Hi: Guys and Gals!
In just a short 3 weeks it will be time for our:
3rd Annual Memorial Day Online Star Party!
This is the third apparition of the event that kicked off the series of online star parties in which so many of you have participated. This event will run just few days longer than usual in order to incorporate the Transit of Venus across the Sun into the event. (I'm hoping some of you solar buffs take up this challenge!)
The event schedule will be Friday May 25 through Tuesday Jun 5 (transit day). Final reports due by Sunday June 10th.
There are loads of targets available at this time of the year for everybody to find something in their own interests, Saturn, Venus, Mars, galaxies, nebulae, globulars & open clusters. You name it, it should be available!
As usual, the rules are very simple.
1: Declare your intent to participate. The pre-event discussions make up a huge part of the fun. Don't worry if life steps in and you can't make it. The is no non-refundable deposit to lose nor will you be billed. It's A Party!
1: All Observation Reports during this event should be posted right here to this thread. Makes things so much easier for everyone to find and helps to enhance the party atmosphere.
2: Any target is fair game. Whatever suits your fancy is just fine. the idea is to have fun and share the fun with others.
3: In order to make everyone feel as though they were with you at the eyepiece, your reports should include as much descriptive "color" as you can muster. Not just a list of Messier or NGC numbers or eyepieces used, but the "who, what, where, When, and why" that will make us feel at home with you. In the past, some of the best loved reports were actually of difficault nights battling dew and mosquitoes to get that astro-pic you've been trying to get for so long. Others have described family BBQ's where the scope was the main attraction for the kiddies after the burgers have been eaten and the grill is cooling with great decriptions of the kid's reactions to seeing Saturn for the first time. While the technical aspects are important, it is the experience of the observation that we are trying to capture. It is the reason why we observe, after all.
4: Free discussion throughout the event is encouraged. Starting now until the event ends. Just as at any social party, the topics will range all over the place, so "work the room." You'll have a great time.
See you there!
---Poppa Chris---
"Second star to the right - Then straight on until morning!" - Peter Pan
Celestron CPC1100GPS (XLT) - 279mm aperature, 2800mm Focal length. (f10) Celestron Ultima LX (70deg AFOV) Eyepieces 32mm thru 5mm, Canon EOS Rebel T2i DSLR, Backyard EOS imaging software, Orion Star Shoot Planetary Imager IV, Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars
I'm in, hope it's as rowdy as last year's Ken
EASY DUDE, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER WAVE
From San Diego, Zhumell Z10 (Bubba is for all around observing)Telrad, Vixen VMC110L on a Porta Mount II, Bushnell 10x50 (for beach) Garrett 10x50 classics (for Sylvia), Zhumell 80x20 on their Pro tripod(cuz they were cheap and sylvia digs 'em), 1.75 readers (so I can find the other stuff)
Poppa Chris
count me in,had to miss last one dont want to make it 2 in a row.
Dennis
Orion SkyQuest 8inch Classic Dob/Phillips SPC900NC Web Cam with IR filter/ Orion 1.25 inch Sirius Plossl sizes 10mm,12.5mm,17mm,25mm & 32mm/ 8.8mm 82 degree Explore Scientific/ Televue 2inch 20mm Nagler Type 2/ Televue 2inch 2x Big Barlow/ Orion 2inch 0111 filter/ 2inch,1.25inch Orion SkyGlow light pollution filter/2inch,1.25inch Orion Variable polarizing moon filter/1.25inch Orion color filters : #80A Med. Blue,#25 Red,#15 Deep Yellow,#58 Green
I'll be there of course Chris. Lots of NSN broadcasting i hope. If the weather is good, i want some allnighters in too under darker skies.
Baz.
British weather don't half suck!
Celestron Astromaster 130 EQ, 80mm utilityscope.
6mm K, Celestron 10mm, 15mm OMNI, 12, 20, 25mm Meade MA EPs. APO 3 speed Barlow lens.
Solar, Light pollution, 11, 12, 23A ,82A Baader ir/uv cut filters.
Philips SPC880NC webam with 1.25" adapter, 0.6 reducer 10X50, 12X50 (BAK-4) sports bino
Count me in provided the scope is up and running!!!!
Celestron 8 SCT F/10 to 7.5 to 6.3-C-GEM Mount-Starizona Power Pack II+-Bahatinov Focus Mask-Canon Rebel XS 1000D 10.1 MP-Nexguide Auto Guider-Orion Short Tube 80mm Guide Scope- Baader Planetarium UHC-S/L-Booster visual/photographic 2"-Capture Software Backyard EOS-Deep Sky Stacker-Adobe Photoshop/Registax 6 for post work
I'll be there as promised.
Have been absent from the forum due to various reasons except for a few minutes now and again. Due to withdrawal symptoms have been slowly building up to an hours viewing!!
After nearly six months waiting, my Telescope and Explore Scientific eyepieces with other essentials are in Telescope House in the U.K. and it's just a matter of organizing their delivery, so hope I know what I'm doing by the time the party comes around. I would love to see some Galaxies with this telescope and be able to report on it.
I have a few letters long overdue to some friends on the forum which I will try to get done shortly.
Look forward to the Party.
Rhonda.
SkyQuest XX14i..Tasco Luminova 40-114675.. Meade My Sky Guide..Strathspey 25x100mm..Pentax 20x60..Celestron 15x70 Bushnell 10x50..Strathspey 10x50..Bushnell 8x42..Yashica 6x30..Exp.Scientific Eyepieces 9mm.14mm.20mm..Orion10mm.35m Sirius Plossl 4mm. 25mm.. Televue Big Barlow.. Hotech Laser Collimator
Well that makes six of us so far. I'm sure more will join the party as the date gets closer.
Any thoughts as to what you guys are planning to do for the party? I know tha for myself, I want to do a bit of Saturn viewing, galaxy hunting in Virgo, and a bit of solar work around the transit of Venus.
Of course there will be my ongoing quest for the perfect rack of babyback ribs on the charcoal grill over the holiday weekend too. And the proper wine to pair with them too. I expect about 6-8 friends over for the cookoput that weekend with a little bit of casual observing for all of us after the meal.
Poppa Chris Well that makes six of us so far. I'm sure more will join the party as the date gets closer. Any thoughts as to what you guys are planning to do for the party? I know tha for myself, I want to do a bit of Saturn viewing, galaxy hunting in Virgo, and a bit of solar work around the transit of Venus. Of course there will be my ongoing quest for the perfect rack of babyback ribs on the charcoal grill over the holiday weekend too. And the proper wine to pair with them too. I expect about 6-8 friends over for the cookoput that weekend with a little bit of casual observing for all of us after the meal.
Hmmmm seeing that I am not set up for solar I will be taking apart the Virgo cluster. I also want to get a better shot of M-51 then I posted a while back. I should have my auto guider up and running by then so I will be continuing the epic battle with my mount. LOL I MIGHT do some more planetary work as well.
As for the quest of the perfect rack of ribs, I have found the BEST fall off the bone ribs ever! We have a resteraunt out here called Texas Steak House. Ribs to die for!!!!!!!!
For reasons I won't go into here, I can get in only at the tail end of this party. I'll do my best to see some of the Venus transit, but at this point, I'm not sure what else I'll have time for. One aspect I always delight in, in addition to all of your reports, is everyone's infectious enthusiasm for the beauty above. Clear skies, everyone!
Kathleen
Celestron C6 R-GT with CG5 GT mount, Pentax 10 x 50 binoculars, Monolux 60-mm refractor
Glad to see you are back in the saddle, Ray!
It''ll be interesting to read about you wrangling that wild mount. Like riding in an astro-rodeo! Just remember, to dig in your heels in when you grab it by the horns and twist its neck enough to throw it to the ground.
And don't let that hot branding iron hit you on the backside! It may leave you seeing stars!
======
No matter what your reasons are for being late, it's good to see you will make it, Kathleen. I know you will bring your own special enthusiasm to the event.
And yes, the sheer beauty of the heavens is what has kept me in this hoopy for so many, many years.
Boy! This really will be a marathon!
It just dawned upon me that a rare annular eclipse of the Sun will be viewable from the entire eastern US seaboard on May 20, 2012.
I know the party is supposed to start on May 25, but we won't toss out any early bird reports of this event!
Poppa Chris Glad to see you are back in the saddle, Ray! It''ll be interesting to read about you wrangling that wild mount. Like riding in an astro-rodeo! Just remember, to dig in your heels in when you grab it by the horns and twist its neck enough to throw it to the ground. And don't let that hot branding iron hit you on the backside! It may leave you seeing stars!
LOL Wow dug deep for all that! Got this whole cowboy thing going on. Well the rodeo starts tonight. Going to get set up and put it through the paces and see what I am working with. Next friday I order the different guide scope for the autoguider. Hopefully once that is online I can start this in earnest! No more of these 30 sec exposures!!!!! Going to take some REAL images! HHHEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWW!! LOL
UPDATE:
Looks like the mount wins this one! Dec motor totally froze up, even with the clutch loose! Have to take it back to the shop!
Poppa Chris Boy! This really will be a marathon! It just dawned upon me that a rare annular eclipse of the Sun will be viewable from the entire eastern US seaboard on May 20, 2012. I know the party is supposed to start on May 25, but we won't toss out any early bird reports of this event!
Unfortunately, none of the upcoming "ring of fire" eclipse will be visible from the Eastern Seaboard. Less than half of the eclipse, the 58th of Saros 128, can be seen before sunset from roughly east of the Mississippi. The path of annularity runs through parts of Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.
http://eclipse-maps.com/Eclipse-Maps/Gallery/Pages/Annular_solar_eclipse_of_2012_May_20.html
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/ASE2012/ASE2012fig/ASE2012pp2a.JPG
http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112528240/may-20-2012-annular-eclipse-for-western-us-will-be-spectacular/
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/A-Preview-of-May-20ths-Annular-Eclipse-141037803.html
A photograph that I took of the partial phase of the 1994 annular eclipse is posted at http://cs.astronomy.com/asycs/media/p/409543.aspx
Dave Mitsky
Sic itur ad astra!
Chance favors the prepared mind.
A man is a small thing, and the night is very large and full of wonders.
DaveMitsky Unfortunately, none of the upcoming "ring of fire" eclipse will be visible from the Eastern Seaboard. Less than half of the eclipse, the 58th of Saros 128, can be seen before sunset from roughly east of the Mississippi. The path of annularity runs through parts of Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.
I knew that! I don't know why I typed "eastern" instead of "western".
Geezz-Loueezz... I must be getting old...
Hi everyone, dont really know what objects i'll be looking at during this party.
I'll probably just wing it . As for the holiday weekend i to will be firing up the grill, but i'll be doing the steak and b-tater with all the usual salads.Might try a piece of salmon on the grill ,heard it is good.
As for the Venus transit our local astronomy club is having a all day open house, for the public, at our obervatory with members and there scopes and a small cook-out hot dogs and stuff.