From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 2:57 PM
Subject: Observation Report for Saturday, April 8th

My girlfriend, Neetu, had a baby shower to attend. I didn't know the prospective parents, but it was a nice event. However, with my usual sense of time, I arrived late (around 9:40) for the Star Party at Tech Terrace Park. But when I did arrive, I was greeted by Don Fritz (with his 12.5" dob), Curt Pfarr (with his 5" Meade achromat), Curt's son Pierre, Tom English, Gary Leiker and Scott Harris. It was good to see the guys out and the night couldn't have been better. After the Messier misery in O'Donnell last month, Saturday night, April the 8th was a model of perfection. There was NO WIND. Literally, until about midnight when Curt tore his scope set down at the behest of a tired 10 year old (followed in short order by Don and me), the wind stayed away save the last 30 minutes. Even then, it wasn't bad. Although the gibbous moon and suburban setting afforded little in the way a deep dark skies, the environment was fundamentally more hospitable to astronomers.

Don and Curt had already wooed the crowd with Luna, so when Neetu dropped me off and I set up, everyone was ready for something different, and the great Orion Nebula, M42, ALWAYS provides nice views. Curt was on it first, so I walked over and looked. Sure enough, the trapezium was easily viewed, and I just caught the E star with some averted vision. The prize goes to Gary, though. Through Don's big dob, the E star was readily visible, no averted vision required, but Gary noticed the F star. Upon a more meditative gaze, I also uncovered that difficult 6th star. My own 6" performed pretty much like Curt's achromat, picking up the 5th star with some effort, but unable to reveal the elusive 6th star this night (it's done it before, but from darker, steadier skies to be sure!) I began the session with my scope at lower powers for a contrasting effect, while Curt's auto-driven achromat and Don's 12.5" beast assailed the Trapezium at high power. I later revved up the power to get the E star, but we had a good time just gazing at M42 and enjoying the variety of magnifications and different beautiful perspectives.

We took a shot at Mars, my mirror having cooled off, but since it wasn't all that great in the 12.5" I wasn't too disappointed to see the slightly gibbous dusty orange essentially featureless globe reservedly shining in my eyepiece. Ho hum. Mars. The rovers are getting much better views!

In the neighborhood, I tried, in vain, to locate M1. Vanished into the gray sky moon glow background.

I found M35, M37, M36 & M38, the great Mid-30’s foursome, Gemini to Auriga. But with the moon’s glare, we gained no hint of the faint attendant NGC 2158 & 1907 nearby clusters. C’est la vie.

Our attention turned to Saturn. Wow! Saturn was amazing! First, I again put Saturn at low power to frame the planet in the sky while Curt and Don zoomed up the power. From Don and Curt's higher powers, the Cassini division, equatorial bands, the Crepe Ring, and a variety of moons were readily available. Again, it was nice to see the far-flung moons in my contrasting low power view. We had a good time framing, but I had to see how my scope performed on Saturn, especially compared to the achromat. I first zoomed up with my 11mm TV Plossl, but Don let me borrow his 9mm Burgess/TMB and -- at 101 power -- things got good indeed! Although the FOV required a lot of manual tracking in my dob, the UO 7mm, at 130X, really performed, delivering a stark shadow of the planet against the back side of the rings, banding on the globe, and an overall detailed, striking 3-D appearance. I have to say that my 6" F/6 Russian mirrored Starmaster clone reaped a good bounty on the Ringed God of the Harvest. Yes, Saturn made me proud alright.

For whatever reason, we decided to go after M81/82. Don't really know why, since the moon, two days past First Quarter, was giving us very little dark sky quarter, but whatcha gonna do? I found it in my dob-with-26mm Meade 5000 Plossl tout suite. So Don let me put the big gun on M81/82. He had a high power eyepiece in the focuser at first from looking at Saturn that proved to be more than I bargained for. I asked for lower power, which Don obliged. Within a few moments, M81/82 were on display. They were HUGE in the scope, though, and hard to see both in the same FOV. A 12.5 inch scope is a BIG gun, alright.

Tom, Gary and Scott had had enough and said goodnight. Even though the wind wasn’t blowing, it had gotten colder and they are, after all, native Texans. Pierre fell asleep in the chair. I figured I’d bag the big game globular M3 in Canes Venatici (though I always think of it in regards to Boötes’ Arcturus). It was bright and nice, even with some softening from Luna’s brilliance.

By now, however, the late night treat was up, Jupiter. And boy, if Saturn made me proud of my scope, Jupiter did only more so. I told Don it was going to be a very nice Summer indeed! We saw all kinds of festoons in the cloud belt just above the equatorial bands, the detail and interaction between the cloud bands quite impressive. We saw something that we couldn’t quite identify. It looked Red Spot-ish, but clearly wasn’t. Perhaps that new Red Spot that’s been written about lately? Jupiter was a sight to behold. Truly the King of the Planets. Goes into Opposition May 3rd so it will only become more convenient to observe as the nights get warmer.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate the next few weekends and we’ll get more nights like last Saturday’s - only darker sans Luna. Get ready for a road trip to Emma or the Gott, people. Special wishes for a fun and safe trip go to Curt Pfarr, who’s heading down to Fort Davis for the Texas Star Party at the month’s end.

My band, the Sweetwater Medicine Wagon, performs next Sunday, April 23rd, from 3-5 on one of the Outdoor Stages at the Lubbock Arts Festival. Please mosey on by if you get a chance. Also, if you’re not off to the TSP, at 8 PM on Friday and Saturday nights April 28th & 29th, we of the Lubbock Chorale will be performing, along with the TTU Orchestra, the Mozart Requiem. This is the Scholarship Concert and the proceeds go to fund scholarships for the School of Music. Please come if your schedule permits; it’s a worthy cause. Rent & watch the 1984 movie Amadeus if you need something to get you in the mood.

Coelum Serendum,
CDS

From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 12:57 PM
Subject: Astronomy tonight!

Folks,

I realize this is late notification, but some members of the SPAC are planning to meet at Tech Terrace Park tonight for an urban star party. Things will begin around 9 PM, once it's finally dark (or as dark as it will be on this gibbous moon drenched night). Still, we should get excellent views of Saturn, some ho-hum views of Mars, and always good views of the show piece Orion Nebula. The Clown Face Nebula shouldn't be too bothered by the moon. And of course, Luna's always showing off her trim line, the terminator. I'll be back. Why don't you come, too?



Tech Terrace Park is bounded by 23rd & 25th Streets, just west of Flint Avenue. We usually set up on the south side, which is only accessible from 26th Street via Gary, though if you park anywhere along the park there's a nice gravel path that circumnavigates the entire park. Hope to see you there tonight!

CDS