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  • Members: 215
  • Category: Amateur
  • Founded: May 31, 2000
  • Language: English
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#8454 From: shneor@...
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 2:13 pm
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
szsherm
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Dennis,
Juast a couple of things to look out for: Is Pedlar Hill free of snow? Also, be
very careful where you set up or car headlights will bother you all night.
Finally, there are sometimes folks who camp there and leave lights on all night.

But the skies are excellent except to the West.

Clears,
Shneor




-----Original Message-----
From:  Dennis Beckley
Date:  5/31/05 11:19 pm
To:  tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Subj:  Re: [tac-sac] Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3

At 10:01 PM 5/31/2005, Matt wrote:

>"I'm still hungry for photons, and now I have some new toys to try out as
>well.  Barring unforeseen developments, or bad weather, I'll be someplace
>dark Friday night.  IHOP, maybe, if someone else wants to go.  If I'll be
>alone I'll probably return to the more familiar Fiddletown.  Tuesday night
>next week is a backup date."

>Hi Matt,

     Enjoyed your report on the RTMC.   I can't get off from the hospital
early on Friday but I plan to head up to Pedlar Hill at 7000 feet early
next Saturday afternoon and spend the night. I've never been there before
but I've heard nothing but good things from folks that have.   If Saturday
night works for you we could meet at Plymouth and then head up Highway 88
to the site.

    Dennis Beckley

>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>







--
"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could feel
the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998

http://tac-sac.org/

Yahoo! Groups Links

#8455 From: "Michelle Stone" <litebkt@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 3:35 pm
Subject: RE: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
plettstone
Send Email Send Email
 
Dennis,

You might want to consider some 45 degree supports for your horizontal
beams.  Those things will droop after a couple of years without something to
support them.

You've done a beautiful job on your building.  You should be very proud of
your work!

Michelle

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:tac-sac@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dennis Beckley
> Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 11:19 PM
> To: tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [tac-sac] Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
>
> At 10:01 PM 5/31/2005, Matt wrote:
>
> >"I'm still hungry for photons, and now I have some new toys
> to try out
> >as well.  Barring unforeseen developments, or bad weather, I'll be
> >someplace dark Friday night.  IHOP, maybe, if someone else
> wants to go.
> >If I'll be alone I'll probably return to the more familiar
> Fiddletown.
> >Tuesday night next week is a backup date."
>
> >Hi Matt,
>
>     Enjoyed your report on the RTMC.   I can't get off from
> the hospital
> early on Friday but I plan to head up to Pedlar Hill at 7000
> feet early next Saturday afternoon and spend the night. I've
> never been there before
> but I've heard nothing but good things from folks that have.
>  If Saturday
> night works for you we could meet at Plymouth and then head
> up Highway 88 to the site.
>
>    Dennis Beckley
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I
> >could feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted
> body, I was saved!
> >HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
> >
> >http://tac-sac.org/
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected
> by illness or disease?
> Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts!
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/RzSHvD/UOnJAA/79vVAA/2.XolB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ------~->
>
> --
> "I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all
> directions, I could feel the strength returning to my poor
> photon depleted body, I was saved! HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad
> Al-Mansour, 1998
>
> http://tac-sac.org/
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

#8456 From: "Matt Tarlach" <mattindavis@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 3:38 pm
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
matttindavis
Send Email Send Email
 
Dennis-

I have been to Pedlar (Peddler's?) many times and hope to join you up there
later in the season, but I have to be at work in San Francisco Sunday
morning so I think Sat night is out for me.  Also, my friends from Orion
were up there last new Moon, less than 4 weeks ago, and reported as much as
6 feet of snow at the observing area.  It's been mild since, but I'm not
sure it'd be clear yet, if it is it might be muddy.  You could always try it
out, as Fiddletown Road joins 88 a few miles north of Pedlar making
Fiddletown a good backup site only ~30 min downhill.

Matt

#8457 From: Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 4:44 pm
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
dbeckley94510
Send Email Send Email
 
Thanks for the head's up Matt and Shneor.

I figure if I go up early enough in the day I can check the site out and if
there's problems with mud or snow  I can always turn around and head back
down to Fiddletown as a backup.

The picture that I saw of the site down at the Cupertino Orion shop looked
pretty nice.

As far as the headlights doubt that they could be anymore intrusive than
the ones that keep coming by at IHOP.

Dennis

At 08:38 AM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
>Dennis-
>
>I have been to Pedlar (Peddler's?) many times and hope to join you up there
>later in the season, but I have to be at work in San Francisco Sunday
>morning so I think Sat night is out for me.  Also, my friends from Orion
>were up there last new Moon, less than 4 weeks ago, and reported as much as
>6 feet of snow at the observing area.  It's been mild since, but I'm not
>sure it'd be clear yet, if it is it might be muddy.  You could always try it
>out, as Fiddletown Road joins 88 a few miles north of Pedlar making
>Fiddletown a good backup site only ~30 min downhill.
>
>Matt
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

#8458 From: tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 5:57 pm
Subject: File - faq.txt
tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Send Email Send Email
 
-------------------------------------------------
Purpose

The Astronomy Connection - Sacramento, TAC-SAC, is a group for active amateur
astronomers ranging from beginners to advanced observers who observe at dark-sky
sites in the Sacramento area.  We are an e-mail-based observing community
similar to TAC, but specific to the Sacramento region and associated observing
sites.

The purpose of this list is to discuss astronomical observing and related issues
with other active observers.  Observing reports are very welcome.  The list
archives are public, and you do not have to be a member to read them.

See:

The main website:          http://tac-sac.org/
The list site:             http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tac-sac
The site hunt list site:   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TAC-SAC-SITEHUNT/

The Astronomy Connection:  http://observers.org

-------------------------------------------------
Mailing list addresses

Post message: tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe:    tac-sac-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe:  tac-sac-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner:   tac-sac-owner@yahoogroups.com

-------------------------------------------------
Observing reports

Observing reports posted to this list are archived at:

http://observers.org/reports/reports.htm

This archive contains reports from all of TAC, including TAC-SAC.

-------------------------------------------------
Member photos

Photos of some of the members of TAC-SAC are located in
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tac-sac/files/MemberPhotos/

-------------------------------------------------
Posting guidelines

* Please post observing reports and discussions of observing, what to observe,
where to observe, etc.

We welcome discussions of our observing experiences, and everything related to
them.

* Please post observing plans.

For those of us who like to congregate together, we want to know where to
congregate! Some nights we will mostly gather in the same place, and other
nights we will be scattered to the four winds.

* Please post information about other observing sites in the area.

We are looking for new sites so that we have lots of options when we decide to
go observing.

See also:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TAC-SAC-SITEHUNT/

* Equipment discussions

Feel free to bring issues up and ask for help, but take discussions off the list
if and when they become technical or verbose. Having a problem and asking for
and finding some assistance is one of the best things about the group.

* Questions

If you have a question, feel free to post it, but you might search the archives
first to see if the answer is already there.

* Please don't cross-post between tac-sac and other lists.

It's OK to post the same thing to several lists, but cross posting often creates
havoc and confusion with novice and non-novice e-mail users and simple e-mail
software.

* Please don't bcc: tac-sac, for the same reason as above.

* Please don't post advertisements.

* Please be civil.

-------------------------------------------------
A word to lurkers

We would prefer to see everyone who is a member of this list out actively
observing with us on the hilltops, or at least participating in discussions.  We
do not want members whose purpose is to monitor our activity or collect e-mail
addresses or anything other than observing with us.  Learning about observing is
fine, but the goal of the learning should be actual observing, which is actually
learned best by doing.

Randy Muller, List Owner and Moderator
Gary Manning, List Moderator
Jane Smith, List Moderator
Jim Ster, List Moderator

#8459 From: Randy Muller <rmuller@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 6:49 pm
Subject: OR: Icy night at Ice House
randygmuller
Send Email Send Email
 
After 2 months of weather- and schedule-imposed _observus
interruptus,_ the weather and my schedule finally cleared enough to
permit observing on Saturday evening, May 28, 2005.  I was the last to
arrive at 8:15pm or so, and was greeted by Shneor Sherman, Gene Kahn,
Jake Burkhart and Michael Damer.  It felt great to be out once more
under the stars with astro-friends.

Fearing bad conditions, we were pleasantly surprised by the clarity of
the sky.  The seeing was soft, but the clarity was pretty good.  Later
in the evening, the Milky Way had a billowy, turbulent, but not-quite
sugary look.  The dark areas were fairly prominent.  The bluish area
east of the claws of Scorpius was prominent.

I can only presume that the no-shows (we have noted their files) are
quietly weeping and gnashing their teeth as they read this, which is
probably punishment enough, so I will spare them and not heap further
scorn or ridicule upon their shame-faced drooping heads.

The site is aptly named, as it was surprisingly and bitingly cold, so
I put on all my winter clothes, which serves as yet another reminder
that it is often colder than I expect and that it pays to be prepared.
  It was also a little dewey, but it never affected my optics.

Gene didn't even bother to bring a scope, but brought some eyepieces
and a binoviewer and he and Shneor played at Shneor's scope, and he
mooched views off of the other scopes.

The Twilight of the Planets

Venus - Naked eye low in the west, having wandered there from behind
the sun, as planets are wont to do.  Its brightness does not yet rival
the King of the Planets (Jupiter), but it was comparable.  It will
grow in brightness (and distance from the sun) in the coming months,
and should make a great apparition with Saturn in the neighborhood.
It was very pretty hanging low in the western orange and yellow
sunset.

Jupiter - A mediocre view at 266x, showing only 3 belts, with a small
amount of detail which was coming and going.  The belts were dark
brown.  The 4 bright Gallilean moons were all lined up, as usual, and
showed varying sizes and brightness.

Saturn - Looked OK at 266x, but was a bit blurry.  The Cassini
Division was not visible.  3 of the brighter moons were, in fact,
visible though:  Titan and Rhea were bright and steady, but poor Dione
shone only very intermittently.  The colors were flat and pale.
Usually Saturn shows a little bit of pale pink with a dark yellow
equatorial belt, but not tonight.

I was wondering if the Cassini satellite was somewhere in my field of
view as I watched Saturn, and found that it had been

http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=699&vbody=399&month=5&day=29&year\
=2005&hour=04&minute=45&fovmul=1&rfov=0.2&bfov=30&showsc=1

It was about twice as far from the planet as Titan, on a line with
Rhea, and I had it in the field of view with my longest eyepiece,
26mm.

Messier Survey Wrap

I also wrapped up my Messier Survey for this telescope with these beauties:

M104 - 226x. Very bright and big.  Oval halo with very prominent dust
lane cutting almost North-South.  Very bright, concentrated and nearly
stellar nucleus. Brighter on larger western side of dust lane than on
smaller eastern side.

M61 - 226x. Very big and bright.  Bright stellar nucleus or
superimposed star near the center.  Mottled circular halo.  Mottling
appears in large scale with only a few dark areas.

M68 - 133x. Big, bright, moderately rich globular cluster.  Moderately
concentrated.  Stars easily resolved.

M83 - 226x. Enormous; very bright central nucleus, non-stellar but
tiny.  Hints of spiral structure.  Oval shape overall.  This doesn't
get much attention from us northerners because it is so far south, but
this is one spectacular galaxy!

M22 - At 226x, this fabulously rich globular cluster nearly fills the
field of view. The number of stars must range in the millions.  Not
part of my survey.  I pointed here at the request of Jake.  From the
comments he was making during this viewing and ealier in the evening,
he is starting to sound like he has aperture fever.

During the evening, Jake shouted out happily that he was seeing Omega
Centauri in binos.  Shneor turned his 22" scope on it and we all took
a peek.  This was, by far, the best view I've ever had of it.  It was
very large, oval-shaped and stars were resolved in it.

Sometime after 1 am, lunar twilight began, and the eastern sky became
increasingly washed out, and visual limiting magnitude dropped, so I
began packing up.

When I began tearing down, I noticed a small amount of ice on my table.

Observer:     Randy Muller
Date:         May 28, 2005  8pm-1:30am (May 29, 03:00-08:30 UT)
Location:     Ice House Observation Plateau (IHOP)
Coordinates:  120°W 23.864' 38°N 47.548'
Elevation:    5024 ft
Instrument:   Starmaster 18" f/4.3 dob-newt
Eyepieces:    7.5, 10, 17, 26mm Sirius Plossls; 1.15x Tele Vue Paracorr
Seeing:       5/10; Fair;  Cassini Division not visible in Saturn's Rings
Transparency: 8/10; Pretty good

#8460 From: Jane Smith <jesmith@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 7:38 pm
Subject: Re: OR: Icy night at Ice House
jane95616
Send Email Send Email
 
Nice OR, Randy.   So what is your next project, now that you've finished
your Messier Survey?

I spent the entire holiday weekend in my wood shop.  The 10" is very near
completion.  I verithane the base tonight.  Hey, maybe we can have a
shoot-out when it's done.... your 18" against my 10", or does that put you
at too much of a disadvantage?   OK, I want to be fair about this.... how
about I spot you 100x of magnification?    Whadda ya say?  ;)

Jane



At 11:49 AM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
>After 2 months of weather- and schedule-imposed _observus
>interruptus,_ the weather and my schedule finally cleared enough to
>permit observing on Saturday evening, May 28, 2005.  I was the last to
>arrive at 8:15pm or so, and was greeted by Shneor Sherman, Gene Kahn,
>Jake Burkhart and Michael Damer.  It felt great to be out once more
>under the stars with astro-friends.
>
>Fearing bad conditions, we were pleasantly surprised by the clarity of
>the sky.  The seeing was soft, but the clarity was pretty good.  Later
>in the evening, the Milky Way had a billowy, turbulent, but not-quite
>sugary look.  The dark areas were fairly prominent.  The bluish area
>east of the claws of Scorpius was prominent.
>
>I can only presume that the no-shows (we have noted their files) are
>quietly weeping and gnashing their teeth as they read this, which is
>probably punishment enough, so I will spare them and not heap further
>scorn or ridicule upon their shame-faced drooping heads.
>
>The site is aptly named, as it was surprisingly and bitingly cold, so
>I put on all my winter clothes, which serves as yet another reminder
>that it is often colder than I expect and that it pays to be prepared.
>  It was also a little dewey, but it never affected my optics.
>
>Gene didn't even bother to bring a scope, but brought some eyepieces
>and a binoviewer and he and Shneor played at Shneor's scope, and he
>mooched views off of the other scopes.
>
>The Twilight of the Planets
>
>Venus - Naked eye low in the west, having wandered there from behind
>the sun, as planets are wont to do.  Its brightness does not yet rival
>the King of the Planets (Jupiter), but it was comparable.  It will
>grow in brightness (and distance from the sun) in the coming months,
>and should make a great apparition with Saturn in the neighborhood.
>It was very pretty hanging low in the western orange and yellow
>sunset.
>
>Jupiter - A mediocre view at 266x, showing only 3 belts, with a small
>amount of detail which was coming and going.  The belts were dark
>brown.  The 4 bright Gallilean moons were all lined up, as usual, and
>showed varying sizes and brightness.
>
>Saturn - Looked OK at 266x, but was a bit blurry.  The Cassini
>Division was not visible.  3 of the brighter moons were, in fact,
>visible though:  Titan and Rhea were bright and steady, but poor Dione
>shone only very intermittently.  The colors were flat and pale.
>Usually Saturn shows a little bit of pale pink with a dark yellow
>equatorial belt, but not tonight.
>
>I was wondering if the Cassini satellite was somewhere in my field of
>view as I watched Saturn, and found that it had been
>
>http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=699&vbody=399&month=5&day=29&yea\
r=2005&hour=04&minute=45&fovmul=1&rfov=0.2&bfov=30&showsc=1
>
>It was about twice as far from the planet as Titan, on a line with
>Rhea, and I had it in the field of view with my longest eyepiece,
>26mm.
>
>Messier Survey Wrap
>
>I also wrapped up my Messier Survey for this telescope with these beauties:
>
>M104 - 226x. Very bright and big.  Oval halo with very prominent dust
>lane cutting almost North-South.  Very bright, concentrated and nearly
>stellar nucleus. Brighter on larger western side of dust lane than on
>smaller eastern side.
>
>M61 - 226x. Very big and bright.  Bright stellar nucleus or
>superimposed star near the center.  Mottled circular halo.  Mottling
>appears in large scale with only a few dark areas.
>
>M68 - 133x. Big, bright, moderately rich globular cluster.  Moderately
>concentrated.  Stars easily resolved.
>
>M83 - 226x. Enormous; very bright central nucleus, non-stellar but
>tiny.  Hints of spiral structure.  Oval shape overall.  This doesn't
>get much attention from us northerners because it is so far south, but
>this is one spectacular galaxy!
>
>M22 - At 226x, this fabulously rich globular cluster nearly fills the
>field of view. The number of stars must range in the millions.  Not
>part of my survey.  I pointed here at the request of Jake.  From the
>comments he was making during this viewing and ealier in the evening,
>he is starting to sound like he has aperture fever.
>
>During the evening, Jake shouted out happily that he was seeing Omega
>Centauri in binos.  Shneor turned his 22" scope on it and we all took
>a peek.  This was, by far, the best view I've ever had of it.  It was
>very large, oval-shaped and stars were resolved in it.
>
>Sometime after 1 am, lunar twilight began, and the eastern sky became
>increasingly washed out, and visual limiting magnitude dropped, so I
>began packing up.
>
>When I began tearing down, I noticed a small amount of ice on my table.
>
>Observer:     Randy Muller
>Date:         May 28, 2005  8pm-1:30am (May 29, 03:00-08:30 UT)
>Location:     Ice House Observation Plateau (IHOP)
>Coordinates:  120°W 23.864' 38°N 47.548'
>Elevation:    5024 ft
>Instrument:   Starmaster 18" f/4.3 dob-newt
>Eyepieces:    7.5, 10, 17, 26mm Sirius Plossls; 1.15x Tele Vue Paracorr
>Seeing:       5/10; Fair;  Cassini Division not visible in Saturn's Rings
>Transparency: 8/10; Pretty good
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

#8461 From: "Randy Muller" <rmuller@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 8:05 pm
Subject: Re: OR: Icy night at Ice House
randygmuller
Send Email Send Email
 
Jane Smith wrote:
> So what is your next project, now that you've finished
> your Messier Survey?

I think I will have two:

BOP:  The Gottlieb 500
FOP:  Miles Paul Galaxy Triples

The galaxy triple list is a Hickson-like collection, limited to 3 and
only 3 members.

(BOP = Bright Object Program; FOP = Faint Object Program)

> Hey, maybe we can have a
> shoot-out when it's done.... your 18" against my 10", or
> does that put you at too much of a disadvantage?

Your 10" is still vaporware, like your 16".

The Laws of Physics put you at a serious disadvantage.  Now, if I used
my own 10" sonotube dob, it might be a contest.  But my 10" mirror is
known to have a poor figure.  Hey, that might make things even!

> OK, I want to be fair about this.... how
> about I spot you 100x of magnification?    Whadda ya say?  ;)

You're the one who's going to need the magnification -- after your
mirror cools down.

#8462 From: Jane Smith <jesmith@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 8:47 pm
Subject: Re: Re: OR: Icy night at Ice House
jane95616
Send Email Send Email
 
At 01:05 PM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
>BOP:  The Gottlieb 500
>FOP:  Miles Paul Galaxy Triples
>(BOP = Bright Object Program; FOP = Faint Object Program)

Excellent plan.  I ordered Paul's "Atlas of Galaxy Trios" last year.  It
now comes with an insert of the southern hemisphere trios too, just in case
you ever make it further south than CalStar.


>Your 10" is still vaporware, like your 16".

Are you still beating that dead horse?  OK, ask Marsha.  She saw my 10" on
Sunday!


>The Laws of Physics put you at a serious disadvantage.  Now, if I used
>my own 10" sonotube dob, it might be a contest.  But my 10" mirror is
>known to have a poor figure.  Hey, that might make things even!

Such bravado!    Well, I don't really blame you.  I'd be worried too if I
were faced with an instrument like my 10".


> > OK, I want to be fair about this.... how
> > about I spot you 100x of magnification?    Whadda ya say?  ;)
>
>You're the one who's going to need the magnification -- after your
>mirror cools down.

I expect my mirror will be cooled down long before your 18".   You're not
trying to stall, are you?

Jane

#8463 From: "Jake Burkart" <jake@...>
Date: Wed Jun 1, 2005 8:59 pm
Subject: RE: OR: Icy night at Ice House
jake_burkart
Send Email Send Email
 
>I pointed here at the request of Jake.  From the comments he was making
during this viewing and ealier in the evening, he is starting to sound like
he has aperture fever.



Well who doesn’t have aperture fever?  I’m just grateful to have such good
astro-buddies that let me mooch views on their 18’s and 22’s.

I setup my scope last night in the front yard to try to photograph an
iridium flare at 9:43p.m.  My scope took a total dump on me.  The hand
controller wouldn’t work, and alignment of my Nexstar 11 wasn’t even
possible.  I got the photo anyway, with star trails.  It was mag -8 and
flared in Hercules.  Here’s the photo:
http://skylovers.org/images/05_31_05_Iridium10_2143.jpg



I fixed my hand controller by disassembling and discovering the cable was
coming detached from the circuit board.  I plugged it in nice and firm, and
put it all back together.  Everything works just fine now.



Jake



   _____

From: tac-sac@yahoogroups.com [mailto:tac-sac@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Randy Muller
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 11:50 AM
To: TAC-SAC
Subject: [tac-sac] OR: Icy night at Ice House



After 2 months of weather- and schedule-imposed _observus
interruptus,_ the weather and my schedule finally cleared enough to
permit observing on Saturday evening, May 28, 2005.  I was the last to
arrive at 8:15pm or so, and was greeted by Shneor Sherman, Gene Kahn,
Jake Burkhart and Michael Damer.  It felt great to be out once more
under the stars with astro-friends.

Fearing bad conditions, we were pleasantly surprised by the clarity of
the sky.  The seeing was soft, but the clarity was pretty good.  Later
in the evening, the Milky Way had a billowy, turbulent, but not-quite
sugary look.  The dark areas were fairly prominent.  The bluish area
east of the claws of Scorpius was prominent.

I can only presume that the no-shows (we have noted their files) are
quietly weeping and gnashing their teeth as they read this, which is
probably punishment enough, so I will spare them and not heap further
scorn or ridicule upon their shame-faced drooping heads.

The site is aptly named, as it was surprisingly and bitingly cold, so
I put on all my winter clothes, which serves as yet another reminder
that it is often colder than I expect and that it pays to be prepared.
It was also a little dewey, but it never affected my optics.

Gene didn't even bother to bring a scope, but brought some eyepieces
and a binoviewer and he and Shneor played at Shneor's scope, and he
mooched views off of the other scopes.

The Twilight of the Planets

Venus - Naked eye low in the west, having wandered there from behind
the sun, as planets are wont to do.  Its brightness does not yet rival
the King of the Planets (Jupiter), but it was comparable.  It will
grow in brightness (and distance from the sun) in the coming months,
and should make a great apparition with Saturn in the neighborhood.
It was very pretty hanging low in the western orange and yellow
sunset.

Jupiter - A mediocre view at 266x, showing only 3 belts, with a small
amount of detail which was coming and going.  The belts were dark
brown.  The 4 bright Gallilean moons were all lined up, as usual, and
showed varying sizes and brightness.

Saturn - Looked OK at 266x, but was a bit blurry.  The Cassini
Division was not visible.  3 of the brighter moons were, in fact,
visible though:  Titan and Rhea were bright and steady, but poor Dione
shone only very intermittently.  The colors were flat and pale.
Usually Saturn shows a little bit of pale pink with a dark yellow
equatorial belt, but not tonight.

I was wondering if the Cassini satellite was somewhere in my field of
view as I watched Saturn, and found that it had been

http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=699
<http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=699&vbody=399&month=5&day=29
&year=2005&hour=04&minute=45&fovmul=1&rfov=0.2&bfov=30&showsc=1>
&vbody=399&month=5&day=29&year=2005&hour=04&minute=45&fovmul=1&rfov=0.2&bfov
=30&showsc=1

It was about twice as far from the planet as Titan, on a line with
Rhea, and I had it in the field of view with my longest eyepiece,
26mm.

Messier Survey Wrap

I also wrapped up my Messier Survey for this telescope with these beauties:

M104 - 226x. Very bright and big.  Oval halo with very prominent dust
lane cutting almost North-South.  Very bright, concentrated and nearly
stellar nucleus. Brighter on larger western side of dust lane than on
smaller eastern side.

M61 - 226x. Very big and bright.  Bright stellar nucleus or
superimposed star near the center.  Mottled circular halo.  Mottling
appears in large scale with only a few dark areas.

M68 - 133x. Big, bright, moderately rich globular cluster.  Moderately
concentrated.  Stars easily resolved.

M83 - 226x. Enormous; very bright central nucleus, non-stellar but
tiny.  Hints of spiral structure.  Oval shape overall.  This doesn't
get much attention from us northerners because it is so far south, but
this is one spectacular galaxy!

M22 - At 226x, this fabulously rich globular cluster nearly fills the
field of view. The number of stars must range in the millions.  Not
part of my survey.  I pointed here at the request of Jake.  From the
comments he was making during this viewing and ealier in the evening,
he is starting to sound like he has aperture fever.

During the evening, Jake shouted out happily that he was seeing Omega
Centauri in binos.  Shneor turned his 22" scope on it and we all took
a peek.  This was, by far, the best view I've ever had of it.  It was
very large, oval-shaped and stars were resolved in it.

Sometime after 1 am, lunar twilight began, and the eastern sky became
increasingly washed out, and visual limiting magnitude dropped, so I
began packing up.

When I began tearing down, I noticed a small amount of ice on my table.

Observer:     Randy Muller
Date:         May 28, 2005  8pm-1:30am (May 29, 03:00-08:30 UT)
Location:     Ice House Observation Plateau (IHOP)
Coordinates:  120°W 23.864' 38°N 47.548'
Elevation:    5024 ft
Instrument:   Starmaster 18" f/4.3 dob-newt
Eyepieces:    7.5, 10, 17, 26mm Sirius Plossls; 1.15x Tele Vue Paracorr
Seeing:       5/10; Fair;  Cassini Division not visible in Saturn's Rings
Transparency: 8/10; Pretty good


--
"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998

http://tac-sac.org/





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#8464 From: Shneor Sherman <shneor@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 12:05 am
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
szsherm
Send Email Send Email
 
Dennis, the headlights will be aimed in your direction, and there can be a
pretty steady flow of traffic all night long. Headlights come at you from
two directions if you are in the half of the apparent observing area that
gets illuminated. Get up on your ladder - look around 360 - if you can see
the road or cars on the road, back off.

Good luck!

Shneor
  On Wed, 1 Jun 2005, Dennis Beckley
wrote:

> Thanks for the head's up Matt and Shneor.
>
> I figure if I go up early enough in the day I can check the site out and if
> there's problems with mud or snow  I can always turn around and head back
> down to Fiddletown as a backup.
>
> The picture that I saw of the site down at the Cupertino Orion shop looked
> pretty nice.
>
> As far as the headlights doubt that they could be anymore intrusive than
> the ones that keep coming by at IHOP.
>
> Dennis
>
> At 08:38 AM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
> >Dennis-
> >
> >I have been to Pedlar (Peddler's?) many times and hope to join you up there
> >later in the season, but I have to be at work in San Francisco Sunday
> >morning so I think Sat night is out for me.  Also, my friends from Orion
> >were up there last new Moon, less than 4 weeks ago, and reported as much as
> >6 feet of snow at the observing area.  It's been mild since, but I'm not
> >sure it'd be clear yet, if it is it might be muddy.  You could always try it
> >out, as Fiddletown Road joins 88 a few miles north of Pedlar making
> >Fiddletown a good backup site only ~30 min downhill.
> >
> >Matt
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
> >feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
> >HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
> >
> >http://tac-sac.org/
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> "I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could feel
the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
> http://tac-sac.org/
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Shneor Sherman ******** Davis Community Network ********* Davis, CA US*
#############################################################################

#8465 From: Randy Muller <rmuller@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 12:39 am
Subject: Re: Re: OR: Icy night at Ice House
randygmuller
Send Email Send Email
 
Jane Smith wrote:
>> Your 10" is still vaporware, like your 16".
>
> Are you still beating that dead horse?  OK, ask Marsha.  She saw my
> 10" on Sunday!

Marsha's vaporware, too!  She stood us up on Saturday night, of all nights!

I expected this from you, but from Marsha?  I cried myself to sleep on
Sunday morning.

#8466 From: Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 3:00 am
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
dbeckley94510
Send Email Send Email
 
Thanks Shneor for the good advice.

I talked to Ken down at Orion's a few weeks ago and I mentioned the
headlights but he said it was not a problem.  Sounds like he hit the right
spot.

How about it Matt?  Any advice avoiding headlights from your previous
experience there.

Dennis


At 05:05 PM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
>Dennis, the headlights will be aimed in your direction, and there can be a
>pretty steady flow of traffic all night long. Headlights come at you from
>two directions if you are in the half of the apparent observing area that
>gets illuminated. Get up on your ladder - look around 360 - if you can see
>the road or cars on the road, back off.
>
>Good luck!
>
>Shneor
>  On Wed, 1 Jun 2005, Dennis Beckley
>wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the head's up Matt and Shneor.
> >
> > I figure if I go up early enough in the day I can check the site out and if
> > there's problems with mud or snow  I can always turn around and head back
> > down to Fiddletown as a backup.
> >
> > The picture that I saw of the site down at the Cupertino Orion shop looked
> > pretty nice.
> >
> > As far as the headlights doubt that they could be anymore intrusive than
> > the ones that keep coming by at IHOP.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > At 08:38 AM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
> > >Dennis-
> > >
> > >I have been to Pedlar (Peddler's?) many times and hope to join you up
> there
> > >later in the season, but I have to be at work in San Francisco Sunday
> > >morning so I think Sat night is out for me.  Also, my friends from Orion
> > >were up there last new Moon, less than 4 weeks ago, and reported as
> much as
> > >6 feet of snow at the observing area.  It's been mild since, but I'm not
> > >sure it'd be clear yet, if it is it might be muddy.  You could always
> try it
> > >out, as Fiddletown Road joins 88 a few miles north of Pedlar making
> > >Fiddletown a good backup site only ~30 min downhill.
> > >
> > >Matt
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
> > >feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
> > >HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
> > >
> > >http://tac-sac.org/
> > >
> > >Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I
> could feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was
> saved! HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
> >
> > http://tac-sac.org/
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>** Shneor Sherman ******** Davis Community Network ********* Davis, CA US*
>#############################################################################
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

#8467 From: "Matt Tarlach" <mattindavis@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 3:16 am
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
matttindavis
Send Email Send Email
 
>
> How about it Matt?  Any advice avoiding headlights from your previous
> experience there.
>
>

If Shneor is talking about headlights on 88, those are easy to avoid.  The
site is elevated above the hwy, and I think you need to be near the top of
the embankment overlooking the hwy, for them to be a problem.  I have heard
cars go by from where I usually set up and never seen their lights, just a
very faint glow in the trees.  No problem at all.  When you get there walk
around a bit and find 88, and I'm sure you'll locate a good sheltered spot
to set up.

The rough gravel forest service road that leads to the observing site
continues on up the hill, and I have seen a few vehicles pass by at twilight
or shortly after as people return to their campsites.  The road passes right
by the observing area and I don't think these lights can be avoided at all.
But, I have never seen more than 1 or 2 vehicles on this road after sunset,
most often none at all.

Matt

#8468 From: Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 4:45 am
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
dbeckley94510
Send Email Send Email
 
Thanks Matt.  It sounds like the snowfall might be a more potential problem
than the lights.

I wonder if the Stockton club post any current information regarding their
dark site on their web page or if a call to the Forest Service in that area
might be able to provide snow pack / ground condition information without
actually having to drive up there?  On the other hand it is a nice
relatively short drive from Fiddletown.

Also wonder if the extra 2000 feet as compared to IHOP at 5000 feet makes
that much difference in picking out fainter deep sky objects.  Would there
be less wind problems at Pedlar Hill since it appears from the photographs
I've seen to be more protected?

Dennis

At 08:16 PM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
> >
> > How about it Matt?  Any advice avoiding headlights from your previous
> > experience there.
> >
> >
>
>If Shneor is talking about headlights on 88, those are easy to avoid.  The
>site is elevated above the hwy, and I think you need to be near the top of
>the embankment overlooking the hwy, for them to be a problem.  I have heard
>cars go by from where I usually set up and never seen their lights, just a
>very faint glow in the trees.  No problem at all.  When you get there walk
>around a bit and find 88, and I'm sure you'll locate a good sheltered spot
>to set up.
>
>The rough gravel forest service road that leads to the observing site
>continues on up the hill, and I have seen a few vehicles pass by at twilight
>or shortly after as people return to their campsites.  The road passes right
>by the observing area and I don't think these lights can be avoided at all.
>But, I have never seen more than 1 or 2 vehicles on this road after sunset,
>most often none at all.
>
>Matt
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

#8469 From: "Matt Tarlach" <mattindavis@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 5:43 am
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
matttindavis
Send Email Send Email
 
There is a big Caltrans garage about a mile east of the observing site,
called the Pedlar Hill Maintenance Station IIRC.  If you can find a number
to call there they might be able to help with current conditions.

I have never observed from IHOP but Pedlar is definitely darker than
Fiddletown.  Wind can be a problem, you are right on a ridgeline.  I
observed there once when the forecast called for "Breezy," and it was just
tolerable for visual work.  We usually set up well off the road at the far
northern end of the open area, in a bay of tall trees that provide some
shelter.  Downside is that the ground is uneven there, with some large rocks
and many shrubs.  You need to find an open patch to setup and be careful
when walking outside your little zone.

Good luck and please post your results!

Matt

#8470 From: Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 6:11 am
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
dbeckley94510
Send Email Send Email
 
Thanks again Matt.

I'll try to give them a call tomorrow.  Seems to me there is a small town
just south down the road from the Shaker Ridge road - I 88
junction  towards the golf course that might have the telephone operator
information for the  Pedlar Hill Maintenance Station.  The Stockton club
site is fairly unhelpful for Pedlar Hill information but they do mention
that there their dark site star party is scheduled for Pedlar Hill this
Saturday so there will probably be some of their members up there if the
site is snow-free.  I'm determined to give it a go this weekend and if it
works out will definitely post a report.

Shneor,  if it looks like the site is snowfree on Saturday would you be
interested in possibly joining me since you know the area?  We could set up
and compare Binoviewers!

BTW  Matt, is the turn off road from 88 to Pedlar hill marked with a sign
(? Bear River Rd)?

Dennis

    At 10:43 PM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
>There is a big Caltrans garage about a mile east of the observing site,
>called the Pedlar Hill Maintenance Station IIRC.  If you can find a number
>to call there they might be able to help with current conditions.
>
>I have never observed from IHOP but Pedlar is definitely darker than
>Fiddletown.  Wind can be a problem, you are right on a ridgeline.  I
>observed there once when the forecast called for "Breezy," and it was just
>tolerable for visual work.  We usually set up well off the road at the far
>northern end of the open area, in a bay of tall trees that provide some
>shelter.  Downside is that the ground is uneven there, with some large rocks
>and many shrubs.  You need to find an open patch to setup and be careful
>when walking outside your little zone.
>
>Good luck and please post your results!
>
>Matt
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

#8471 From: "Matt Tarlach" <mattindavis@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 6:54 am
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
matttindavis
Send Email Send Email
 
> BTW  Matt, is the turn off road from 88 to Pedlar hill marked with a sign
> (? Bear River Rd)?

There is a big sign for "Bear Lake Resort" or something like that.  But,
while the sign serves as a landmark, the observing site is in the opposite
the direction of the resort: west of 88, about a mile up a decent forest
service road.  Once you turn off 88 I don't think there are any more turns,
just follow the road up to where it opens into a mostly open area.

Matt

#8472 From: Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 7:31 am
Subject: Re: was Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3, now Peddler Hill
dbeckley94510
Send Email Send Email
 
Thanks again for all your help Matt.

    BTW, I noticed that even though the Clear Sky Clock is labeled as
"Pedlar Hill" the TOPO map labeled it as "Peddler Hill".

    The close-by town I was thinking of was Pioneer  - just up 88 from Pine
Grove.

     Also, while browsing through the Clear Sky Clocks for California I came
across one labeled as "Mt Shasta Observatory" - a private observing site
open to amateur astronomers!

     Check it out.  It sounds like an amateur astronomer's dream!

      Dennis


At 11:54 PM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
> > BTW  Matt, is the turn off road from 88 to Pedlar hill marked with a sign
> > (? Bear River Rd)?
>
>There is a big sign for "Bear Lake Resort" or something like that.  But,
>while the sign serves as a landmark, the observing site is in the opposite
>the direction of the resort: west of 88, about a mile up a decent forest
>service road.  Once you turn off 88 I don't think there are any more turns,
>just follow the road up to where it opens into a mostly open area.
>
>Matt
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

#8473 From: shneor@...
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 3:05 pm
Subject: Re: Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3
szsherm
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Dennis,
I would not go to Pedlar Hill this weekend, because the southern horizon is
obstructed by a ridge and I plan to look for several objects close to the
southern horizon. The obstruction is at least 10 degrees, maybe more. It the
weather is OK, I'm sure you'll have good viewing.

Clear skies,
Shneor

-----Original Message-----
From:  Dennis Beckley
Date:  6/1/05 11:11 pm
To:  tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Subj:  Re: [tac-sac] Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3

Thanks again Matt.

I'll try to give them a call tomorrow.  Seems to me there is a small town
just south down the road from the Shaker Ridge road - I 88
junction  towards the golf course that might have the telephone operator
information for the  Pedlar Hill Maintenance Station.  The Stockton club
site is fairly unhelpful for Pedlar Hill information but they do mention
that there their dark site star party is scheduled for Pedlar Hill this
Saturday so there will probably be some of their members up there if the
site is snow-free.  I'm determined to give it a go this weekend and if it
works out will definitely post a report.

Shneor,  if it looks like the site is snowfree on Saturday would you be
interested in possibly joining me since you know the area?  We could set up
and compare Binoviewers!

BTW  Matt, is the turn off road from 88 to Pedlar hill marked with a sign
(? Bear River Rd)?

Dennis

    At 10:43 PM 6/1/2005, you wrote:
>There is a big Caltrans garage about a mile east of the observing site,
>called the Pedlar Hill Maintenance Station IIRC.  If you can find a number
>to call there they might be able to help with current conditions.
>
>I have never observed from IHOP but Pedlar is definitely darker than
>Fiddletown.  Wind can be a problem, you are right on a ridgeline.  I
>observed there once when the forecast called for "Breezy," and it was just
>tolerable for visual work.  We usually set up well off the road at the far
>northern end of the open area, in a bay of tall trees that provide some
>shelter.  Downside is that the ground is uneven there, with some large rocks
>and many shrubs.  You need to find an open patch to setup and be careful
>when walking outside your little zone.
>
>Good luck and please post your results!
>
>Matt
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>







--
"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could feel
the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998

http://tac-sac.org/

Yahoo! Groups Links

#8474 From: Mark Wagner <mark.wagner@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 5:11 pm
Subject: Shingletown Star Party T-Shirt Winner....
lumpydarkness
Send Email Send Email
 
Thanks to everyone that participated in the T-Shirt Design Contest.  All
were creative and interesting.

There are over 100 t-shirts reserved so far for attendees.  Those attendees
who reserved the shirts are the ones who voted on the design.

One design was a runaway winner...

Congratulations to Peter Natscher!

Here is his design  http://www.shingletownstarparty.org/tshirt13.jpg

This will be on a grey t-shirt.

You can see all the designs
at:  http://www.shingletownstarparty.org/t-shirt.contest.html

Mark Wagner

#8475 From: Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@...>
Date: Thu Jun 2, 2005 9:22 pm
Subject: Re: was Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3, Now Peddler Hill
dbeckley94510
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Matt and Shneor,

Was able to reach Mr. Don Jardine at the CalTrans
Peddler Hill maintanence station (209-295-7700) and he
says there is patchy snow on the ground in places not
open to the sun. He will drive up road 8N31 later this
afternoon to check out the observing area. I will call
him early tomorrow morning to get his report.

If there are bare spots (not too muddy) around the
observing area I still plan to give it a go. Having an
obstructed horizen up to 10 degrees to the south is
not a problem for me because I'll be working on my AL
Arp list that I started at TSP looking for faint
interacting galaxies higher than 30 degrees above the
horizon rather than down in the soup - as Bill Kaufman
used to call it.

Dennis

__________________________________________________
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#8476 From: "szsherm" <shneor@...>
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 4:48 am
Subject: Re: was Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3, Now Peddler Hill
szsherm
Send Email Send Email
 
--- In tac-sac@yahoogroups.com, Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@e...> wrote:
> Hi Matt and Shneor,
>
Dennis - just for the record, do you remember that magnificent view of
M42 less than 5 degrees above the horizon with my binoviewer at IHOP
last...October? "in the soup" depends on where you are and on
conditions...again,we had a fantastic view of Omega Centauri last
Saturday night at IHOP also...3 degrees apparent above the horizon.

Clear skies,
Shneor

> Having an
> obstructed horizen up to 10 degrees to the south is
> not a problem for me because I'll be working on my AL
> Arp list that I started at TSP looking for faint
> interacting galaxies higher than 30 degrees above the
> horizon rather than down in the soup - as Bill Kaufman
> used to call it.
>
> Dennis
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com

#8477 From: Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@...>
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 5:16 am
Subject: Re: was Quickie RTMC report, and OI: Friday 6/3, Now Peddler Hill
dbeckley94510
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Shneor,

I do indeed remember the magnificent view of M42 through your binoviewer
although I most confess I don't recall that it was a mere 5 degrees above
the horizon (which allowing for refraction means that it had already
set!!).  I saw Omega Centauri from Fiddletown but it was nothing like the
blazing mass of stars down to the core that I saw last month at the Texas
Star Party where it was well above the horizon.  I've spent some time
looking at far southern objects for example in Grus (the Grus Quartet comes
to mind) but I'm constantly nervous about the balance and stability of my
scope and mirror and wishing that I was way further south so I could see
more detail instead of looking through all that particle-filled
atmosphere.  I guess that's one of the reasons people travel to Chile or
the Land Down Under!

For the Arp's one of the challenges is to try and see detail in the
interacting spiral arms and this requires optimal conditions - not likely
to be found when looking 10 degrees or less on the horizon.

Clear skies and low horizons!

Dennis

At 09:48 PM 6/2/2005, you wrote:
>--- In tac-sac@yahoogroups.com, Dennis Beckley <dbeckley@e...> wrote:
> > Hi Matt and Shneor,
> >
>Dennis - just for the record, do you remember that magnificent view of
>M42 less than 5 degrees above the horizon with my binoviewer at IHOP
>last...October? "in the soup" depends on where you are and on
>conditions...again,we had a fantastic view of Omega Centauri last
>Saturday night at IHOP also...3 degrees apparent above the horizon.
>
>Clear skies,
>Shneor
>
> > Having an
> > obstructed horizen up to 10 degrees to the south is
> > not a problem for me because I'll be working on my AL
> > Arp list that I started at TSP looking for faint
> > interacting galaxies higher than 30 degrees above the
> > horizon rather than down in the soup - as Bill Kaufman
> > used to call it.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> > http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
>feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
>HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998
>
>http://tac-sac.org/
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

#8478 From: "Alvin Huey" <generalragesc@...>
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 5:49 am
Subject: OI: IHOP Saturday
generalragesc
Send Email Send Email
 
I hope the weather holds for this Saturday.

Alvin



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#8479 From: "Randy Muller" <rmuller@...>
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 2:55 pm
Subject: Re: OI: IHOP Saturday
randygmuller
Send Email Send Email
 
Alvin Huey wrote:
> I hope the weather holds for this Saturday.

Me too.  I'm planning to be there as well.

#8480 From: Mark Wagner <mark.wagner@...>
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 4:56 pm
Subject: Shingletown Star Party T-Shirt Winner....
lumpydarkness
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Anyone wanting a t-shirt should reserve it to be sure to get the sizes you
want.  If you are not attending, you should arrange to have friend who is
attending pick it up.  Reserve at:

http://www.shingletownstarparty.org/registration.html

Make sure to include your name, number and sizes of t-shirts.

Mark

#8481 From: shneor@...
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 6:37 pm
Subject: RE: Re: OI: IHOP Saturday
szsherm
Send Email Send Email
 
Me 3.
Shneor

-----Original Message-----
From:  Randy Muller
Date:  6/3/05 7:56 am
To:  tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Subj:  [tac-sac] Re: OI: IHOP Saturday

Alvin Huey wrote:
> I hope the weather holds for this Saturday.

Me too.  I'm planning to be there as well.





--
"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could feel
the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998

http://tac-sac.org/

Yahoo! Groups Links

#8482 From: Jamie Dillon <mavericks@...>
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 6:59 pm
Subject: BOP for ZZ
ngc1023jd
Send Email Send Email
 
ZZ, stop me if we've had this discussion, but I don't
think we have.
If you haven't, you owe it to yourself to check out
the Eye Candy List. So do we all.
http://observers.org/observing/eyecandy/index.html
A compilation of the RASC list, the Saguaro, and the
cool list made up by Steve Caron of the best 100
post-Messiers.
I went thru the ones I hadn't seen this last year, and
every object was an "oh wow where have you been all my
life."
Compiled by our very own Astrogoddess and Joe Bob
Jardine.

FJ sez check it out.
Good weekend and clear skies and no ice on the charts
to all,
FJ

TAC - anarchy at work



__________________________________
Discover Yahoo!
Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it out!
http://discover.yahoo.com/weekend.html

#8483 From: "Jake Burkart" <jake@...>
Date: Fri Jun 3, 2005 7:55 pm
Subject: RE: Re: OI: IHOP Saturday
jake_burkart
Send Email Send Email
 
You guys should check out the Clear Sky Clock for Fiddletown tonight,
woweee!  http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/FiddletownCAkey.html?1

Jake



   _____

From: tac-sac@yahoogroups.com [mailto:tac-sac@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
shneor@...
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 11:37 AM
To: tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [tac-sac] Re: OI: IHOP Saturday



Me 3.
Shneor

-----Original Message-----
From:  Randy Muller
Date:  6/3/05 7:56 am
To:  tac-sac@yahoogroups.com
Subj:  [tac-sac] Re: OI: IHOP Saturday

Alvin Huey wrote:
> I hope the weather holds for this Saturday.

Me too.  I'm planning to be there as well.





--
"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998

http://tac-sac.org/

Yahoo! Groups Links








--
"I was in heaven, bathed in ancient Photons from all directions, I could
feel the strength returning to my poor photon depleted body, I was saved!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!" -- Rashad Al-Mansour, 1998

http://tac-sac.org/





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