Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 7171
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Since I'm not doing the Marathon formally, I just want some good sucker holes to look through!
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Jim
South Rim Coordinator
Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure
Science” - Edwin Hubble
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 26279
Loc: North Texas
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Is anyone going to the All Arizona Messier Marathon planning on DOING the Messier Marathon? 
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Steph
Taking it one day at a time...
I'm in the fight! - Support Liver Disease Awareness
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory 
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 63466
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Since we're primarily and English and Spanish speaking state we don't do no French.
However; after going to it a few times, folks that are not members here have be observed doing the Messier Marathon. So it appears that CN attracts slackers and ne're to wells.
At least we help pay for the coffee and donuts. 
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
127mm F9 Surplus Shed/Crawmach kit scope
Coronado SolarMax 40 on a Celestron 102 Wide Field
Best of ATM
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 7171
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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In the late 1990s I did a full marathon. Not a lot of fun; more like "see 7 countries in 5 days" fire hose kind of experience. I'll just stick to the deep sky opportunity.
There will be awards, however, for those intrepid observers who run the gauntlet. I'm really impressed by those who use binoculars and I'm in total awe of those who run the thing from memory. And we will certainly have some of those folks. But I'm just going to take advantage of being away from city lights. No clouds would be nice, too, but I can cope. Gotta keep an eye on The Table and The Chair; they seem innocent enough, but ya never know WHAT Ron has built into their heart of hearts.
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Jim
South Rim Coordinator
Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure
Science” - Edwin Hubble
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 63466
Loc: Phx, AZ
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I've reworked - tweaked rather - the chair I built last year so the does not droop down. The rake of the strut went from 20 degrees to 25 so it has a very nice feel to it now. And the seat has a slight upward angle. It feels a very much like Tom's chair now which I really enjoy sitting in. I'm looking at whipping out a small eye piece holder - we'll see if time allows.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
127mm F9 Surplus Shed/Crawmach kit scope
Coronado SolarMax 40 on a Celestron 102 Wide Field
Best of ATM
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5864
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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I don't trust any weather report for that area  I remember Steve Coe driving away a few years ago thinking we were socked in, and it turned out to be a great night. Ya just never know. I honestly can't remember a year when we didn't have clouds or haze during the day.
Besides.........
Ron's table and chair create a "clear-sky vortex" that clears up the skies nicely 
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 36712
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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I hope you guys have great skies!
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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
15x70 Oberwerks
ED80/SVP
WO 66P
Sears Discoverer EQ 60/900
8x42 Regals
History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
Thucydides
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 26279
Loc: North Texas
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I'm sure y'all will!  And even if you don't (knock on wood) -- you'll have great company! 
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Steph
Taking it one day at a time...
I'm in the fight! - Support Liver Disease Awareness
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory
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skyward_eyes
Vendor-Woodland Hills/Focus
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 3352
Loc: California
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I will be there also anyway. Plus weaher looks like its improving for Saturday
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Kevin LeGore
kevin@telescopes.net
Woodland Hills Camera & Telescopes
www.telescopes.net
Focus on Astronomy Outreach Project
www.focusonastronomy.org
Director and Founder
k.legore@focusonastronomy.org
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 7171
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Well, in the spirit of using the deep sky opportunity, I'm going to break with my recently established tradition and only bring the 18". The last three events at Farnsworth I've brought the truss dob and the Atlas, and really didn't make good use of either. So, unless anyone is travelling in and needs a pretty darn good tracking and GOTO setup with a nice aperture, I'll leave it home. Since we don't have any useful ISS passes, it's just not worth the volume that the blue tube and mount occupies.
I'll just be concentrating on deep sky stuff to take advantage of the larger aperture.
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Jim
South Rim Coordinator
Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure
Science” - Edwin Hubble
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 7171
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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By the way, since I plan on being at Farnsworth mid-afternoon Friday, is the "usual" west side OK? It's 200 yards closer to home; gotta save gas somehow. Although I've picked up thorns in tires twice there in recent years.
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Jim
South Rim Coordinator
Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure
Science” - Edwin Hubble
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 26279
Loc: North Texas
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Is saving 200 yards worth the threat of thorns?  Things that make you go "hmmmm...."
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Steph
Taking it one day at a time...
I'm in the fight! - Support Liver Disease Awareness
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5864
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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Quote:
By the way, since I plan on being at Farnsworth mid-afternoon Friday, is the "usual" west side OK? It's 200 yards closer to home; gotta save gas somehow. Although I've picked up thorns in tires twice there in recent years.
That's where I'm planning on looking for you guys. We'll be driving the new little red Scion, looking like Ma & Pa Joad with all kinds of crapola piled on the roof rack
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 63466
Loc: Phx, AZ
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I plan on being early too but I hope to do some exploring and picture taking. In light of the heavy dob I'm only bringing the SCT.
And some furniture. 
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
127mm F9 Surplus Shed/Crawmach kit scope
Coronado SolarMax 40 on a Celestron 102 Wide Field
Best of ATM
|
Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 7171
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
That's where I'm planning on looking for you guys. We'll be driving the new little red Scion, looking like Ma & Pa Joad with all kinds of crapola piled on the roof rack
Don't let 'er get top heavy on the dirt road! Especially picking up 50 pounds of dirt along the way.
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Jim
South Rim Coordinator
Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure
Science” - Edwin Hubble
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 7171
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
Is saving 200 yards worth the threat of thorns? Things that make you go "hmmmm...."
Methinks I'll be a-surveyin' the parking spot before establishing my site.
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Jim
South Rim Coordinator
Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure
Science” - Edwin Hubble
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Posts: 7171
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
I plan on being early too but I hope to do some exploring and picture taking. In light of the heavy dob I'm only bringing the SCT.
Are you going to be there both nights?
Quote:
And some furniture.
Can't wait to see the improved chair. Hope you have a finish on the table that can survive all the drooling.
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Jim
South Rim Coordinator
Grand Canyon Star Party
gcsp[at]tucsonastronomy.org
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure
Science” - Edwin Hubble
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5864
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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Quote:
Quote:
Is saving 200 yards worth the threat of thorns? Things that make you go "hmmmm...."
Methinks I'll be a-surveyin' the parking spot before establishing my site.
You drive in first and pick up all the thorns before we get there. Deal? 
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 26279
Loc: North Texas
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Take a vacuum cleaner....and a really long extension cord.  (Generator? Really good battery pack? )
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Steph
Taking it one day at a time...
I'm in the fight! - Support Liver Disease Awareness
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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The usual west side area sounds good. This time of the year the winds are either from the NW or SW, and that low line of shrubs is better than no wind break at all.
I'm looking to roll in sometime late morning/early afternoon. I'll park the Forester to the windward side and set up the Big Top beside it.
I'll probably be visiting that French bakery here in Tucson before I take off. Never know what they'll have there, fresh, on a Saturday morning.
This all assumes, of course, that the current prediction of "mostly clear" holds up for the duration... 
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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