Driving is a non-essential skill in India, but is indispensible in the US. Learning to drive in late 2012 / early 2013, turning 25 in mid-2013, and getting a car in mid-2013 really has enabled my astronomy! So 2013 has been a wonderful year for me, although the skies over Texas haven't been as good as they were in 2012 and 2011.

I got about 7 ~ 8 nights of observing in 2013, and this, along with TSP 2012, has enabled me to finish 50% of the Palomar globulars, and a good number of Hickson groups. Also observed a lot of fainter diffuse nebulae, and some of the Abell planetary nebulae.

I think my most memorable observations of 2013 include Abell 70, Pacman nebula, Heart nebula, NGC 1999.

My goals for 2012 are to bag a few more Hickson groups, and make some trips to west Texas to attempt all those low-contrast nebulae and local group galaxies. Also want to check off some more Abell planetary nebulae.