Sidewalk astronomy!

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Augustus
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Sidewalk astronomy!

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Post by Augustus »


With things returning to normal I've been inspired to do sidewalk astronomy on one of the main streets over in Greenwich, Connecticut a few minutes down the road from where I live. The weather has been super fickle lately so I haven't gotten to advertise in advance, but both nights I've been out I've gotten more than 150 people to look at the moon with my Orion XT6i. Last night I brought my girlfriend with a Zhumell Z114 and a friend's Questar and we had around 190 people show up. Yes, you're not going to be showing any DSOs doing something like this but the Moon and forest fire smoke prevent that anyway.
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Next time I'm out hopefully I can get a few more helpers from the local clubs, and maybe post on social media in advance if I'm sure I'm going out. And in a few weeks Saturn will rise early enough to be visible over the buildings before it gets too late.
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Unitron48 United States of America
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Re: Sidewalk astronomy!

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Post by Unitron48 »


Well done, Zane! That was quite the crowd. Keep up the great outreach!!

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Ylem United States of America
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Re: Sidewalk astronomy!

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Post by Ylem »


Great Zane!
My club does a lot of outreach, it's a lot of fun for all :)
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Re: Sidewalk astronomy!

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Post by mikemarotta »


Augustus wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:24 am With things returning to normal I've been inspired to do sidewalk astronomy on one of the main streets over in Greenwich, Connecticut... I've gotten more than 150 people to look at the moon with my Orion XT6i. Last night I brought my girlfriend with a Zhumell Z114 and a friend's Questar and we had around 190 people show up. ...
That's great! My club also does (did) a lot of outreach, sometimes three times in a week at libraries and schools, but we never did sidewalk astronomy. Sidewalk astronomy is special and congratulations to you for doing it. It is amazing what you can see from the city. We usually meet (met) on the University of Texas campus. One time, with the local student astronomers, we went out on an overpass above a downtown thoroughfare and that's where someone showed me Albireo, the classic case of urban viewing.

Thanks to you and your GF for your efforts.

(And we are all really jealoius that you have a friend with a telescope. My wife is moderately interested sometimes, if she has to come out into the backyard to see if I am still alive and well, but not passionate about stargazing. We do share other interests. She works in computer security and my degrees are in criminology. We watched Mr. & Mrs. Smith more than a couple of times, but astronomy... not so much... So, count your lucky stars.)

Best Regards,
Mike M.
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Augustus
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Re: Sidewalk astronomy!

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Post by Augustus »


Thanks guys!

A few more pics from last night - brought some bigger scopes (14.7" and a friend's 8" along with the XT6i):
IMG_1438.JPEG
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Zane Landers
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Scopes: 24" f/3.5 & 14.7" f/2.9 Dobs w/Nova optics, Orion XT6i, Zhumell Z114, Sears 6335
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Re: Sidewalk astronomy!

#6

Post by Graeme1858 »


Nice one Zane.

I bet Joe Public was impressed with the 14.7"

What did you have in view?

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Re: Sidewalk astronomy!

#7

Post by Augustus »


Graeme1858 wrote: Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:52 pm Nice one Zane.

I bet Joe Public was impressed with the 14.7"

What did you have in view?

Regards

Graeme
Just the Moon, too light polluted and smoky for anything else.
Zane Landers
Member: ASNH, BMAS, LHAAC, MHAA, RAC, WAA, WAS
Featured in TIME, National Geographic, The Guardian, Sky & Telescope
Scopes: 24" f/3.5 & 14.7" f/2.9 Dobs w/Nova optics, Orion XT6i, Zhumell Z114, Sears 6335
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