My visit to the McDonald Observatory

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My visit to the McDonald Observatory

Last post 11-10-2009 04:18 PM by RiverInTheSky. 4 replies.

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11-07-2009 07:55 PM

RiverInTheSky
Joined on 03-08-2009
Posts 5

My visit to the McDonald Observatory

Visit to the McDonald Observatory at Fort Davis, TXThis past Tuesday and again on Friday, I was lucky enough to attend a Special Viewing with their 107 inch telescope and a Star Party. Both nights were absolutely breathtaking!! The sky last night for the Star Party was the most beautiful, dark sky I have ever seen in my life. It was perfect – dark and clear. From their outside auditorium you have a 360 degree view of the sky. With so many stars visible it was hard to pick out the constellations as I was use to seeing them!!The Milky Way stretched from one end of the sky to the other. While out there the space station appeared in our view – it was so bright. The programs both nights were fantastic; the staff and visiting professors there amazing. We got to view through the 107 inch – Jupiter with a shadow from one of the moons and M15. The huge dome started to rotate, one section of the dome started to open, the telescope begin to rotate and lock in on an object!! It was very exciting just to be on the dome floor and watch the doom opening and the scope rotating.Last night there were I think five telescopes open for viewing – we saw the Ring Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, Jupiter and M15. It is well worth the trip to Fort Davis, TX and the McDonald Observatory if for nothing else but to look up and see the most amazing, beautiful night sky.

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11-09-2009 01:15 PM In reply to

DaveMitsky
Joined on 07-24-2001
PA, USA, Planet Earth Moderator
Posts 8,677

Re: My visit to the McDonald Observatory

I've been to a number of major observatories but haven't made it to the MacDonald Observatory yet. If I ever get to the Texas Star Party, I'll make it a point to visit.

What eyepiece/magnification was used when you were observing with the 107" Harlan J. Smith telescope?

http://www.as.utexas.edu/mcdonald/facilities/2.7m/2.7.html

Dave Mitsky

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11-09-2009 09:29 PM In reply to

Bodryn
Joined on 11-10-2009
Posts 5

Re: My visit to the McDonald Observatory

I was there in 1994 during the Texas Star Party. Enjoyed it a lot - they then had telescopes right near the parking area - an 18"reflector and the 16" Meade, and a couple of amateurs had their 36" Dobs in a nearby parking lot. Looked at a lot of stuff.

My wife and I went there again in early 2006. I wanted her to get to see some great stuff. Unfortunately, they had built the visitor center up elaborately, supposedly to enlighten newbies about astronomy, but trying to get somebody to identify what we were looking at was like pulling teeth. In an hour or so we saw about 2 routine objects - M1 was one of them, which I had to guess correctly before he would tell us "yes". I'm in no hurry to return there anymore.

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11-10-2009 10:41 AM In reply to

leo731
Joined on 10-19-2005
Above Ground
Posts 3,035

Re: My visit to the McDonald Observatory

RiverInTheSky:
It is well worth the trip to Fort Davis, TX and the McDonald Observatory if for nothing else but to look up and see the most amazing, beautiful night sky.

Sounds like you had a most wonderful time. There simply is no substitute for dark skies.

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Ravening clouds shall not long be victorious, They shall not long possess the sky, they devour the stars only in apparition, Jupiter shall emerge, be patient, watch again another night, the Pleiades shall emerge, They are immortal, all those stars both silvery and golden shall shine out again, The great stars and the little ones shall shine out again, they endure, The vast immortal suns and the long-enduring pensive moons shall again shine. (Walt Whitman)

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11-10-2009 04:18 PM In reply to

RiverInTheSky Joined on 03-08-2009 Posts 5	Re: My visit to the McDonald Observatory I am sorry you and your wife had a bad experience at the McDonald Observatory. Perhaps they had some feed back on the program you are referring to, because there was none of that. Every staff member was very gracious and offered information freely.
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