it anything like it was that night through my 10x50s. It just proves that good viewing conditions can trump everything else. Fletch

It's that time of the year. What were your most memorable SLAS events and star parties of the year? What were your the most memorable events on the celestial sphere for 2010? What were the most important scientific astronomical discoveries or articles for 2010? - Kurt

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