TheSkySearchers

Sky conditions last night (prior to Moonrise) were near perfect with above average seeing and transparency. Our small group from Culpeper gathered at Morning Calm Observatory (MCO) for an evening of observing and socializing. We also had a group of visitors stop by to check out the sights. They were first time viewers of the planets so their enthusiasm was boundless!

Our equipment was the usual MCO fare: the 30 inch Obsession, a 12 inch Meade LX200, and my SV110ED (110mm, f/7 refractor).

The evening kicked off with a view of Venus, then Saturn, then Jupiter using all three scopes. The LX200 was tracking Jupiter or Saturn throughout the evening...primarily checking out the GRS transit early in the evening. The Obsession was used mostly to check out some of the more interesting DSO's which included: M51, M13, M22, M15, NGC 457 (I lost track of the complete list of objects). I was using my scope to point out various double stars (Izar, Almach, Epsilon Lyrae, Albireo, Eta Cass, Gamma Arietis) and to provide a short tour of the constellations.

As always, we dined on coffee and cookies during the breaks. We wrapped up the evening about 2330 as the Moon rose above the trees and the dew set in.

Regards,
Dave

Nice report Dave with some worthwhile outreach. It sounds like a good time was had by all. Congrats on winning the VROD for the day!

Sounds like a great evening under the stars. Lots of palatable objects for your audience.
Congratulations on the VROD!

Hi Dave. I always look forward to your observing reports. This was a great opportunity using the 30" Obsession and the other scopes including yours as well as the astronomy outreach efforts. Thanks for your well written report Dave and congratulations on receiving the TSS VROD Award today.

Nice Dave - a good night.

Congrats on the VROD.

Nice outreach Dave! I appreciate you dedicating SV110 to doubles for the evening. What your guests thought about them?

Congrats on VROD!

Nice. The visitors must have had quite an experience. Congrats on the VROD.

A great night for you all Dave.

Congratulations on the VROD.

That really does sound like a great evening with the stars! With those scopes viewing what they were viewing, there must have been a massive WOW factor. Thanks for sharing!

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:19 pm Nice outreach Dave! I appreciate you dedicating SV110 to doubles for the evening. What your guests thought about them?

Congrats on VROD!

Thanks, Andrey! I find that the visitors are as impressed with the doubles as they are with other objects they view (maybe Jupiter and Saturn are exceptions). I focus on those with some color contrast, and provide a tutorial on the stars in the binary.

Some objects they view with the 30 inch (the Owl Cluster for example) appear better in the refractor at lower magnification, wider FOV.

Dave

John Baars wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:59 pm Sounds like a great evening under the stars. Lots of palatable objects for your audience.
Congratulations on the VROD!

Thanks, John! I thoroughly enjoy introducing the splendor of the night skies to newbies!

Dave

Makuser wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 4:48 pm Hi Dave. I always look forward to your observing reports. This was a great opportunity using the 30" Obsession and the other scopes including yours as well as the astronomy outreach efforts. Thanks for your well written report Dave and congratulations on receiving the TSS VROD Award today.

Thanks, Marshall! Doesn't look like I will be getting down your way anytime soon. My daughter and her family are moving North!

Dave

MistrBadgr wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 7:37 pm That really does sound like a great evening with the stars! With those scopes viewing what they were viewing, there must have been a massive WOW factor. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Bill! Hearing the "Wow" when someone views Saturn for the first time never gets old!

Dave

Sounds like a very fun evening, Dave!

Certainly sounds like a great evening under the stars!

Man, I sure wish that I had a group like yours nearby. The closest that I have heard of is Mobile, AL (about 75 miles away).

I am sure that you did get a lot of Wow's when folks looked at Saturn. I still say that to myself when I see it. Saturn is really a stunning sight even in a small view.

Thanks for reporting on your fine evening out with the group!

Congratulations on the well deserved VROD Dave

bladekeeper wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:07 pm Sounds like a very fun evening, Dave!

Thanks, Bryan! Hoping to get out your way again when the Covid dust settles!

Dave

Juno16 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 12:13 am Certainly sounds like a great evening under the stars!

Man, I sure wish that I had a group like yours nearby. The closest that I have heard of is Mobile, AL (about 75 miles away).

I am sure that you did get a lot of Wow's when folks looked at Saturn. I still say that to myself when I see it. Saturn is really a stunning sight even in a small view.

Thanks for reporting on your fine evening out with the group!

Thanks, Jim! I feel fortunate to have such a great group...and the resources available at Morning Calm Observatory.

Dave