--- In bccastronomers@yahoogroups.com, Timothy Hickman <hickman@...>
wrote:

> Welcome to the group Jim

Thanks Tim. I look forward to meeting members of the group. As I
mentioned in the Yahoo "application" I've been an amateur astronomer
for many years, with breaks in activity for college, family, career,
etc. But it seems inevitably that connection between the universe out
there and my spirit keeps tugging me back to the eyepiece.

I completed the Messier list back in the 90's and have been gradually
whittling away at the Herschel 400 - for those I pretty much need a
darker sky than what's available around here. Usually try to get to
Tuckahoe a couple times a year if possible. I've also decided to work
on the Urban list using a "yard sale" 60mm scope that I picked up a
few years ago - should be a challenging effort from the Towson night sky.

> We have not had an observing session at Dulaney Springs for some time.
> It is a nice close site where we have actually seen the Milky Way.
> We have a dusk to dawn permit for the park
> All it takes is several of us agreeing to have a session here on
this discussion group.
> So to all of you who have joined the group why don't we give it a try
> again.

Sounds good to me - especially with cooler nights coming on and with
the moon waning we might have an opportunity over the next weekend or
so. Not sure where "Dulaney Springs" is located, am pleasantly
surprised to hear you could see the Milky Way. Another possibility is
to do like the Delmarva Stargazers in defining the new moon weekend of
each month as tenative observing opportunity for all those interested.

Clear skies,

Jim