Observatory Reports

 

  • COE Star Party May 25, 2012 7:45-11:15pm

    25 May 2012 4:27 PM | Anonymous member
    COE Observatory
    Star Party May 25, 2012 7:45-11:15pm
    By James Halll
    20 Guests

    The Grounds: 
    I arrived a little early to setup before dark.  The field had many fire ant mounds but otherwise seemed fine for visitors.  No large trash items or tall grass to worry about along the pathway.

    The Observatory Condition
    Doors and roof were secure.  Upon opening the observatory however, it became quickly noticable that it was going to need some work before the guests arrived.  There were large crickets jumping on and around the scopes.  There was also a large scorpion scurrying across the floor.  While looking around further I noticed a large spider hanging upsidedown on the ceiling just above the door.  After I used the broom to get them out, I noticed a large dead mouse under one of the rolling chairs with maggots crawling all over it.  I took care of that situation as well with the broom and got it as far away from the observatory as possible.  Then I turned my attention to the desks and chairs of the observatory.  The desks are extremely dusty.  I couldn't find anything to clean them with while I was there.  I saw some paper towels in one of the cabinets but it looks like a mouse or something had gotten to it and shredded parts of it.  I'm not sure what a safe cleaner would be for those desks while working so close to the scopes.  Any ideas?  I would also like to help with the chair situation.  I'm worried about guests leaving with a bad impression of AAS or worse yet snagging their clothes.  The chairs are starting to get very worn. Out of the 16 chairs in the observatory 12 of them have very noticeable holes with stuffing coming out of them.  Several are also severly stained and looking worse for wear.  One of the rolling chairs has a broken arm rest.  I forgot to inspect the other office chair but I will look at it again tonight.  If we have any money in the AAS budget for new chairs I highly recommend them to be purchased soon.  I'll be happy to take them out there in my truck and dispose of the old ones whereever you would like.  

    The Equipment
    Internet slow but working .25 MBS down / .25 MBS up.  The Telrads performed very well on both scopes.  All scope covers were on correctly and easily removed.  The Harlan-Smith worked like a charm all night.  The Ealing tracked about 75%.  (It always resisted one joystick direction.)  The outside of that scope is also looking very dusty.  I'd love to know a way to clean it safely as well.

    The Sky
    It was cloudy (60-80% or more) for most of the night.  Venus was not viewable due to clouds and horizon hiding it quickly after sunset.  A nice breeze was felt all night.  The moon was mostly viewable although it tucked behind clouds about 50% of the time as well.   I entertained guests with iPad Apps in between waiting for clouds to part.  Mars and Saturn popped out nicely between clouds about 10pm.  One guest remarked, "Is that really Saturn?, it looks too clear!, is this fake?, do you just have some type of slide show going on in here?"  I laughed and pointed out that she could move the Harlan scope a little if she wanted to verify it was the real deal.  There was also a couple of "Oh Wow!" statements as many guests saw Mars for the first time.

    Closed up observatory and left at 11:15pm and everything was put away. Temp 79 degrees F.

     
    - James Hall
    Read more  •  Add comment

  • Saturday May 12, 2012 Public Star Party at COE

    17 May 2012 7:37 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Saturday May 12, 2012  8:30 - 10:00
    Public star party,

    50 People

    We (Jim & Joyce) arrived as it was getting dark.  There were already three scopes on the field and a reasonable crowd of people despite the mostly cloudy (80% or more) skies.  Jim opened the observatory and set up the Harlan-Smith.  While he was opening the roof and maneouvering the scope to view Venus about a dozen people came into the observatory. One of them remarked, "I did not know that you need the muscles of a weight-lifter to be an astronomer."  I pointed out that, altough teh scopes are heavy, everything is well balanced so it is easier than it looks.

    We moved from one sucker hole to another chasing fleeting vistas of Venus, Mars and Saturn.  When it became clear that we would be stuck with clouds, Jim brought out his lap-top and used Stellarium to show what would be visible.  One boy (about 10 years old) had asked about the horse head nebula when we were using the Harlan-Smith and we had told him that it was too low to be visible.  However, by turning off the ground effects in Stellarium we were able t oshow the Hubble photograph of it. He was very happy. 

    At around 10:00 it started to rain and we closed things up.  By 10:15 our visitors had left and everything was put away.

    Read more  •  Add comment

  • Saturday May 5 2012 COE Report

    05 May 2012 11:30 PM | Anonymous member
    Saturday May 5, 2010
    CoE Star Party
    James Hall
    7:45p-10:00p
    Guests: 10

    Grounds good, both scopes working, internet working but slow (.36mbs d/.41mbs u)

    I was very excited to get to COE Saturday night in hopes of seeing the Super Moon from there.  The clouds forecast didn't look too bad and only 10% chance of rain.

    The sky was about 60% overcast when I arrived and only got worse as the evening progressed.  About 5 couples from the resort arrived shortly thereafter and I explained about the super moon and what I was hoping they would get to see that night.  But the clouds only got thicker and thicker.  Soon dark clouds and flashes of light started threatening from the west.  I checked the weather radar on my iPad and saw a huge storm cell closing in from that direction.  The wind was picking up, and clouds were getting thicker so I lowered the scopes and closed the roof as I was getting worried about rain.  I kept guest entertained with iPad apps and observatory tour and history for as long as I could.  But the sky never cleared.  Most left by 9:15pm.  I closed it down and went home just before it started to downpour at 10pm.  Never saw the super moon.  :(

    Left at 10:00p, temp 72º (Raining hard). 
     
    - James Hall
    Read more  •  Add comment

  • Friday April 27, 2012

    28 Apr 2012 11:47 AM | Anonymous member
    Friday April 27, 2012
    CoE Star Party
    Darin & Dana Koch
    7:45p-11:45p
    Guests: 50

    Grounds good, both scopes working, internet working but slow (.33mbs d/.45mbs u)new velcro starting to peel a little from west side of Ealing.  Just don't press the controller to the mount...just touch it since it's very powerful velcro.

    A few cub scouts and many families came to the EEO tonight.  But the high thin cirrus clouds didn't disband as I'd expect, so we were able to view Venus at a nice crescent, 36% waxing crescent Moon, Mars, Saturn.  In pockets of dark sky, we glimpsed M42, M51, M81-82, M3, M13.

    Great enthusiastic crowd with one boy child very interested in what he saw.


    Left at 11:45p, temp 78º.  
    Read more  •  Add comment

  • Saturday April 28 Star Party

    28 Apr 2012 1:00 AM | Anonymous member
    CoE Star Party
    James Hall
    7:45p-11:15p
    Guests: 50

    Grounds good, both scopes working, internet working but slow (.16 mbs d/ 0.38 mbs u) very high winds and about 50% cloud cover on arrival.

    The grounds were full of children and adults when I arrived.  An AAS member was giving a demonstration in the field with his scope. I believe many were boy scouts getting badges. Many families quickly formed long lines at start of sunset. The clouds varied from 60 percent to 100 percent overcast. We were able to view Venus, Moon, a few people got a quick look at Saturn before I had to close the roof for about 30 min due to dark looking rain clouds closing in on the observatory.  Entertained several guests that stayed with observatory tour and iPad demonstrations of Exoplanets, Sky Charts, and Solar System models. After about half an hour the wind was still gusty but the sky cleared in spots towards the west. I was able to open half the roof and give several guests more views of the moon and Venus between clouds. 

    Very pleasant group of people throughout the night. 

    Left at 11:15p, temp 75º.  


    James Hall
    Read more  •  Add comment

  • April 20 COE Star Party

    20 Apr 2012 11:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Friday April 20, 2012

    CoE Star Party

    James Hall

    7:45p-11:15p

    Guests: 50



    Harlan working, Ealing tracked 100%, Internet not tested.  Both Telrads working well.  


    New velco works great for Ealing, Thank Darin. :)


    Eva (EEO desk worker) was running the gate.  


    Informed me that there would probably be a bunch of children.  And there was quite a few.


    Guest arrived quickly.


    Very clear night, I was able to show Venus, Mars, Saturn, M42, and Betelguese. 


    No Moon.  


    I Left at 11:15p, temp 62º.   

    Read more  •  Add comment

  • Friday April 13, 2012

    15 Apr 2012 9:53 PM | Anonymous member

    Friday April 13, 2012

    CoE Star Party

    Darin Koch

    7:45p-10:30p

    Guests: 80



    Grounds mowed, Harlan working, Ealing tracked 100%, Internet working .51d/.35u. 


    I did some maintenance on the Ealing replacing all 6 strips of velcro with fresh velcro, including hand controller.  Much better now.


    The park was full and Eva (EEO desk worker) was running the gate house due to the full park she said.


    Despite the droopy forecast of mostly cloudy and the poor CCC forecast that would've kept anyone else in the club from showing up, it cleared really well and was able to show Venus, Mars, Saturn, M42, and Betelguese. 3/4 Moon never rose, but Mars was the hit of the night.  


    Then it finally went overcast and I Left at 10:30p, temp 72º.   

    Read more  •  Add comment

  • Friday April 6, 2012

    07 Apr 2012 1:59 PM | Anonymous member

    Friday April 6, 2012

    CoE Star Party

    Darin Koch

    8:15p-12:10a

    Guests: 60


    Grounds mowed, 85% than usual (12" tall flower stems around the N field) made for rubbing beneath the car.  Harlan working, Ealing tracked 80%, Internet working .51d/.44u.  I returned the Ealing finder eyepiece.  The crosshair wire is disfigured a little, but still shows in the center.  I need to replace all Ealing velcro, though.


    4 Cars waiting at gate as I was a little late due to my church's Good Friday service orchestra special (I play trombone).  I was certainly pretty exhausted already as 7-11a worked at my job, hauled off a 16x6x3 trailer full of brush (offloaded myself), came home and raked, filled 6 bags of limbs/leaves clippings, played the horn for 30 min at church, then drove to EEO.    


    Mostly high cirrus clouds allowed only the planets (Venus, Mars) and Full Moon.  That was it, Orion belt stars not visible, but Sirius, Betelguese.  The seeing was maybe 6/10 by 11:30p and I upped the Harlan to 847x on Mars with 2 barlows.  Very nice, the N polar cap was super easy (just a white dot now) and dark markings were excellent.  They matched my Starry Night display perfectly.  All in all, a very pleasant crowd, some returnees from last week.


    Left at 12:10a, temp 68º.   ps-Emptied trash last week 3/30.

    Read more  •  Add comment

  • April 7 COE Star Party

    07 Apr 2012 10:52 AM | Anonymous member

    Saturday April 7, 2012

    CoE Star Party

    James Hall

    7:15p-11:15a

    Guests: 90


    Grounds good. Harlan working.  I replaced the batteries in the Harlan TelRad, but still wasn't working so just used regular finder scope.  Ealing Telrad working fine. Ealing tracked about 80%.  Noticed something wrong with one of the 2" eye pieces.  It looks like it was coming apart, the plastic and rubber were separated. I left it in the case for now but wasn't sure if we should try and repair it or replace it.


    I was there at 7pm, when a very large group of adults and children arrived that didn't seem to speak much English.  They didn't stay until dark, but walked around the observatory and grounds.


    Mostly high cirrus clouds.  Viewed Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn,and Full Moon (in that order).  Many passed around the binoculars to view items like the Orion nebula. The clouds were parted just enough for when most guests came to visit for the planets. But too many clouds for when ISS flew over. The place was completely full by 9:30. All were very impressed and were constantly hearing the word "Wow" all night long. Many had great things to say about Darin that had been at the observatory the night before.


    Left at 11:30p, temp 71º.  

    Read more  •  Add comment

  • Publicity night for resort staff and travel journalists

    03 Apr 2012 8:30 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Tues April 3, 2012  8:30 - 10 :10

    Jim & Joyce Lynch
    COE Resort staff & Journalists
    About 30 guests in toto.

    Jim ran the Harlan Smith scope to show the almost full moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn (several moons were visible), the Orion Nebula, and Mizar/Alcor.  We gave a tour of the sky to point out constellations and answered questions from the visitors.  We did not do anything with the Ealing.

    When we arrived, there were no dust caps on the finder scope for the Harlan Smith.  We found them in one of the eyepiece cases. Evrything else was in good shape.

    I (Jim), accidently, left the Telrad installed on the Harlan Smith. Sorry!!  :-(.

    Read more  •  Add comment
 
Loading
 

Austin Astronomical Society
P.O. Box 12831, Austin, TX 78711
mailto:contactaas@austinastro.org
copyright © 2010 All Rights Reserved

  
 

Supporting members of the Astronomical League , Night Sky Network and International Dark Skies Association.

For any questions or more information about AAS - please email us at contactaas@austinastro.org.
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software