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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | >> (show all) darklighteditor Theatre King Reged: 11/07/06 Loc: Land of Sparty Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6       #5147190 - 03/29/12 01:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Do you think it is time to start the "Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6"? Unless we are going for a record page number or something. You must have been reading my mind, telenewbie, as I was close to starting a Pt 6 thread. I've the locked Pt 5 thread – 2,400 is a nice round number to close it on. I sure hope those clouds clear out for you guys in the Pacific Northwest. I have a son who lives in Washington. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: darklighteditor]       #5147343 - 03/29/12 02:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rain rain rain rainrainrainrainrarinrainrainrainrainrain.....ect,etc.. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5147796 - 03/29/12 08:56 PM Attachment (39 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I wonder how long it will take everyone to find the new thread. My new mount showed up yesterday. Here is a picture of the tripod box... I was concerned needlessly. It ended up fine. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5148001 - 03/29/12 11:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Rain rain rain rainrainrainrainrarinrainrainrainrainrain.....ect,etc.. ECT!!! I looked at the Satellite image today just so I could really soak up the depression. there was no land mass features visible in Washington State.. where is the end of March... Lamb? I'd like to ask Dori Monson about that 300 days of sunshine at Hawk Creek Ranch?? Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5148173 - 03/30/12 01:57 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I looked at the Satellite image today just so I could really soak up the depression. Thats all I had to do is step outside and look up...free shower anyone? Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5148177 - 03/30/12 02:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Here is a picture of the tripod box... I was concerned needlessly. It ended up fine. Practically every tripod box shipped to me has had some damage to it..those things are heavy. Sean, was that the new EQ1 lightweight tripod you got? Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5148688 - 03/30/12 11:48 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Rain rain rain rainrainrainrainrarinrainrainrainrainrain.....ect,etc.. There is some "fair" in the universe! I thought you'd be telling me how last night was perfect at your place, Rob! Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5148854 - 03/30/12 02:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: I looked at the Satellite image today just so I could really soak up the depression. Thats all I had to do is step outside and look up...free shower anyone? Rain..it rained 3" here yesterday... Gave me time to do some mods to my focuser for the 10"f/15. And clean some gutters in the rain........ I just cleaned those dang things. Pine needles are killer. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5148871 - 03/30/12 02:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Rain rain rain rainrainrainrainrarinrainrainrainrainrain.....ect,etc.. There is some "fair" in the universe! I thought you'd be telling me how last night was perfect at your place, Rob! LOL Good one bro. No, I too get my butt kicked now and again by the weather witch. However..I'm bankin on it clearing quickly. and again I'll be the regular irritant that I am..... Rob Post Extras:       7331Peg Sirius Observer Reged: 09/01/08 Loc: North coast of Oregon Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5148966 - 03/30/12 03:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yep, 3 1/2" of rain here yesterday, and it only took about 12 hours to fall .... which makes a total of 18.15" for the March! Even the slugs are surly these days. John Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: 7331Peg]       #5148971 - 03/30/12 03:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Even the slugs are surly these days. How can a guy tell? Records are being set, none of which are at my finnertips. I heard on the radio this morning (Cliff Mass interview) that Spokane has surpassed most rainfall in March, with records going back to 1891. There was also mention, which I didn't quite hear, about some kind of record rain at Seatac airport yesterday. Cliff Mass also mentioned that the pineapple express is going to be drowning No. Cal. & So. Ore. tomorrow. He said up in W. Wash., after today's slender relief, it'll be really wet until a break around a week from Sunday. Are we having fun yet? Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5149242 - 03/30/12 06:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I know you are not supposed to shoot the messenger, but you guys are seriously bumming me out. Nothing a little tequila and CCR can't cure. I'm out. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5149467 - 03/30/12 10:23 PM Attachment (31 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Here is a picture of the tripod box... I was concerned needlessly. It ended up fine. Practically every tripod box shipped to me has had some damage to it..those things are heavy. Sean, was that the new EQ1 lightweight tripod you got? I don't think so. Maybe. It is pretty big. Here is a pic. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5149470 - 03/30/12 10:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   For scale the legs are 4" wide. This is the source of the rain. Sorry. Post Extras:       BradleyB professor emeritus Reged: 09/01/06 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5149522 - 03/30/12 11:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sean, You're putting together a nice batch of equipment there. I expect you'll be itching to get some clear weather this spring to try it out. Brad Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5149577 - 03/30/12 11:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Reading this thread has me fiending for a hookup with my old astro buds. This miserable rain just has to stop sometime - maybe.......... I heard a new description of the seasons in the Northwest. July & August are now called Summer. September and October are Fall. Nov., Dec., Jan., and Feb are called Winter. March thru June are now called Disappointment. It's just too true. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5149928 - 03/31/12 10:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Sean, You're putting together a nice batch of equipment there. I expect you'll be itching to get some clear weather this spring to try it out. Brad You know it. I have tried the scope on a wobble crazy mount and was impressed with it. A couple times the whole setup could have tipped over had i not been paying attention. I decided that i wouldn't risk it again and waited for the new mount. Kerry, the tripod is a Canadian Telescope heavy duty wooden tripod. It may be a rebranded tripod and have some equivalent from skywatcher and others. It is pretty and seems solid. It also has a back strap for easy transport. Did the picture get modded? It was up last night but, i can't see it now. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5149938 - 03/31/12 10:30 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Reading this thread has me fiending for a hookup with my old astro buds. This miserable rain just has to stop sometime - maybe.......... I heard a new description of the seasons in the Northwest. July & August are now called Summer. September and October are Fall. Nov., Dec., Jan., and Feb are called Winter. March thru June are now called Disappointment. It's just too true. I know what you mean. I was very disappointed when last weekend didn't work out. The part for my car still hasn't come in and i have spent $170 in gas in the last 6days driving my truck. I really need to get some dark sky time in soon. And going with you guys is far more fun. I hope we get a chance before pixieland or this is going to be a rough couple months. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5150181 - 03/31/12 01:18 PM Attachment (31 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   hey a newly formed spiral galaxy close to home... Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5150231 - 03/31/12 01:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Nothing a little tequila and CCR can't cure. CCR = Credence Clearwater Revival? Quote: For scale the legs are 4" wide. This is the source of the rain. Next time, nothing wider than 3"! Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5150242 - 03/31/12 01:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Over 3" wide legs cause the rain? After rereading my post, it does sound that way:-). One good thing about that spiral galaxy, you don't need a large telescope to see it. I just checked the weather report and it looks pretty bad. Rain for at least a week. That is it. I am moving to Death Valley. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5150922 - 03/31/12 11:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: hey a newly formed spiral galaxy close to home... LOL-! Thats awesome... Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5150925 - 03/31/12 11:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Quote: Here is a picture of the tripod box... I was concerned needlessly. It ended up fine. Practically every tripod box shipped to me has had some damage to it..those things are heavy. Sean, was that the new EQ1 lightweight tripod you got? I don't think so. Maybe. It is pretty big. Here is a pic. Thats a sharp looking set up Sean. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5150933 - 03/31/12 11:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Reading this thread has me fiending for a hookup with my old astro buds. This miserable rain just has to stop sometime - maybe.......... Hey, who you calling old. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5150944 - 03/31/12 11:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Question: What would happen if a UFO crashed into the Puget Sound? If you watch the Syfy channel tonight, you can catch "Seattle Super Storm". Syfy channel programs. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5151121 - 04/01/12 02:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: CCR = Credence Clearwater Revival? Yes. Well really John Fogerty... amazing. Went on to GFR (Grand Funk Railroad). OMG, that was epic. Sean, that tripod looks like the nice TeleVue wooden ones. Oberwerk makes a similar one I thought was nice. They also look like those nice KB Systems ones that are made in Mukilteo I think. I see them at Table Mountain. And that head looks nice! Looks like a double so what are you putting on the other end? Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5151583 - 04/01/12 11:38 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nothing yet. Just wanted the option and the payload/dollar ratio was right. It is solid as a single mount too. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5151660 - 04/01/12 12:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Reading this thread has me fiending for a hookup with my old astro buds. This miserable rain just has to stop sometime - maybe.......... I heard a new description of the seasons in the Northwest. July & August are now called Summer. September and October are Fall. Nov., Dec., Jan., and Feb are called Winter. March thru June are now called Disappointment. It's just too true. I know what you mean. I was very disappointed when last weekend didn't work out. The part for my car still hasn't come in and i have spent $170 in gas in the last 6days driving my truck. I really need to get some dark sky time in soon. And going with you guys is far more fun. I hope we get a chance before pixieland or this is going to be a rough couple months. Everyone is keeping their eyes peered for good clear nights and when one comes along......GOMOC will be here ready. Just down the road. Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5151798 - 04/01/12 02:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Rob. I think we'll have a good summer for star parties. Just a guess but, winter, fall and the spring(so far) have not been so good. Stacy, i originally though to put my z8 on the mount but, the price of rings and dovetail seem like that is not likely the way i will go. Unless i can find them at a more reasonable price. The only rings i have found so far are $200 1/2 the price of a new z8. A shorter newt,mak/newt, mak cass, could be interesting. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5151927 - 04/01/12 03:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Yes. Well really John Fogerty... amazing. Went on to GFR (Grand Funk Railroad). OMG, that was epic. No kidding? I listened to GFR a lot when I was in Germany, 1971-72. I didn't know the Center Fielder was in it. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5152475 - 04/01/12 10:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My dad loved GFR. I was raised on them, Jethro Tull, black Sabbath, and led zepplin. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5153254 - 04/02/12 01:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah..Led Zeplin an The Guess Who. I hate to bring this up..but did anyone sneek out last night during the clearing spell? I did.... It cleared and I got to look at Mars for a time....and Just got a snap of Orion as it headed behind the trees and the moon was bright straight up. Driving home from Church alerted me to the clearing..I hadn't even noticed it till then...Oh about 8:30 to 9 or so. It was refreshing after that rain and wind we had. During these times I just go for the big binos..fast and ready. Did it clear for anyone else last night? Rob Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5153485 - 04/02/12 04:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: My dad loved GFR. I was raised on them, Jethro Tull, black Sabbath, and led zepplin. At least you didn't say your grandpa listen to that ole time music Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5153493 - 04/02/12 04:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Yes. Well really John Fogerty... amazing. Went on to GFR (Grand Funk Railroad). OMG, that was epic. No kidding? I listened to GFR a lot when I was in Germany, 1971-72. I didn't know the Center Fielder was in it. LOL no, Fogerty moved on to other things, I moved on to GFR! "We're an American Band.... ne ner ne ner ne ner ne ner ..." Last night was David Gilmour, some Bowie, The Commitments, Badfinger, The Association, Dire Straits, Argent, Steppenwolf, Steely Dan, Skynyrd,, Zeppelin, Robert Cray (going on 5/11!) Coldplay... Got to do SOMETHING when it will not stop RAINING!!! I have something like 25,000 mp3's of over 500 artists so I can usually find something that fits the mood when I cannot view... Stacy. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5153567 - 04/02/12 04:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good Artist list..... It didn't clear for you last NIGHT? Hmmm It has been sunny and clear here all day since last night ...what's up? Rob Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5153841 - 04/02/12 08:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Stacy, i originally though to put my z8 on the mount but, the price of rings and dovetail seem like that is not likely the way i will go. Unless i can find them at a more reasonable price. The only rings i have found so far are $200 1/2 the price of a new z8. A shorter newt,mak/newt, mak cass, could be interesting. A pair of 8" Orion rings are $60 and a 13" dovetail is $20 or you can usually find them at S&S or other places used. Might be too heavy though. I have some 8 inch rings and a dovetail you can borrow to see if it works. Actually, If they work, I'll make you a great deal on them as I am not using them right now anyway.. PM Me and I'll give you my address so you can pick them up. Stacy Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5154006 - 04/02/12 11:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: ..... an The Guess Who One of my all time favorite bands. Burton Cummings is one of the greatest male vocalists of the Rocn-n-Roll era - maybe even better than Morrison. And with Randy Bachman backing him up on guitars it was a hard combo to top. They owned the charts in the early 70's. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5154020 - 04/02/12 11:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: ..... an The Guess Who One of my all time favorite bands. Burton Cummings is one of the greatest male vocalists of the Rocn-n-Roll era - maybe even better than Morrison. And with Randy Bachman backing him up on guitars it was a hard combo to top. They owned the charts in the early 70's. I love The guess Who..awesome musicianship too.... Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5154539 - 04/03/12 11:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: ..... an The Guess Who One of my all time favorite bands. Burton Cummings is one of the greatest male vocalists of the Rocn-n-Roll era - maybe even better than Morrison. And with Randy Bachman backing him up on guitars it was a hard combo to top. They owned the charts in the early 70's. I liked them a lot, but haven't heard any of their music in, maybe, decades. A buddy and I heard them at the (hope I remember the name right) Seattle Rock Festival in the summer of 1969. That was a day most "dazzling," and the Guess Who were, to us, the best band we heard that day, among Jefferson Airplane and It's A Beautiful Day. Hmmm, can't remember others . . . Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5154747 - 04/03/12 01:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: ..... an The Guess Who One of my all time favorite bands. Burton Cummings is one of the greatest male vocalists of the Rocn-n-Roll era - maybe even better than Morrison. And with Randy Bachman backing him up on guitars it was a hard combo to top. They owned the charts in the early 70's. Saw the Guess Who in the mid 70's - stood right at the front of the stage. Back in 2003, I was running sound for the Beatniks down in San Fransisco, and the surprise main act was.... Burton Cummings! GFR was my first concert - 1974 at the Spokane Coliseum. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5155265 - 04/03/12 08:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Weekend of May 18, 19, 20. New moon. Any plans for a get-together somewhere? Maybe Rainier or Eastern WA or Mount St. Helens? Love the Guess Who. No sugar tonight in my coffee... Looks like they are still playing! My first concert was Surpertramp (Crime of the Century) at the Paramount in 74. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5155535 - 04/04/12 12:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: My dad loved GFR. I was raised on them, Jethro Tull, black Sabbath, and led zepplin. At least you didn't say your grandpa listen to that ole time music My dad was only 20 when i was born. He is 59 now. My grandpa was more of a Frank Sinatra guy. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5155569 - 04/04/12 12:56 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Stacy, i originally though to put my z8 on the mount but, the price of rings and dovetail seem like that is not likely the way i will go. Unless i can find them at a more reasonable price. The only rings i have found so far are $200 1/2 the price of a new z8. A shorter newt,mak/newt, mak cass, could be interesting. A pair of 8" Orion rings are $60 and a 13" dovetail is $20 or you can usually find them at S&S or other places used. Might be too heavy though. I have some 8 inch rings and a dovetail you can borrow to see if it works. Actually, If they work, I'll make you a great deal on them as I am not using them right now anyway.. PM Me and I'll give you my address so you can pick them up. Stacy How did i miss this post? I'll try it out. It'll be a few days before i have any free time, my family is returning tomorrow and it is Easter this weekend. Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5159156 - 04/06/12 12:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Love the Guess Who. ... Looks like they are still playing! Yeah, but sans Burton Cummings. I saw them in the late-80's with a lead singer who sounded like Huey Lewis (who I don't really care for). It was painful to listen to. Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy man! Follow your daughter home. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5159687 - 04/06/12 06:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looks like we may get a clear night tonight. It looks like it gets better the later you go out. I am going to keep an eye out tonight. I would like to get some mars time in and try out my new setup. I need to go buy some longer 1/4-20 screws for the longer dovetail i bought. The TV dovetail is the first TV product that i don't like. It isn't a full dovetail. One of the edges is square. Anyway, i couldn't reuse the screws because there is only 2-3 threads sticking out. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5159829 - 04/06/12 08:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Yeah, but sans Burton Cummings. I saw them in the late-80's with a lead singer who sounded like Huey Lewis (who I don't really care for). It was painful to listen to. Ouch! Well hopefully CCR sans Fogerty will not be as bad. I'm going next month at EQC. Maybe get out with the 80 tonight Stacy Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5161992 - 04/08/12 11:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I guess Cummings and Bachman have been touring together lately as Bachman-Cummings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guess_Who#The_Guess_Who_in_the_2000s_.28decade.29 I wouldn't mind seeing that show. Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5162849 - 04/08/12 10:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Guess Who without Cummings, CCR without Fogerty, BTO without Bachman????.... isn't it like the Dead without Jerry, Stones without Mick or Richard, Doors without Jim, the Experience without Jimi, Animals without Burton, the Time without Morris Day, the yardbirds and Cream without Claption, The Tympany Five without Louis Jordan, the Jordanaires without Elvis, the Heartbreakers without Petty, or the Beattles without John (you're left with The Wings) Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5162938 - 04/08/12 11:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Shotgun Red & the Cornshuckers without Red. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5163468 - 04/09/12 11:40 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The time without morris day??? Does morris day belong in that paragraph? Nirvana without Kurt, Alice in Chains without Layne. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5163527 - 04/09/12 12:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Or Blondie with red hair! Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5164039 - 04/09/12 07:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well - I just watched Palladia CH network concert of Foreigner, without Lou Gramm, and I have to say it was excellent! The guy they got sings better than Lou, is a better performer and is not ill. I would go see them live - it was really good. http://www.foreigneronline.com/ Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5165659 - 04/10/12 06:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sean - I was just checking to see if anyone was paying attention. You were. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5165899 - 04/10/12 09:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was trying to think of how to word prince and the revolution without the artist formerly known as prince but, i would have rather used his symbol. Darn it!!! Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5168603 - 04/12/12 01:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Anybody notice the weather for the weekend? Friday night looks awesome here...according to my CSC. Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5169161 - 04/12/12 07:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I wouldn't be surprised if it was perfect. I had Saturday off until 3 hours ago. Saturday night is probably not good. I am just negative, i haven't checked yet. Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: darklighteditor]       #5169191 - 04/12/12 08:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Do you think it is time to start the "Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6"? Unless we are going for a record page number or something. You must have been reading my mind, telenewbie, as I was close to starting a Pt 6 thread. I've the locked Pt 5 thread – 2,400 is a nice round number to close it on. I sure hope those clouds clear out for you guys in the Pacific Northwest. I have a son who lives in Washington. John, it would have been nice to add one final message to Pt 5 saying it had been locked and Pt 6 was the place to look. I had that thread in my favorite threads list and I was wondering why everyone was suddenly so quiet. Regards, Tanveer. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5169226 - 04/12/12 08:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I wouldn't be surprised if it was perfect. I had Saturday off until 3 hours ago. Saturday night is probably not good. I am just negative, i haven't checked yet. Well If things are good at home I might open the OB Friday night......just sayin. Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5169538 - 04/13/12 12:25 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ill go out even if i have to work. Clear nights have been far too rare for me to skip one. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5170066 - 04/13/12 10:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   What plans, if any, for Saturday night, Rob? Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5170303 - 04/13/12 12:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: What plans, if any, for Saturday night, Rob? Soorry bro...I'm not available...tonight is the night....last night was awesome..a bit windy early on.but it calmed down. But tonight looks stunning..dark skies..clear..nice seeing...I got permission So if anyone wants to drive out tonight you are more then welcome. Sorry for the short notice...but you have to act..and act quickly sometimes around here. Let me know. Rob Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5170340 - 04/13/12 12:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hmmm Rob - I've been wanting to get out there and meet you. I'm suppose to be doing my taxes tonight, but I might consider... Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5170407 - 04/13/12 01:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Hmmm Rob - I've been wanting to get out there and meet you. I'm suppose to be doing my taxes tonight, but I might consider... Well..I'll be here...just let me know. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5171198 - 04/13/12 09:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Hmmm Rob - I've been wanting to get out there and meet you. I'm suppose to be doing my taxes tonight, but I might consider... Well..I'll be here...just let me know. Rob Update..seeing and transparency is degrading quickly.....I haven't yet opened the OB...hope it gets better. Rob Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5171449 - 04/14/12 02:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Update..seeing and transparency is degrading quickly.....I haven't yet opened the OB...hope it gets better. Rob I got a chance to go outside with my dob-mounted Mak-Newt. Mars yielded quite a bit of detail with Syrtis Major clearly visible. The Hellas region above it has some kind of a polar hood and looked almost white. Markings in the Utopia region was also seen as well as the tiny north polar cap. For average seeing, it was not a bad session. I had been planning to do some imaging with my C11 and perhaps view with the A-P but a bad cold's got me down and the M-N was just perfect. Hope you folks made the most of it as well. Tanveer. Post Extras:       sleepy 9/11 Medic Reged: 07/10/10 Loc: The Columbia Gorge/ OR Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Tanveer Gani]       #5171870 - 04/14/12 11:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey guys, just checking in. Skies are clearing up gradually. Theres a neat page on facebook for the gorge if any one is interested. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/263696623660095/ Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: sleepy]       #5171940 - 04/14/12 12:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi, Joe! Post Extras:       sleepy 9/11 Medic Reged: 07/10/10 Loc: The Columbia Gorge/ OR Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5171944 - 04/14/12 12:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey Mike! Hows it going kiddo, Any trips planned out this way? Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5172216 - 04/14/12 03:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Update..seeing and transparency is degrading quickly.....I haven't yet opened the OB...hope it gets better. Rob I was getting stoked when I got home from the east coast yesterday and saw the sky and Rob's CSC. But by dinner time the high altitude haze was spreading broadly across the sky and by dusk it looked like it was all over. Hope to get another chance soon! Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5172422 - 04/14/12 05:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It was clear here but twinkley. I decided not to set up a scope and went out with the 12x60s. That was fun. Viewing with two eyes was a welcome change. It was neat how stars, just on the verge of being easily seen, flicker in and out as you look around the fov. The 3d effect is also cool. I am getting better at holding them steady but i still want a lounge chair. I think last night may have added another possibility for the other side of my t mount... A binocular telescope. That would be really cool. Too bad i thought of it too late. There was a vixen 80mm for 5-600 a few weeks ago in mount lake terrace. Did any of you look at the twinkle stars besides myself and Tanveer? Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5172606 - 04/14/12 07:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Update..seeing and transparency is degrading quickly.....I haven't yet opened the OB...hope it gets better. Rob I was getting stoked when I got home from the east coast yesterday and saw the sky and Rob's CSC. But by dinner time the high altitude haze was spreading broadly across the sky and by dusk it looked like it was all over. Hope to get another chance soon! My CSC was awesome..and it looked like stellar viewing...then..those high clouds moved in..and caused me great worry. So I called off the gathering. But I was excited to see it clear up around 11:00 and was stunning till 7:00 this morning. I enjoyed the evening by myself..but was a bit up set the high clouds moved in and scared off my desire to invite others over, causing me to call things off. OH well.... Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5173959 - 04/15/12 03:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was going to head out with the binos last night again but, we ate dinner at Anthony's and i was incapacitated afterward. Heather wanted to go somewhere nice and she paid so it was very nice. Missed the binos though. Maybe I'll get clear enough skies tonight to go out. It is nice right now. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5174401 - 04/15/12 09:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I was going to head out with the binos last night again but, we ate dinner at Anthony's and i was incapacitated afterward. Heather wanted to go somewhere nice and she paid so it was very nice. Missed the binos though. Maybe I'll get clear enough skies tonight to go out. It is nice right now. I decided to hang it up after Friday nights wierdness. today after church I got back to my pressure washing of all my cement walk ways and drive in front of the garage. I'm extremely pooped....dead down to the bone... Post Extras:       BradleyB professor emeritus Reged: 09/01/06 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5174620 - 04/16/12 12:32 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Speaking of being pooped, I stucco plastered a couple of the stem walls for my shop yesterday. Not even very much area, and only one sack's worth, but man, that is difficult hard work. I could barely walk today (it's all in the ditch next to the foundation so lots of crouching and kneeling). The slab and stem walls are insulated with "pumice-crete" 8 inches thick that needs to be sealed and protected with the stucco. The pumice-crete is nice easy stuff to work with, very light weight, I like it. The cement stucco is heavy and a lot of work. I also put 5 inches or more pumice under the slab for insulation. All this work for a little 14 by 22 shop, but I like to do things right (and differently if you didn't notice). On astro subject. I've recently purchased both an Earthwin barlow filter slide, and a Denkmeier power slide from AM. I'm having fun experimenting with them. I've even managed to stack them together! I would not have bought the Denkmeier if I'd known that the Earthwin unit was coming up for sale shortly after. This is only the second Earthwin barlow filter slide (without bino) for sale on AM or CN I've ever seen. Hopefully one of these days I can actually get them out under the stars. Brad Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5175077 - 04/16/12 11:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Hey Mike! Hows it going kiddo, Any trips planned out this way? I don't have anything planned before the June 15-17 campout & star party. Probably I'll leave the trailer there after the s.p., which will make going down for the odd day or two much less of a logistical hassle. During the May new moon I'll be down in the southwest. Are you going to make it to the s.p., or will you be working? Quote: The 3d effect is also cool. I am getting better at holding them steady but i still want a lounge chair. Sean and everyone, Costco presently has the "anti-gravity" lounge chairs in stock, for $50. SweetAnne & I bought two of them. I'm very impressed with the quality. These are an excellent buy! But you know how Costco operates: you have to want what they have in stock. When the present stock is gone they may not reappear. Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5175268 - 04/16/12 01:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I managed to get some good viewing in on Friday night. I started with Venus where the views were pretty good, but not as good as a couple of weeks ago where I saw some cloud features on the surface for the first time. I left my ED120 scope out to remain ambient while I did my taxes. Later in the evening I had some excellent views of Mars, up very high and the surface features were very prominent. I had the noth polar cap and "false" south polar cap easily in view. My wife actually came out and looked - and was impressed! The planet looked good at high-power, using a 3.5mm eyepiece for 257x. Much later I had a very nice, steady view of Saturn. The mustard colored N eq belt stood out boldly against the pale yellow of Saturn's globe. I had the first clear view of the Cassini division in many years thanks to the opening up of the rings. The Maple trees in my front yard will block the street-lights from my driveway. They are all blooming now, and it won't be long before the leaves grow in and I can look at more targets. Still need to extend my deck in the back, where it's much darker. I hope some of you got out - Friday night was magical. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5175329 - 04/16/12 02:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah..I've stuccod before Brad and man..you are right..exhausting work. I pressure washed the drive and walks and 6 hours later.....Ooooooo. Any way..I really wanted to invite folks over Friday..but dang....high clouds shut me down. Till they blew away around midnight or one.....Grrrrrrrr. My new project is a Schupmann medial telescope. Probably 10" to 12" aperature. I want a completely collor corrected obstruction free imager. I'll make the main Singlet objective..the corrector and the field mirror. It will be a fun project for sure......do you have any aluminum lying around you want to pilfer off? Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5175346 - 04/16/12 02:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah..it became so after midnight. It was twinkly till then and cloudy before that. However..I hate to open the big roof on the OB if things are questionable. I'm wierd..I guess. I get enough really nice nights to tempt me to open things up without any threat of high clouds playing games with me. Plus my sweetheart doesn't like it when she comes home from work every night and I'm out in the OB..NOT being available to spend time with her. She's jealous that way. I'm waiting for a good Friday night where the entire day is awesome and I can feal free to go *WHILD*(I need to calm down).. Glad you got out despite my failed attempt at throwing together a party..... Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5175884 - 04/16/12 07:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Hey Mike! Hows it going kiddo, Any trips planned out this way? I don't have anything planned before the June 15-17 campout & star party. Probably I'll leave the trailer there after the s.p., which will make going down for the odd day or two much less of a logistical hassle. During the May new moon I'll be down in the southwest. Are you going to make it to the s.p., or will you be working? Quote: The 3d effect is also cool. I am getting better at holding them steady but i still want a lounge chair. Sean and everyone, Costco presently has the "anti-gravity" lounge chairs in stock, for $50. SweetAnne & I bought two of them. I'm very impressed with the quality. These are an excellent buy! But you know how Costco operates: you have to want what they have in stock. When the present stock is gone they may not reappear. Thanks for the heads up. I'll have to head there soon. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5176113 - 04/16/12 10:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Probably I'll leave the trailer there after the s.p., Sweet, a hotel onsite. Thanks Mike. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5176176 - 04/16/12 10:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Don't forget to tip the maid when she turns back the sheets for you, and we re-use those mints on the pillow, so please don't suck 'em. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5176263 - 04/16/12 11:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread nameaI need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread namesake? Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5176268 - 04/16/12 11:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   *BLEEP*? my tablet does that sometimes oh well..... u get the idea...t Edited by Stacy (04/17/12 06:57 PM) Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5176412 - 04/17/12 03:12 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread nameaI need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread namesake? Stacy...sounding like a broken record. I don't know what the weather will be like...and I stopped reading the future years ago..but.. I can only assume I will have the OB open on that Friday night.....Sounds good for me. Rob Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5176739 - 04/17/12 10:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread nameaI need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread namesake? actually the feeling came through quite well... "CABIN FEVER" >Let me the *BLEEP* out-a-here I'm feeling it tooooooooooo! Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5176777 - 04/17/12 11:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rainier could be fun. What about this weekend? Is it going to be nice anywhere? I only have my car right now because my truck has a bad u joint and i am having a hard time getting my father in law's mechanic friend to come out. I can fix it, i was just hoping i wouldn't have to. Anyway, i can make it somewhere in my car but no big scope since i can only fit one in my car. I will try to get the guy out before this weekend. I totally relate with that crazy post Stacy and want to go to dark skies very soon. I wouldn't mind going back to sunrise or to Bill's yurt or Rob's. Anyone else have an idea? throw it out. Lets go somewhere. What about high elevation places? Are there any good observing spots high up in a dark area? I am going to call the guy about my truck right now. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5176809 - 04/17/12 11:39 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread nameaI need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier?I need a vacation. what's up for the may new moon? any ideas? anybody? mike will be out of town. rainier? thread namesake? actually the feeling came through quite well... "CABIN FEVER" >Let me the *BLEEP* out-a-here I'm feeling it tooooooooooo! Did anyone happen to view last night? It was clear as a bell. I took the night off... my aching body...... It had better clear up good soon...Mars is making its way across the sky to fast..Jupiters gone too. I have boyscouts who want to see Mars and Saturn so they can earn a science badge...... Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5177240 - 04/17/12 04:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Me too Stacy. I'm trying to keep May open & hoping for good weather Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5177532 - 04/17/12 07:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lol, yeah. That tablet has some quirks when posting to CN. It looked quite odd but coincidentally appropriate so I left it. May new moon is the 20th. Like to do a long weekend somewhere dark! I would take the 18th (Friday) off and head out Thurs. night. Eastern WA is usually warmer and clearer.... Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5177816 - 04/17/12 11:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sounds good. I am taking my truck in tomorrow. It will be ready for the weekend. Then i can pack both scopes and bedding. Are you thinking about table mountain? Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5178389 - 04/18/12 12:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Table mountain is not likely for may. Probably still buried in snow. Was looking around the 3,000 foot level. Thought I found a good place but it turned out to be a nudist camp. Another place was some kind of square dancing retreat. Neither seemed like a great option lol. Post Extras:       ~Steph~ Texas Wildflower Reged: 06/11/05 Loc: North Texas Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5178410 - 04/18/12 12:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   ::sticks head in:: Hi to all my PNW friends that I haven't talked to in FOREVER!! Hope you're all doing well with your cabin fever.... Hope more viewing opportunities come your way soon. Hugs and kisses, Steph Post Extras:       Dragonwatcher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/21/08 Loc: Kirkland, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5178444 - 04/18/12 12:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Thought I found a good place but it turned out to be a nudist camp. We have telescopes and binoculars. I say August or July on the adjacent property would be fine. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Dragonwatcher]       #5178499 - 04/18/12 01:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ha Ha Jackie, However "Nudist" does not always equal "Attractive" lol. Certainly not in my case anyway. Now get out your mental image erasers! Sean heads up! Nice set of rotating rings for your 8" newt on another site at a great price. I'd jump on it but no longer have a beefy enough mount for my newt. I'll send you a PM as well. Stacy Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: ~Steph~]       #5178500 - 04/18/12 01:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: ::sticks head in:: Hi to all my PNW friends that I haven't talked to in FOREVER!! Hope you're all doing well with your cabin fever.... Hope more viewing opportunities come your way soon. Hugs and kisses, Steph Hi!!! How's the viewing in Texas these days? Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: ~Steph~]       #5178972 - 04/18/12 05:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: ::sticks head in:: Hi to all my PNW friends that I haven't talked to in FOREVER!! Hope you're all doing well with your cabin fever.... Hope more viewing opportunities come your way soon. Hugs and kisses, Steph Good Night Nurse! Steph..it's been forever.....how u iz? Rob Post Extras:       ~Steph~ Texas Wildflower Reged: 06/11/05 Loc: North Texas Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5179252 - 04/18/12 08:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well, the viewing in Texas for me anyway hasn't been too good -- between health issues that cropped up last summer and weather, I haven't been stargazing much other than just craning up my head a little to make sure some stars are still up there. And a couple of planets. And the moon. Often it's just clouds though. I did wander out to get the mail the other night...er, wee-hour-morning about 4am and saw Scorpio riding nicely with a touch of Milky Way, so that was nice. As for the aforementioned health issues, well, I won't bore you with the details but suffice to say 2011 was not my year. Liver disease *and* bum shoulders in one year is just not fair! Still rehabbing from surgery on one shoulder at the end of the year, still need surgery on the other one but that won't be for a few months probably. So how's everyone here been? Better, I hope? Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5179946 - 04/19/12 09:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Ha Ha Jackie, However "Nudist" does not always equal "Attractive" lol. Certainly not in my case anyway. Now get out your mental image erasers! Sean heads up! Nice set of rotating rings for your 8" newt on another site at a great price. I'd jump on it but no longer have a beefy enough mount for my newt. I'll send you a PM as well. Stacy I am thinking of a binocular telescope instead now. The new mount can definitely handle it and i have a whole new appreciation for binoculars after the other night. I am not going to impulse buy though. I have some house and vehicle maintenance i need to pay for first. Nudists, when i have seen them on tv, tend to look like me naked so i am not for that trip. What about east on highway 2? Bill says his place is very dark so maybe there is a place near fish lake or lake wenatchee. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5180028 - 04/19/12 10:57 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Stacy, your tablet is a terrific editor . . . give it a raise! Quote: Rainier could be fun. I don't know where on Rainier you're thinking, but the Sunrise road will be closed from the White River campground turnoff, if not at the main gate. I'm guessing streetlights would be a problem at Paradise parking lot (don't know for sure), not to mention Puget Sound basin light pollution, which is blocked by the mountain at Sunrise. Steph, I'm sorry you've been so miserable! This'll be a better year. I'll be headed down Texas way w/ scope in trailer in May! I'll wave as we go by on our way to Big Bend N.P. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5180655 - 04/19/12 06:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I didn't think about snow.... Thanks Mike. Post Extras:       BradleyB professor emeritus Reged: 09/01/06 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5183155 - 04/21/12 12:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Observing or not, enjoy this nice weekend! Brad Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5183253 - 04/21/12 01:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It looks great outside right now. Not even the thin detail robbing clouds out. If it can just hold on until 1am, i will be ecstatic! Post Extras:       ~Steph~ Texas Wildflower Reged: 06/11/05 Loc: North Texas Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5183658 - 04/21/12 06:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I'll be headed down Texas way w/ scope in trailer in May! I'll wave as we go by on our way to Big Bend N.P. I'll wave back! You won't exactly 'go by' me but, y'know, you're in the neighborhood compared to Washington. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: ~Steph~]       #5183862 - 04/21/12 08:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It is cloudy now. I hate it here sometimes... Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5184644 - 04/22/12 12:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Steph!!!!!! Great to hear from you and sorry to hear about your health troubles. I've had both shoulders operated on and can relate to the rehab challenges - on a positive note, they will get better! Hey Sean. I was over at the yurt last week and there's still a bit of snow (too much for 4wd cars/trucks but not enough for snowmobiles). It's melting out fast but we still had to walk the final 3/4 mile. I think it's another 2 weeks for it to be 100% clear. Had a couple of nice nights with a couple hours of clear skies - just naked eye and bino viewing. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5184655 - 04/22/12 12:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: It is cloudy now. I hate it here sometimes... Last night cleared up nicely around 11:00 here. The CSC showed clearing but some high clouds kept the viewing down till around 11:00. Then it was awesome. sorry you had clouds. Rob Post Extras:       Dragonwatcher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/21/08 Loc: Kirkland, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5184684 - 04/22/12 12:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I got some viewing in last night in Kirkland as the clouds were high, thin and with many sky breaks. Spent some time with Saturn though low in the sky when I was observing. Post Extras:       ~Steph~ Texas Wildflower Reged: 06/11/05 Loc: North Texas Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5184738 - 04/22/12 01:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Steph!!!!!! Great to hear from you and sorry to hear about your health troubles. I've had both shoulders operated on and can relate to the rehab challenges - on a positive note, they will get better! Hello, my friend Bill! Thanks for the encouragement! I know the shoulder(s) will get better, heck the surgicated one *has* gotten better in the nearly 4 months since surgery....just not as fast as I want it to. I'm just impatient, it's been almost a year since they started acting up and I'm just tired of it. Ah well, some day. As the sig says, I'm taking it one day at a time. Good to hear some of you guys are getting a little sky time! I went out last night...er this morning around 3 to get the mail, and it was fairly clear so I just looked around at what was up for a few minutes.....and completely forgot that the Lyrids were going on so didn't wait long enough to watch for any. D'oh! Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5184796 - 04/22/12 01:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It cleared a bit but, not enough to go out. I did some naked eye observing. For just a couple minutes to decide if i wanted to stay up answer try to wait it out. I didn't. I may try the winthrop area this summer. I can take the kids fishing and observe at night. I just discovered yesterday that my binoculars are not what i ordered. They are 20x60 and i ordered 12x60. All the paperwork was correct just the binos clearly say 20x60. I am a bit disappointed because, it is too late to return them. Our lovely weather kept me from using them enough during the return period to notice. Oh well. I am looking at the vixen 80mm bino telescope. I want the older, longer, focal length ones if i can get them. I want to get it when i have a higher chance of being able to use them, before summer ends. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5186898 - 04/23/12 06:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Just to be a pain in the rear......For all who are close enough for some EP time in the 10"f/15...I'm opening up tonight. My wife wants to see Saturn and Mars...plus I invited Cliff from the Olympic Astronomical Assoc. He lives in Bremerton..15 minutes away...so maybe he'll show. Just wanted to let the cloes folks know..and for the rest...try to enjoy the night..who cares about work tomorrow. I plan on only staying out till midnight or one anway. That means you all have 5 hours before it gets dark...... Clear nights Rob Post Extras:       morceli sage Reged: 08/22/10 Loc: Pacific NW Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5186903 - 04/23/12 06:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   With all the sun during the day this weekend, I was particularly disappointed that the skies were not very clear at night given the new moon. I was only able to get in about 20 minutes of viewing last night before giving up. However, my first observation of the evening made it a complete success. I saw a very bright object coming from the west-northwest. At first it was so bright, I thought it might be an airplane rather than a satellite. But the light and movement made it seem very satellite-ish for me. Using my telrad and finder scope, I was quickly able to position my telescope to the predicted path. When it came through the EP, I was able to track it. It only took a couple of seconds to recognize the solar panels on both sides. It was the ISS!! I was able to track it across half the sky through its light completely fading. It was a pretty cool experience. I tried looking up the orbit path on heavens-above only to be initially disappointed. It was saying the ISS wasn't in the area at the time. But I was so sure of what I saw!! Then I discovered the issue - it at the wrong location. Once I put in Washington, the time and start/end path confirmed it for me. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: morceli]       #5187245 - 04/23/12 10:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Pretty cool. I have seen it only naked eye. That is one thing i could try with my fast refractor. It would be fun chasing it down. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5187464 - 04/24/12 02:31 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: It cleared a bit but, not enough to go out. I did some naked eye observing. For just a couple minutes to decide if i wanted to stay up answer try to wait it out. I didn't. I may try the winthrop area this summer. I can take the kids fishing and observe at night. I'm not tryin to rub salt in an open wound here but even a so-so night over in Winthrop area is better than most of the really good nights over here. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5187613 - 04/24/12 08:14 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have only been there once. It was before the kids and i remember a few things about the area. I saw hundreds of deer while there, caught my limit of trout daily, and the skies were dark. I think it will be a fun trip. The crawdads steal your bait when fishing from the dock too. (just remembered that) that part will make it more exciting for the kids. At least something will pull on their lines. Goldendale is the same way. I would rather observe inside the town, streetlights and all, than observe here with no streetlights. The observatory is close to town and outside it there are more visible stars (naked eye) than you can see within 100miles of my house. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5187807 - 04/24/12 10:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   ISS -- Congrats! Good Catch! I've tried to track it without success . . . yet. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5188156 - 04/24/12 02:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   What a fantastically wierd night last night. I opened the OB up at around 6:00 to get things ready..it was awesome clear..I was pumped. I went in for some eats and....around 8:00 the big heavy rain clouds began to move it. I was like..what the..... They were moving pretty fast to and I was beginning to lose heart. My wife bagged on me..so I told her if it doesn't get better by 9:00..I'm throwing in the towel. Shoot, my CSC didn't show a cloud in the sky..it was pretty good with moderate seeing. Then as I was going to do my final 9:00 check it cleared up. I mean like BAMB!. So I ran out to the OB and slewed the scope and set the clock. I then noticed an extremely bright object to the West..I mean very bright....it had to be Venus..it was like the moon it was glaring. So I swung the big boy around and focused in on what was a fantastic view of a crescent Venus. I viewed it for quite some time since it was close to going behind the trees. I had never seen it so crescent and with such image scale...I used the 25mm at 152x...sweet. Next I swung aback around to tackle Mars.....not knowing what to expect..I trained the big guy on the Red planet. At first the unsteady skies were making the surface shaky but I then had quite a time with some serious steady air...and then it happened.....Bamm...even at 152x I saw it...awesome brown mottling, surface conturing and the white polar cap...it was awesome.....I then jumped to a 10mm ep and at 381x it was great. Not as good as the 25mm..but I then put in the 14mm and found the sweet spot. 272X was it...oh so much detail...I viewed for nearly 30 minutes..watching the seeing faid and then POP! I never had seen so much surface detail on Mars before...and this, when the seeing was marginal. FANTASTIC! One other note...this past weekend was the Lyrid meteor shower...and while I was scanning for Saturn, while still on Mars, several fire balls crossed the Eastern sky..most impressive. Plus I was treated to several ridium flares thrown in from the North...I mean...like what a fireworks night.....Very exciting. After nearly 40 minutes on Mars I finally swung the scope to Saturn...this was a challenge because as I was viewing Mars the clouds moved back in and since Saturn was much lower in the horizon....it wasn't going to happen....I looked about and watched as Ursa Major was engulfed then I opted to shut things down. 90 minutes in....but what a fantastic 90 minutes. What turned out to be an almost failed evening turned into the best Mars show I had ever seen...with some fantastic Lyrid fireballs thrown in and a firey Venus..... Did anyone even try to go out last night? Cliff didn't get back with me so it was just me the 10"f/15 and Buble'on the stereo....so sweet. And now we are back to the rain pattern.....I sure fooled that weather witch last night. Rob Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5188493 - 04/24/12 05:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Same for me Rob. Even with some thin clouds overhead, I had some excellent views of both Venus and Mars. Same kind of seeing too - it would go from real bad to really good. The 3.5XW in my ED120 is just about perfect for high-power views in this scope (257x). I had a good hour or more before the heavy clouds rolled in. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5188516 - 04/24/12 05:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Same for me Rob. Even with some thin clouds overhead, I had some excellent views of both Venus and Mars. Same kind of seeing too - it would go from real bad to really good. The 3.5XW in my ED120 is just about perfect for high-power views in this scope (257x). I had a good hour or more before the heavy clouds rolled in. Looks like the seeing held us back to the 257~275 power range. Did you see the detail on the surface of Mars? My 10" of aperature helped...over twice what you were using. Still on poor seeing nights smaller aperature scopes can sometimes out perform greater aperature ones. Did you see any Lyrid meteors? I'm not doubting you got in an extra hour.......I'm much farther West and a bit South of you......and the clouds were coming in from the SouthWest. Glad you got out...... Rob Post Extras:       ~Steph~ Texas Wildflower Reged: 06/11/05 Loc: North Texas Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5189021 - 04/24/12 11:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sounds like you two had an excellent night!! Coolness. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5189160 - 04/25/12 01:27 AM Attachment (5 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I have only been there once. It was before the kids and i remember a few things about the area. I saw hundreds of deer while there, caught my limit of trout daily, and the skies were dark. I think it will be a fun trip. The crawdads steal your bait when fishing from the dock too. (just remembered that) that part will make it more exciting for the kids. At least something will pull on their lines. That's where I spent from 1am saturday morning till monday afternoon. went to Sun Mountain Lodge for dinner on Saturday night. oh yes, the deer...we saw 200 easy on our way to Sun Mountain. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5189176 - 04/25/12 01:49 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And... it wasn't really naked eye, you could just see some light flashing and a very evident brightness in the northern sky. They're working on getting the North Cascades Highway open with the goal of opening within the next week or two. There are lot's of excuses not to venture over there but there are lots of reasons to go. The wild flower bloom is coming on soon. The whole valley will be yellow with wild Sun flowers. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: ~Steph~]       #5189710 - 04/25/12 11:48 AM Attachment (12 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Sounds like you two had an excellent night!! Coolness. OH it was cool...coulda lasted a lot longer...but I got about as much excitement in that 90 minutes as I sometimes get in twice as much time on other nights...... What I enjoyed was being able to take my time to open the big OB's roof and slew around that big scope and then close up shop in no time. The drive system for the roof can be controled so I can shut the roof in a third the time as it took to open it.......Slow to open and when I'm done fast to close it(If I want). It's just the way the system worked out...one motor to open and another to close. And when you're ready to go in, sometimes closing shop fast is on your mind. Yeah it was a great night. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5189755 - 04/25/12 12:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   What rig did you take out to the location to take the pics? Rob Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5189894 - 04/25/12 01:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Looks like the seeing held us back to the 257~275 power range. Did you see the detail on the surface of Mars? My 10" of aperature helped...over twice what you were using. Still on poor seeing nights smaller aperature scopes can sometimes out perform greater aperature ones. Did you see any Lyrid meteors? I'm not doubting you got in an extra hour.......I'm much farther West and a bit South of you......and the clouds were coming in from the SouthWest. Glad you got out...... Rob Yes - the detail on Mars was there just enough to make out, but not real contrasty due to the thin clouds. I did not see a single Lyrid. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5189960 - 04/25/12 02:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Looks like the seeing held us back to the 257~275 power range. Did you see the detail on the surface of Mars? My 10" of aperature helped...over twice what you were using. Still on poor seeing nights smaller aperature scopes can sometimes out perform greater aperature ones. Did you see any Lyrid meteors? I'm not doubting you got in an extra hour.......I'm much farther West and a bit South of you......and the clouds were coming in from the SouthWest. Glad you got out...... Rob Yes - the detail on Mars was there just enough to make out, but not real contrasty due to the thin clouds. I did not see a single Lyrid. You were too busy looking through the eyepiece. I heard a fairly low prediction like 16 an hour or so. I didn't hear it first hand from the news or check facts but, if that was the real count, it would be easy to miss them. Nice pictures Robert. I really need to take the kids up there. The deer alone would make them happy. There is a lake not far from town with a campground. It starts with a P. Like paragon or pedragon... Probably not even close but i can't remember the name. Anyway that is where we will probably camp. I need to get out of here soon!!! Every change or out of the norm request by management is now getting under my skin and i am getting a bad attitude. This is nothing a night under the stars couldn't fix but, mother nature would rather torture me. I am going to look for a decent forecast somewhere in the state and am going there. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5189972 - 04/25/12 02:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Sounds like you two had an excellent night!! Coolness. OH it was cool...coulda lasted a lot longer...but I got about as much excitement in that 90 minutes as I sometimes get in twice as much time on other nights...... What I enjoyed was being able to take my time to open the big OB's roof and slew around that big scope and then close up shop in no time. The drive system for the roof can be controled so I can shut the roof in a third the time as it took to open it.......Slow to open and when I'm done fast to close it(If I want). It's just the way the system worked out...one motor to open and another to close. And when you're ready to go in, sometimes closing shop fast is on your mind. Yeah it was a great night. Rob This picture looks like you are ready to fire on your neighbor. Heavy artillery you got there sir. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5190188 - 04/25/12 04:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Quote: Sounds like you two had an excellent night!! Coolness. OH it was cool...coulda lasted a lot longer...but I got about as much excitement in that 90 minutes as I sometimes get in twice as much time on other nights...... What I enjoyed was being able to take my time to open the big OB's roof and slew around that big scope and then close up shop in no time. The drive system for the roof can be controled so I can shut the roof in a third the time as it took to open it.......Slow to open and when I'm done fast to close it(If I want). It's just the way the system worked out...one motor to open and another to close. And when you're ready to go in, sometimes closing shop fast is on your mind. Yeah it was a great night. Rob This picture looks like you are ready to fire on your neighbor. Heavy artillery you got there sir. Nah..that was where I left it after the nights viewing. My neighbors that direction are too far away and behind lots of trees...bout 1/2 mile away actually. I wish Google Earth had an updated image with the roof rolled back....that would be cool. I had an airplane flying around me the other day when the roof was open...I think the pilot thought I did have some kind of mega gun...I just waved..... Not to mention the helicopter who flew over and stopped and hovered one time.....That made me feel wierd. It's just a big telescope people...... Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5190219 - 04/25/12 04:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think if it wasn't f15 it wouldn't have such a menacing appearance. Small price to pay for good color correction in a 10" refractor. I bet the helicopter pilot was just thinking "man that is a giant telescope!" the airplane pilot was probably moving too fast to get a good look. I get people slowing down and giving me a long stare when i have the big black cannon out. At least yours looks like a telescope. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5190234 - 04/25/12 04:51 PM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oh..I nearly forgot..this is what came in on me that evening....red clouds....then by nine it cleared. Pretty but unwanted. Now can we get some nice clear uninterupted night skies..... Rob(There is laways Saturday night..that looks interesting) Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5190324 - 04/25/12 05:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Saturday night huh? Sounds good to me. I got the truck fixed so i am ready. I can bring the cannon and the small artillery (Z12 and genesis sdf). I should have my 11lb counterweight by then to balance the unused side of my mount. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5190495 - 04/25/12 07:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Saturday night huh? Sounds good to me. I got the truck fixed so i am ready. I can bring the cannon and the small artillery (Z12 and genesis sdf). I should have my 11lb counterweight by then to balance the unused side of my mount. What does the long range forcast look like for Saturday night? Anybody know? My CSC doesn't project that far forward..but Friday looks like its getting better. That would be fun....if Saturday night is good...we can make up for the lost Saturday several weeks ago. Looking out the window currently doesn'r bring me any confidence since its raining like mad..... No problem...3 days away can make a big diff. Rob Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5190515 - 04/25/12 07:34 PM Attachment (11 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: What rig did you take out to the location to take the pics? Rob I used an AT65EDQ scope on an LXD75 mount. Camera is a modified Canon XS/1000D. My main thrust for this trip was to get first light with my Quantix mono CCD camera (wich I did do) but I didn't have a UV/IR filter (it arrived Saturday and I was allready gone)... this is the first sky light - 18 X 1 minute of M13 through my AT6RC on my Atlas EQ-G. My plan is to use the mono camera for straight Luminance imaging, then combine it with the RGB from my color cameras. I still have some mounting issues to address, but I log it as a very successful first light. this thing is so sensitive it's unreal! Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5190545 - 04/25/12 07:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: There is a lake not far from town with a campground. It starts with a P. Like paragon or pedragon... Probably not even close but i can't remember the name. Anyway that is where we will probably camp. I need to get out of here soon!!! Pearrygin Lake... I've been looking around for this coming weekend. so far, over near Palouse Falls is looking like the best of mostly not great across the state with partly cloudy Friday night/Saturday night. I often look further and am willing to travel if the sky looks like it'll pay off. Often for me, the final decision to go or not is made about 30 seconds before I pack the car. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5190583 - 04/25/12 08:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: What rig did you take out to the location to take the pics? Rob I used an AT65EDQ scope on an LXD75 mount. Camera is a modified Canon XS/1000D. My main thrust for this trip was to get first light with my Quantix mono CCD camera (wich I did do) but I didn't have a UV/IR filter (it arrived Saturday and I was allready gone)... this is the first sky light - 18 X 1 minute of M13 through my AT6RC on my Atlas EQ-G. My plan is to use the mono camera for straight Luminance imaging, then combine it with the RGB from my color cameras. I still have some mounting issues to address, but I log it as a very successful first light. this thing is so sensitive it's unreal! Cool I like the small gallaxy on the left. What's up with the defraction spikes on the brighter stars? Did your scope induce those? Rob Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5190688 - 04/25/12 09:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Quote: What rig did you take out to the location to take the pics? Rob I used an AT65EDQ scope on an LXD75 mount. Camera is a modified Canon XS/1000D. My main thrust for this trip was to get first light with my Quantix mono CCD camera (wich I did do) but I didn't have a UV/IR filter (it arrived Saturday and I was allready gone)... this is the first sky light - 18 X 1 minute of M13 through my AT6RC on my Atlas EQ-G. My plan is to use the mono camera for straight Luminance imaging, then combine it with the RGB from my color cameras. I still have some mounting issues to address, but I log it as a very successful first light. this thing is so sensitive it's unreal! Cool I like the small gallaxy on the left. What's up with the defraction spikes on the brighter stars? Did your scope induce those? Rob the mono image was taken using the Ritchey-Chrétien reflector so it's got the 4 vanes holding the secondary, so yes the scope induces them. I used the AT65EDQ on all the other images Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5190836 - 04/25/12 11:24 PM Attachment (8 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Quote: Quote: What rig did you take out to the location to take the pics? Rob I used an AT65EDQ scope on an LXD75 mount. Camera is a modified Canon XS/1000D. My main thrust for this trip was to get first light with my Quantix mono CCD camera (wich I did do) but I didn't have a UV/IR filter (it arrived Saturday and I was allready gone)... this is the first sky light - 18 X 1 minute of M13 through my AT6RC on my Atlas EQ-G. My plan is to use the mono camera for straight Luminance imaging, then combine it with the RGB from my color cameras. I still have some mounting issues to address, but I log it as a very successful first light. this thing is so sensitive it's unreal! Cool I like the small gallaxy on the left. What's up with the defraction spikes on the brighter stars? Did your scope induce those? Rob the mono image was taken using the Ritchey-Chrétien reflector so it's got the 4 vanes holding the secondary, so yes the scope induces them. I used the AT65EDQ on all the other images I'd like to see your setup some day. I only take single exposure images through my 6" and 10" refractors. The image scale of M13 in the 10"f/15 is so stunning with a 25mm EP it ....takes up the entire field. You take some good images. Here is one 1 sec exposure of Jupiter through the 10" Rob Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5190854 - 04/25/12 11:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You know, that's a mighty crisp image @ 1 X 1 second! What, is Jupiter 3D when looking at it through your scope! Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5190910 - 04/26/12 12:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Diggin' all the pix! Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5190956 - 04/26/12 12:43 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A conversation with a friend motivated me today, so (quoting The Great One), "Away we go!" http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5190954/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1 Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5191477 - 04/26/12 11:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: You know, that's a mighty crisp image @ 1 X 1 second! What, is Jupiter 3D when looking at it through your scope! Yeah...I don't stack images..nor do I use black or whites or opaques...just the raw data taken at the EP in seconds. Jupiter being so bright only requires second exposures....longer exposures and the images was bloated from ever exposure. I'm hand exposing with a hand remote controller I made for my 350D Rebel. I don;t know about any 3D ability...but an f/15 brings out some cool resolution and the 10" aperature gathers ample photons. Thanks for the comment. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5191495 - 04/26/12 11:24 AM Attachment (14 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is my first attempt at M13 taken through a 6"f/6.5 refractor I made.....again a simple single exposure image..around 5~7 seconds. Tracking was off a bit too...but hey..this was my first attempt at DSOing and my 350D Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5191685 - 04/26/12 01:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice shot Rob. Is it the large aperture that lets you get away with short exposures? Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5191753 - 04/26/12 01:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Nice shot Rob. Is it the large aperture that lets you get away with short exposures? Typically the faster the scope the shorter the exposure..this image was taken with my homemade 6"f/6.5. Longer exposures in the 6"f/6.5 meant CA issues. I have yet to take any DSO images with my 10"f/15...however the brightness and image scale is phenominal in the 10".....so I would tend to believe the greater aperature the shorter the exposure time. PLus I shoot relatively bright objects with lots of surface brightness. Data gathering with CCD cameras and stacking programs gives the APer lots of power to create awesome images from the date they capture. I am no computer guy and I prefer not to spend time in post processing. This summer I plan on shooting lots of summer DSO's with my 350D on the 10". I helped myself by building a diagonal viewfinder that slides on the viewfinder of the camera...now I can look down into the viewfinder then crink my neck and bend down to view. The camera now is a diagonal in of itself.... And since the camera is like having a 40mm EP in the scope I will see images at 95x through the viewfinder. I most likely will not need any EP projection..just prime focal. Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5192633 - 04/26/12 11:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Make sure you post the images. It is very cool to come check in here and get to see them. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5193279 - 04/27/12 12:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes..I will, when I take some new ones. UPDATE! Looks like this Saturday is going to be another bust..CSC and local weather shows no improvement for Saturday...and even tonight is gone into the tank. I guess spring is going to be held captive by the weather witch a few more days.....Sorry. Rob Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5193441 - 04/27/12 01:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm heading back to Winthrop ...today. Supposed to be partly cloudy. as long as it works out like it did last weekend, I can live with partly cloudy. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5193651 - 04/27/12 03:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I'm heading back to Winthrop ...today. Supposed to be partly cloudy. as long as it works out like it did last weekend, I can live with partly cloudy. Good for you...I hope you get some action...photon action that is. I've probably gotten more viewing in this year then all my NW brothers combined...so I'm not sad...just happy you are going out. Winthrop is a great place too. Luv the Western themes. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5193681 - 04/27/12 04:22 PM Attachment (15 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Just an informational image for these who have not been to GOMOC. In this image is the red location where the 18x18 Observatory is. My office is just next to it and the big building across the drive is the scope shop and mirror making shop. Next to that to the left is my machine shop. Down to the bottom of the image is my house. The big grassy field if for scopes to set up and for shooting(when not viewing during the day). As you can see..there is pleanty of room for setting up your scopes and for parking in the horse corral top left(next to the machine shop). Thought I'd throw this up to help you get an idea what is Gold Mtn Observing Center. ONe road in and the same road out...only neighbors are across the street to the left and just adjacent to the top left...no where need the scope field. Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5194496 - 04/28/12 08:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That is a dream home you have there Rob. No wonder you never leave to come to star parties anymore. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5195476 - 04/28/12 07:50 PM Attachment (13 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: I'm heading back to Winthrop ...today. Supposed to be partly cloudy. as long as it works out like it did last weekend, I can live with partly cloudy. Good for you...I hope you get some action...photon action that is. I've probably gotten more viewing in this year then all my NW brothers combined...so I'm not sad...just happy you are going out. Winthrop is a great place too. Luv the Western themes. Rob well it hasn't turned out very well yet over here in Winthrop. It was really windy and a pretty regular cloud cover last night. Today it's been pretty nice but clouds are rolling accross again. Hopefully I'll get some sky tonight since it's going to turn foul tomorrow. pearrygin lake Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5195483 - 04/28/12 07:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey Gang! Sorry if I missed this if it was already posted before ...... but...... Is there a PacNW-CN-MSHSP gathering for the Venus transit coming June 5th. We won't be able to see the entire transit before sunset but ingress begins here at 3:06 Pm so that will give several hours of nice viewing I think. Kerry, Tom A.(and Tom's mom) and i got together in Wenatchee for the last Mercury transit in 2006 (wow was it really 6 years ago??? ) and it was quite cool indeed. Our plan was to watch from the westside but weather, no surprise wasn't cooperating here so we headed east and had a very nice observation. I'd love to see the upcoming Venus transit and maybe a Plan A (west), Plan B (east) tactic will work out again. Anyone else interested???? Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5195512 - 04/28/12 08:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: That is a dream home you have there Rob. No wonder you never leave to come to star parties anymore. People don't realize that I went to star parties for 30 years..hauling my 6"f/15, and other scopes around. The Mt St Helens and Table mtn where my last official star parties to take the big 6"f/15 out to. Since my lovely wife said I could build my Observing center...and now with my new Observatory..I really don't have any reason to travel around...so I then made my place available to other folks who live near by. I opened up in 07/07/07. Going on my 6th season. What makes my place nice is you have ample amenities..power....bathroom(In my office) and you are safe..under pretty good skies. Rob Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5195929 - 04/29/12 02:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Is there a PacNW-CN-MSHSP gathering for the Venus transit coming June 5th. We won't be able to see the entire transit before sunset but ingress begins here at 3:06 Pm so that will give several hours of nice viewing I think. Kerry, Tom A.(and Tom's mom) and I got together in Wenatchee for the last Mercury transit in 2006 (wow was it really 6 years ago??? ) and it was quite cool indeed. That was a blast! I really want to see the Venus transit. I was originally planning on driving up to Prince Rupert to see the whole transit. But work won't allow that trip now. I'm totally game for doing something locally, West or East as weather permits. If you miss this one then there'll be another in just 105 years. No pressure. Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5196556 - 04/29/12 01:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: If you miss this one then there'll be another in just 105 years. No pressure. Exactly what I was thinking too. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5196717 - 04/29/12 02:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I opened up in 07/07/07. I swear the following is true: My maternal grandmother, Dorothy Swift, was born 7/7/00. Had she lived long enough she would have turned 77 on 7/7/07. I sure miss her lefse. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5196818 - 04/29/12 03:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   the sky in Winthrop did a belfair on me last night . I had to rush around to get everything set up and going. The wind can often be an issue at the location here, so to just make sure I got something, I setup with a Nikkor 180mm ED lens on my modified Canon 1000D camera and LXD75 mount. Say what you want about these old LXD mounts but the Autostar system sure has performed well for me. This is a rough draft with no calibration frames included. Just 38 X 1 minute exposures, autoguided. I sure hope they get Highway 20 open soon... Edited by zerro1 (04/29/12 05:04 PM) Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5196896 - 04/29/12 04:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: If you miss this one then there'll be another in just 105 years. No pressure. Exactly what I was thinking too. This was how i convinced my wife to let me buy another scope soon. I am trying to find an h a scope before the transit. I have decided i should choose between the pst double stack the lunt 35 or the lunt 60. Leaning toward the pst double stack right now just because the lunts are all waiting list type scopes. I bet after the transit there will be alot of these scopes on AM. If you guys hear of one of these scopes for sale PLEASE let me know. I think a daytime star party sounds great. I just hope we aren't cloudy when the day arrives. Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5197481 - 04/29/12 11:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's what happened last time for the Mercury transit Sean. We had everything planned and were all set when the forecast tanked so we headed east. Plan to be flexible (travel-wise) that day and we'll increase our chances for good viewing. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5197527 - 04/30/12 12:21 AM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Is there a PacNW-CN-MSHSP gathering for the Venus transit coming June 5th. We won't be able to see the entire transit before sunset but ingress begins here at 3:06 Pm so that will give several hours of nice viewing I think. Kerry, Tom A.(and Tom's mom) and I got together in Wenatchee for the last Mercury transit in 2006 (wow was it really 6 years ago??? ) and it was quite cool indeed. That was a blast! I really want to see the Venus transit. I was originally planning on driving up to Prince Rupert to see the whole transit. But work won't allow that trip now. I'm totally game for doing something locally, West or East as weather permits. If you miss this one then there'll be another in just 105 years. No pressure. Yep, that was a blast ! One of the top star parties I've attended, sure hope we can do it again this June. I'd say that spot in Wenatchee should be on the list again. (Badger Mtn.) Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5197561 - 04/30/12 12:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am going to call and see how long the wait is for an h alpha scope tomorrow. I really want one to see Venus. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5197566 - 04/30/12 01:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oh yeah. Driving is the least of my concerns. We have to be where the sun is. Maybe we should plan on being at one of the passes to make it easier to go further east. If it works out, we'll be at a nice high altitude, if not, the drive will be shorter. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5197569 - 04/30/12 01:06 AM Attachment (10 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Thought I'd throw this up to help you get an idea what is Gold Mtn Observing Center. ONe road in and the same road out... Sure is a nice place Rob. I usually park here when I visit... Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5197989 - 04/30/12 10:30 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi, Guys. I'd like to join you for the Venus transit, and it looks as if my schedule will permit. Fingers crossed on weather! Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5198158 - 04/30/12 12:09 PM Attachment (11 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I shot Kerry's cool collection of hand-made air guns here! Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5198255 - 04/30/12 01:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I just ordered a pst for the transit. They didn't have any of the double stacked ones. The lunt 60 has a 4-5 month wait. Bummer lack of prior planning... Anyway, i thought it would be cool to watch in h alpha and see some flares at the same time. I just wish i could have bought one of the 60mm or the double stacked lunt35/ pst. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5198561 - 04/30/12 04:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Thought I'd throw this up to help you get an idea what is Gold Mtn Observing Center. ONe road in and the same road out... Sure is a nice place Rob. I usually park here when I visit... Yes you do bro..and all the other boys gather around you...probably because you have such a great EP collection..they all want to share....... Unlike past years(when I set the 6"f/15 up in the middle of the drive...right behind you)...This year I will be hiding out in the Observatory with Buble' on the stereo.. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5198591 - 04/30/12 04:24 PM Attachment (12 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I shot Kerry's cool collection of hand-made air guns here! Right..a bit to the left off the deck and across the yard to his custom target stand.....heehee And we BBQed in the circled area and then shot the live rifles along the thin line toward the trees.....shooting during the day and star party at night.... Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5198676 - 04/30/12 05:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have June 5th off work now with the option for June 6th also. I did that in case i want to stay for nightshift observing too. Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5198919 - 04/30/12 07:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm planning on viewing the Venus transit as well. I saw the Mercury transit from my driveway in Woodinville - I had just gotten back in the hobby after leaving for a few years. I'll be ready to drive to E WA if necessary. Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5198969 - 04/30/12 08:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I'd say that spot in Wenatchee should be on the list again. (Badger Mtn.) Absolutely! If we have to go east then that's a good spot. Anyone have a favorite 'low in the west' viewing spot on this side of the mountains? I have a couple. One is in the Fairwood neighborhood of Renton. Top of a hill overlooking a powerline trail. Fantastic view to the west. Another really fine spot for viewing the western horizon is Rock Candy Mountain in the Capitol Forest. It's a bit further to drive but you can see right down to the ocean. Post Extras:       BradleyB professor emeritus Reged: 09/01/06 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5199287 - 04/30/12 11:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If the weather is good I would be up on Rock Candy Mtn. It's near my place, sort of. SW of Oly a few miles. Not sure I can get off work to go east so I hope the weather is good here. Brad Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5199531 - 05/01/12 03:08 AM Attachment (8 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   my trip back from winthrop today... Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5199532 - 05/01/12 03:11 AM Attachment (7 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   the hills are taking on a slight yellow tinge Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5199534 - 05/01/12 03:12 AM Attachment (7 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wenatchee River is picking up volume... Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5199926 - 05/01/12 11:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: my trip back from winthrop today... Spring has sprung! Or at least it's springing. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5200152 - 05/01/12 01:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: my trip back from winthrop today... Spring has sprung! Or at least it's springing. I just missed it because of the rain. We are at least getting closer to predictable weather. We are over the hump though. It will be great to actually plan an event and then get to go. Hopefully the may new moon will be clear for us. Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5200201 - 05/01/12 01:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: I'd say that spot in Wenatchee should be on the list again. (Badger Mtn.) Absolutely! If we have to go east then that's a good spot. Anyone have a favorite 'low in the west' viewing spot on this side of the mountains? I have a couple. One is in the Fairwood neighborhood of Renton. Top of a hill overlooking a powerline trail. Fantastic view to the west. Another really fine spot for viewing the western horizon is Rock Candy Mountain in the Capitol Forest. It's a bit further to drive but you can see right down to the ocean. Seems to me that the limiting factor to the west will be the Olypmic Mnt assuming you can eliminate local obstructions. For close in spots I was thinking about the Forest Ridge School at the top of Somerset hill in Bellevue (near Factoria) or I could check at work and see if I could use the company's outdoor observation deck on the top (28th floor) of Lincoln Square in Bellevue - it's west facing. I was at a wedding reception many years ago at Forest Ridge and recall that the parking lot looked clear to the west but I'd have to check to be sure (could call them to ask permission too). Assuming the weather is good here it could be a nice outreach opportunity given the time is close to when schools let out for the day. About that badger mountain spot where we watched the Mercury transit, I took my parents out for an afternoon drive 2 weeks ago and went back to that spot. We turned off the road in the same place where we watched the transit and just at that moment a bobcat jumped out of the sagebrush directly in front of the car! So cool! Those guys are so rare to see out in the middle of the day (4:30 PM). Then as we got back on the Badger Mnt road there were 6 deer crossing over the ridge 50 yards ahead of us with the backdrop of the Wenatchee and Columbia River valleys below. All within about a 15 min drive of my parent's place. It was great to get my folks out for some great views and and wildlife - they can't do this anymore by themselves. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5201447 - 05/02/12 09:25 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Do you think your parents would like to see the Venus transit? If we were to meet near Olympia, where would the backup plan be? If we go up Stephens pass, then we could be in wenatchee in a short drive. Driving to Olympia then to wenatchee sounds a bit rough. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5201594 - 05/02/12 11:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: About that badger mountain spot where we watched the Mercury transit, I took my parents out for an afternoon drive 2 weeks ago and . . . That sounds like a spot I'd really like to see, both night & day. I found out a few minutes ago that our companion will be unable to accompany Anne & me to Big Bend in mid-May. I haven't yet discussed alternatives with Anne but I'm sure we'll do something else. One highly probable option I'd like to discuss with her would be starting our trip (leaving Thurs., 5/17) at our Goldendale property, then proceeding to No. Dakota as we had originally planned. If we go to G/dale I'll be sure to advertise the fact in case anyone wants to drop by. If so, there will be no honey bucket. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5201614 - 05/02/12 11:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That would be cool. There were a few posts about what to do this new moon. Depending on weather and work, i can most likely do at least Saturday night but, possibly Friday night too. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5202877 - 05/02/12 10:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Anne & I had a change in vacation plans. Our friend who was going to accompany us to Big Bend won't be able to make it, and the thought of that long a hurried trip, paying for all, not half of the gas, doesn't seem too likely. So we talked about alternatives over dinner, and part of the new plan is that we currently expect to camp at the G/dale property Thurs. - Sat. or Sun., 5/24 to 5/26 or 27. Please feel free to drop by or to stay. Photons included. No honey bucket. Note than this is a different weekend than mentioned above. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5203309 - 05/03/12 08:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There is going to be more moon that weekend. Btw the "super moon" is Saturday night. I bet it is going to be crystal clear for that:-) I'll have to wait until we are closer to the weekend Mike. I am back to working Saturdays on most weekends and i am taking a few week days off for Venus and pixieland very close together. They do have me training someone right now so i may be on 40 hours by then but he has a long way to go before he is ready. My bigger gantry is 320"x 96" so it can be intimidating to guys used to running 40-60" mills. So the moral of the story is i won't know for a couple weeks, probably the Wednesday or Thursday right before that weekend. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5203533 - 05/03/12 11:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   What's the "super moon?" (And when is the super-duper moon?) Edit: OK, one final zag to the earlier zig. Final plan change: We'll be at G/dale Thurs. - Sun., 5/17-20. Sean gets high marks for reminding me of the new moon! (See how easy I am?) Edited by Spaced (05/03/12 01:57 PM) Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5204329 - 05/03/12 05:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes - I was planning on driving down to Redding for the annular eclipse, but I just couldn't work it out. Mike - I think Phil Plait does the best explanation of the "Super Moon" http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/05/02/the-supermoon-stuff-again/ Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5204435 - 05/03/12 06:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The "super moon" is what they called it on the news. It appears larger than normal. New moon sounds good. I'll try harder to get Saturday off. It should be easier since it isn't so close to June 5. Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5204537 - 05/03/12 08:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Driving to Olympia then to wenatchee sounds a bit rough. Oly and Wenatchee in one day is too much. For the Mercury transit we had the backup plan in place and made the call that morning. If it's clear on this side of the mountains then any place with a good view to the west will work. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5204803 - 05/03/12 11:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: If it's clear on this side of the mountains then any place with a good view to the west will work. I know just the place near home: The walkway above Chambers Creek Golf Course has a raised, unobstructed view to the west, looking over the water. The nearest high points are the Olympics, 50 mi. to the west. Thanks for the link, Sean, I'll check it out. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5204935 - 05/04/12 02:29 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was wondering about the old Ski area parking lot at Mt. Pilchuck? Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5205686 - 05/04/12 02:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Steve provided the link. Mine was the lame explanation. My pst showed up today. Heather just signed for it. The box was undamaged. Anyway, i will get a chance to practice with it before the sun party. Well, if the sun comes out again. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5206662 - 05/05/12 01:45 AM Attachment (10 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I hope you guys find someplace nice........ OH..by the way....I build another scope...a 6"f/6.5. Just took a couple of day and some parts I had already made. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5207085 - 05/05/12 11:48 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Rob. I just made some extra counterweights for my mount. Perfect timing. I was having a hard time figuring out what to put on the other side opposite my genesis sdf. A 6" f6.5 is a great idea. Seriously though, it looks like a winner. Now you have a proper star party scope. (just kidding) it would be nice to take to goldendale though.... Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5207099 - 05/05/12 12:00 PM Attachment (11 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here are the small counterweights i made for my mount. I haven't weighed them yet. The cg5 cw is too large in diameter to use in one of the mount positions and i couldn't find what i was looking for with the right size hole in the center. Anyway, i just faced them, put the holes in, and polished them. I did it at work since i am training someone and am bored out of my mind. Edited by telenewbie (05/05/12 12:20 PM) Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5207516 - 05/05/12 04:18 PM Attachment (15 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Took a drive over to Badger Mt.yesterday to have a look around(own some property on the north side in the trees). I never get tired of the view while up on the Waterville Plateau.. Enchantments Post Extras:       ~Steph~ Texas Wildflower Reged: 06/11/05 Loc: North Texas Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5207665 - 05/05/12 06:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Whoa. NIce shot, Robert! I can't decide if that big hunk o' clouds on the left is right in front of your camera, or an even bigger hunk over the mountain! Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: ~Steph~]       #5207749 - 05/05/12 07:22 PM Attachment (12 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That is the Stuart Range/Wenatchee mountains. It is where the Enchantment Lakes Basin is located. I could say that it's one of the most beautiful places in the NW... you be the judge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE3Fgej7Xfk That cloud was between me and the mountains over the city of Wentachee WA Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5208825 - 05/06/12 01:35 PM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The moon peeking out last night...took this with a 200mm telephoto on the Rebel. Iw as extremely low and behind some trees..still quite yellow and full. Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5212965 - 05/08/12 10:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: That is the Stuart Range/Wenatchee mountains. It is where the Enchantment Lakes Basin is located. I could say that it's one of the most beautiful places in the NW... you be the judge I'd judge it to be one of the most beautiful places on Planet Earth. But I could be prejudiced - having been born and raised in Wenatchee. My brother leads search and rescue in the Enchantments. It starts getting busy this time of year. Post Extras:       square_peg Postmaster Reged: 03/26/04 Loc: Maple Valley, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5212966 - 05/08/12 10:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I was wondering about the old Ski area parking lot at Mt. Pilchuck? Mt Pilchuk would be a great place. Low horizon toward the setting sun in the northwest. A bit of a drive for those of us on the south end, though. But doable. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5213133 - 05/09/12 01:38 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: I was wondering about the old Ski area parking lot at Mt. Pilchuck? Mt Pilchuk would be a great place. Low horizon toward the setting sun in the northwest. A bit of a drive for those of us on the south end, though. But doable. I'll take a drive up there this weekend and see how the road is. It should be clear by now ...I'm thinking. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5213799 - 05/09/12 01:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It is supposed to be clear this weekend. The moon is rising later and later. Could be some good viewing. I am working Saturday and trying to get to goldendale next weekend so close to home is the only option. Anyone going to set up somewhere within 30-45 miles of Marysville? Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5214199 - 05/09/12 05:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: What's the "super moon?" (And when is the super-duper moon?) Edit: OK, one final zag to the earlier zig. Final plan change: We'll be at G/dale Thurs. - Sun., 5/17-20. Sean gets high marks for reminding me of the new moon! (See how easy I am?) I am going to try for Friday and Sat nights! Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5214241 - 05/09/12 05:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello Folks, As the Venus transit approaches, those of us who don't have solar filters will start thinking about buying them and the ones recommended by A-P are Badder AstroSolar film-based. Baader provides instructions to easily make your own from such film and I was going to order a 8x8 piece to build myself one but then looking at the prices, I found out that the full sheet 20x40 is 0.12c/sq-in while the next size, 10x10, is 0.44c/sq-in (smaller sizes approach 0.88c/sq in), so I bought the full sheet. Now I don't need more than perhaps a couple of 8x8 sizes, and if you folks are looking to buy this, please PM me and you can have it at cost (0.12c/sq-in + ship). I would like to cut it up no smaller than 10x10 though, so there are 6 pieces available. I hope the mods will look kindly at this post but I thought I would like to offer the local folks before putting it up on A*mart. Tanveer. Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: square_peg]       #5214250 - 05/09/12 06:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: That is the Stuart Range/Wenatchee mountains. It is where the Enchantment Lakes Basin is located. I could say that it's one of the most beautiful places in the NW... you be the judge I'd judge it to be one of the most beautiful places on Planet Earth. But I could be prejudiced - having been born and raised in Wenatchee. My brother leads search and rescue in the Enchantments. It starts getting busy this time of year. I agree completely. I went up to Lake Colchuk last year with some friends and it's out-of-this-world beautiful. Too bad we couldn't make full use of our 'core' permit. You really need over a week to give this area the attention it deserves. Tanveer. Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Tanveer Gani]       #5214256 - 05/09/12 06:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   BTW, I have discovered the cure for the astro-curse. Get your lawn dug up and seeded and all rain clouds will dissipate to make sure you will stand out there hose in hand watering it. Tanveer. Post Extras:       Tanveer Gani scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 11/02/06 Loc: Washington State Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5214262 - 05/09/12 06:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I hope you guys find someplace nice........ OH..by the way....I build another scope...a 6"f/6.5. Just took a couple of day and some parts I had already made. I don't think "by the way" and "I built another scope" could ever be used in the same sentence by a mere mortal such as myself. You amaze us, Rob. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Tanveer Gani]       #5214560 - 05/09/12 09:34 PM Attachment (15 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: I hope you guys find someplace nice........ OH..by the way....I build another scope...a 6"f/6.5. Just took a couple of day and some parts I had already made. I don't think "by the way" and "I built another scope" could ever be used in the same sentence by a mere mortal such as myself. You amaze us, Rob. Thanks man...but..when I get the urge......I have to do somethin about it. I hope I didn't offend anyone by my comments. I spent the afternoon rebuilding the DEC drive on the EQ2 mount Kerry donated to GOMOC. I loaned it out for several years and it got damaged and so I rebuilt the gear drive and stepper motor mount. I had to turn several gear adapter so I could fix some existing gears I had to the motor, so it would mesh with the drive gear. I also took another donated item..a Dewalt survey tripod that needed a new machined extension to attach the GEM to the tripod. I machined some other componants to make ity all work.....here is a new picture of the scope mounted. The legs are extended as far as I dare and an aluminum ring secures the legs from pushing out. This scope has lots of hight and is very stable. I also had to turn a new counterweight to help balance the scope. I thank Kerry for many of his donated parts that I gathered over many years and just combined them here. Fun stuff......again..thanks. Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5215209 - 05/10/12 10:38 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I like the focuser. It is nice to see the metal. I saw a cool scope on cn that was all polished aluminum. It was very cool, looked like chrome in the picture. How does the eq2 handle your new "little" scope? Have you tried the scope out yet? are you using it for mostly visual or wider field AP? I nearly bought an f6.5 6" explore scientific not long ago. I just decided to go 4" to help with the laziness factor after work. In reality though my 8"f6 dob is more grab n go. It isn't purty (pretty in redneck) like the refractors nor does it provide quite the same quality of view though. It is close when i put the paracorr in it. Anyway, I am sure it is going to be a great dso refractor you have and it is a Rob special so no one else has one. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5215446 - 05/10/12 12:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I am going to try for Friday and Sat nights! I hope you can make it, Stacy. Gorgeous as usual, Rob. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5215769 - 05/10/12 03:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have to talk to my wife but, i will be coming at least for Saturday night. Most likely Friday too. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5216379 - 05/10/12 11:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looking good Rob! I knew you might get some good use from that baby. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5216406 - 05/10/12 11:40 PM Attachment (11 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Bill and I will be viewing the solar transit from the top of the Issaquah Highlands park & ride. Great place, hardly any cars at the top, and plenty of room for all. Awesome views and I have seen many a comet from here as well. Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5216414 - 05/10/12 11:46 PM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is a sunset picture from up there, I took it in late June. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sky Captain]       #5216884 - 05/11/12 10:47 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Here is a sunset picture from up there, I took it in late June. I like this plan. Easy to head east should the grey goo invade. Count me in. I am still debating getting the second h a filter before then but, i am ready. Is anyone setting up Saturday night? The moon is a late riser this weekend. I can't go too far because i have to be home for mother's day but, there has got to be at least green zone somewhere we could go. Close enough.. Anyone interested? Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5217098 - 05/11/12 12:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm thinking about setting up at Rattlesnake Lk on Sunday night. I have a gig on Sat night (of coarse)! Kerry - that site looks perfect for the transit. You might see me there as well. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5217101 - 05/11/12 12:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am not buying the double stack filter. They raised the price of it and the pst by $100 since i bought mine. The second h a filter cost as much as i paid for the pst. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5217127 - 05/11/12 01:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   changed plans for this weekend (for me) I was going to head up to Pilchuck, but the NBorth Cascades Highway re-opened and my friend from Winthrop called and said the house was mine for the weekend... Winthrop it is. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5217140 - 05/11/12 01:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Have a good weekend. Sounds like you will. Don't forget to post those nice images you make. Post Extras:       Myles professor emeritus Reged: 03/25/06 Loc: Seattle, Washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: SteveG]       #5217316 - 05/11/12 02:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Steve, Where do you view from at Rattlesnake Lake? Does the parking stay open overnight? I'd like to check it out sometime. Any idea what the visable magnitude is from there? Thanks, Myles Post Extras:       Sky Captain Metal Whisperer Reged: 11/07/04 Loc: Loc: Loc: Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5217539 - 05/11/12 05:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Kerry - that site looks perfect for the transit. You might see me there as well. Nothing but a stray bird to block any views. Oh yeah, and those pesky clouds. Quote: I like this plan. Easy to head east should the grey goo invade. Count me in. I am still debating getting the second h a filter before then but, i am ready. Yep, pretty easy drive east from here if needed. Though we'll have to double check the rock blasting schedule over Snoqualimie pass. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Myles]       #5217556 - 05/11/12 05:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   GOOD LORD! Has anyone gone out and looked at the massive sun spots on the central portion of the solar disc? Awesome..with many smaller spots at the outer rim. You can see the dark spot within the umbra swirl...outstanding! Just magnificant. If you can get out and use your solar filter...do it. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5217826 - 05/11/12 08:50 PM Attachment (13 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nobody went out and viewed the sun spots...... Well I had to take pics of them and here is one. I'll crop one later. Rob Post Extras:       BradleyB professor emeritus Reged: 09/01/06 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5217832 - 05/11/12 08:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, for the last two days. They are quite nice. Will I get out tonight or tomorrow night? Brad Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5217874 - 05/11/12 09:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Yes, for the last two days. They are quite nice. Will I get out tonight or tomorrow night? Brad Wow..I just walked out earlier and grabbed my sun filter and held it up to the sun..when I saw the spots.... I had to break out the new scope to view.....Amazing. I took this image with my 350D at prime with W/L/F and a polarizing filter at 1600. Still with the W/L/F you can still see lots of surface detail within the spot and umbra. I used a 25mm Ep at 1.56x I hope to get out tonight myself and image Saturn. Fantastic night...Saturday night looks even better. Rob(Good luck) Post Extras:       BradleyB professor emeritus Reged: 09/01/06 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5218027 - 05/11/12 11:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   All set up to go out tonight. I'm going to concentrate on Canis Venatici. Might also peak at Mars and Saturn too. Brad Post Extras:       Al8236 Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/18/10 Loc: 48.9173N 122.1390W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5218639 - 05/12/12 12:18 PM Attachment (13 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've never posted here before, but do follow this thread every couple of days. Seeing Rob's photo I thought I would share mine from the 10th. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Al8236]       #5218703 - 05/12/12 01:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm glad you decided to pop in, Al. Please consider yourself invited to G/dale in June. Excellente Sun Pix! This looks like a perfect night for viewing. So of course I already made alternate plans. Anne & I are taking my mother -- my Mother!! -- to see a local production of Tommy. Mom has, by actual approximation, zero knowledge of rock music. Truth is, I think she'll like it a lot. After all, Who couldn't like Tommy? But afterwards, I just might take a long look at Saturn. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Al8236]       #5218796 - 05/12/12 02:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Welcome Al..nice image. What filter did you use...I used simple white light so the *pine tree* effect wasn't as pronounced as in your example. Again welcome. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5218803 - 05/12/12 02:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I'm glad you decided to pop in, Al. Please consider yourself invited to G/dale in June. Excellente Sun Pix! This looks like a perfect night for viewing. So of course I already made alternate plans. Anne & I are taking my mother -- my Mother!! -- to see a local production of Tommy. Mom has, by actual approximation, zero knowledge of rock music. Truth is, I think she'll like it a lot. After all, Who couldn't like Tommy? But afterwards, I just might take a long look at Saturn. OH bro...I'm doing lots of yard work during the day and some solar viewing..but tonight I'm opening up the OB and playing with my newly made iris control I added on my new 4" focuser on the 10"f/15.....I told mom....I'll be out all night...and she's down with that....... It's going to be glorious. I hope to do lots of imaging as well...... I hope others get out to. Rob Post Extras:       Al8236 Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/18/10 Loc: 48.9173N 122.1390W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: rwiederrich]       #5218905 - 05/12/12 03:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the welcome guys, Rob, I just used a white light filter that I have had for years I realy don't remember where I got it but it wasn't a "name brand" is all I can remember. I had a piece of it it in my filing cabinet and just made a filter for my 127mm x 700 homebuilt refractor last week. Post Extras:       Stacy Star Partyer Reged: 09/15/02 Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Al8236]       #5218980 - 05/12/12 04:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great Pic Al! Let's see some more OK, so I went to Robert Cray up at Tualip last night! Great show. Yes, that was me at the front of the Conga line. Good lord, how old am I anyhow?! All in good fun for Honey Bunny's birthday festivities. I must say, we had some of the best salmon I have ever experienced at the Blackfish Wild Salmon Grill and Bar there. We had the smoked salmon sampler with King (Chinook), Coho (Silver), and Sockeye... amazing. Then I had the "Salmon on the Stick" which is cooked to the side of an open fire the old fashioned way. Wow! It was quite possibly the best piece of fish I have ever enjoyed. Lightly seasoned and a perfect medium rare. Yum At this point the extended forecast looks great for Goldendale, so I am going to take Friday off and try to get down there in the afternoon with Honey Bunny and the doggies in tow. With the new moon, should be some awesome viewing. First observing trip of the year and I am seriously looking forward to it! That mushy night up at Rainier seems so long ago! Be great to see you Mike and hopefully Sean and some others will make it as well. Stacy Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Stacy]       #5219217 - 05/12/12 07:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am coming unless something serious comes up. I am going to take a nap soon so i can stay out late tonight also. I am also going to try to get a peek at the sun once wifey gets home. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5219278 - 05/12/12 08:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Today I finished cleaning up the trailer for its first outing of the year. Other than a slow leak in one tire I'll have to deal with, it's ready to rock & roll. Stacy, I'm glad your B/day excursion worked out. That's some pretty high praise for the food. One of these days. Robert Cray is a Lakes High School grad (Lakewood.) He was in the class of one of our friends (Sue, if anyone remembers the chick who dispensed Jameson's from her backpack a couple of Pixielands ago) and a couple of years behind SweetAnne's. He and his band played at one of their high school reunions. Post Extras:       ~Steph~ Texas Wildflower Reged: 06/11/05 Loc: North Texas Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5219320 - 05/12/12 08:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lovely sun photos, gents! It's been cloudy here most of the week; I tried to get out and take a peek at the sun in between clouds today, but had problems with the scope (and the clouds). *sigh* Figures, I haven't done any solar viewing in eons, other than a few minutes at NEAF last month, and when I finally tried, it didn't work out. Oh well! I'll live vicariously through others for a bit. I'm planning on going down to visit Erika Rix next weekend - she moved from Ohio to Texas last month - so I hope to get in some solar viewing with her, as well as to see some of the eclipse! Maybe the big sun spot will hang on that long.... Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: ~Steph~]       #5219491 - 05/12/12 11:01 PM Attachment (13 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There I was, heading down the east side of Washington Pass, on the way to clear dark sky. It became abundantly clear as to why the pass cannot be kept open all winter... Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5220206 - 05/13/12 12:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great pic and welcome Al!!! Brad - how was your viewing last night? I got set up, cooled, collimated, etc.... but at about 11:00 everything looked murky - dunno, like there was a thin film of moisture or clouds at some altitude that wasn't as evident with the unaided eyes. I tried galaxies, globs and finally Mars and stars were a bit bloated and Mars looked like a fuzzy peach. Just curious how the transparency was for others last night. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5220274 - 05/13/12 01:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's a Freakin' Lot of Snow! Approx. what altitude was that picture, Robt? I got home after a *terrific!* Tommy, and just didn't want to set up. I'd had the fan on, but like Bill reported, it was hazy, although I think the seeing was pretty good. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5220298 - 05/13/12 01:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: That's a Freakin' Lot of Snow! Approx. what altitude was that picture, Robt? I got home after a *terrific!* Tommy, and just didn't want to set up. I'd had the fan on, but like Bill reported, it was hazy, although I think the seeing was pretty good. Dudes....what *haze*? I saw some high stuff off to the East around 9:00..but nothing here.....dark and clear and awesome. Probably gonna open er-up tonight as well.....Great weather huh? Rob Post Extras:       Myles professor emeritus Reged: 03/25/06 Loc: Seattle, Washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5220431 - 05/13/12 03:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Bill, you may be right about last night. I have viewed less lately from home and it had seemed that the LP has increased from my West Seattle local. But it did seem like transparency was less than some early winter nights this year that I remember when arriving home from work. I had conclude LP was more worse, but you experiences may be on point. Saturn was very nice, but a few galaxies were pretty minimal - that is with my 115 refractor. Didn't stay up long enough for the nice open cluster targets in Ophicius/Serpens Cauda - those are fine objects from the city. Myles Post Extras:       Downward Bound Adrenaline Junkie Reged: 03/29/06 Loc: Seattle Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Myles]       #5220484 - 05/13/12 03:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Interesting Myles - I was also noticing what seemed like greater LP as well and I'm owndering if it was the LP illuminating some haziness up high. Rob - I knew better than to ask how your seeing was, I know it's always clear, dark and still above GMOC Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5220526 - 05/13/12 04:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I got some imaging done last night in Winthrop... the sky was great over here. Milky Way was easily visible just above southern horizon all the way to Cassiopeia (Image link provided to retain image quality) IC1396 Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5220587 - 05/13/12 05:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: That's a Freakin' Lot of Snow! Approx. what altitude was that picture, Robt? That was just below the summit of Washington Pass, probably about 5,200. That's the stuff that piles up under Liberty Bell Mountain Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5220614 - 05/13/12 05:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I took out the genesis last night. Looked at a very low Venus, Mars, Saturn, and scanned the sky. The biggest surprise was m13. I didn't think it would be more than a smudge. And at first it was. I bumped the mag to 115x and it spread out a bit still dim and cloudlike. The cool part was that the longer i studied it, the more detail i would see. First just with averted vision, then i started seeing individual stars blink in and out of view then later, i could just see the glob and individual stars straight on. It was much dimmer and took more work than my larger scopes but, it was a pleasant view and the extra work i put in made it far more exciting. On Saturn, i pushed the mag to 300x and the image held up ok with some softening. That is 100x more than the standard 50x an inch. At that mag some CA was visible though. I love tiny refractor stars! If my reflectors are rich peoples' diamonds, refractor stars are diamonds that i would buy. I also set up the pst on my video tripod so it is a one hand carry and setup is easy. Once i get a zoom eyepiece, it should be an awesome setup. I am going to start with a cheaper model, either zhumell, celestron, or meade most likely. Did anyone else go out last night? Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5220686 - 05/13/12 06:11 PM Attachment (12 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Besides the IC1396 on "page 12" I also took a shot at M31...Kind of low and a bit short with only 55 minutes total exposure, but the moon came up so...I was done. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5220697 - 05/13/12 06:17 PM Attachment (10 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The sky... 2 X 25 second exposures shot from a static tripod, stacked. It's only slightly more enhanced than what the naked eye could see last night. The more broad dark lanes were clearly visible as were the star clouds. Post Extras:       BradleyB professor emeritus Reged: 09/01/06 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5221045 - 05/13/12 10:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Robert, looks like you were in the right place for observing this weekend. I went out Friday night and tried out my Earthwin power filter slide. I put it in and noticed that I'd have to use a heavier counter weight. So I put it pointing up and left to go inside for the larger weight, when I heard a thunk! I did not put the scope up high enough and it slipped down and the UTA hit the ground. I stuck an eyepiece in and sure enough the collimation was way way off. I managed to get it back into sort of alignment, but not perfect and views were sort of soft. I did notice on Friday night also that there seemed to be more LP than I remembered and the dim stuff was not great, but was unsure if it was the collimation or what. I'm not sure if it was haze or not, it did not seem so, but it might not always be obvious. I also did not concentrate on Canis Venatici because it was at the zenith, right in Dobson's hole, so next month. Saturn and Mars were ok. I did try out my new UHC filter on the Owl nebula and it did bring it out very nicely. Saturday I took the scope apart and completely re-aligned it starting from scratch and it needed it. I also have a slightly better understanding of collimation than I did before, lets see if I remember it. I had other happenings so did not go out Saturday to try it out. More sunspot observing today, they are really good spots. Brad Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: BradleyB]       #5221190 - 05/14/12 12:45 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Bill, i thought mars was very fuzzy. It seemed like i couldn't get it focused. Venus i wrote off as being in the soup. Saturn looked pretty good though. All the negatives from last night get me more excited about next weekend. Mike isn't going to let us have bad weather at his place. Post Extras:       buckaroo Space Cowboy Reged: 05/26/06 Loc: Washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5221270 - 05/14/12 02:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Forecast looks good. Bring suntan lotion. Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: buckaroo]       #5221642 - 05/14/12 10:47 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The forecast for Puget Sound shows us moving back to a more cloudy pattern by weekend, but I'm optimistic about G/dale, typically more clear. Yesterday Anne & I took my mom to see the Rainiers game at Cheney, our first live b/ball this summer. The game featured the team's first grand slam of the year, a mammoth blast. If the scoreboard hadn't gotten in the way I bet it would have gone 450'. Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Downward Bound]       #5221683 - 05/14/12 11:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Interesting Myles - I was also noticing what seemed like greater LP as well and I'm owndering if it was the LP illuminating some haziness up high. Rob - I knew better than to ask how your seeing was, I know it's always clear, dark and still above GMOC Well bro, that isn't always the case..... However I forget sometimes that you guys live on the other side with lots more LP and that combined with any moisture in the atmosphere..yields *haze*. MY CSC wa spot on and the seeing was super. Like I said...I did see some of that haze out East but not over me. Man that is a testiment to location..even though we are in the same state...we don't have the same skies...due to LP and the location of the large bodies of water. I'm glad folks are getting out. Rob Post Extras:       rwiederrich Goldfinger Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Always Dark skies of Belfair W... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5221689 - 05/14/12 11:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: The forecast for Puget Sound shows us moving back to a more cloudy pattern by weekend, but I'm optimistic about G/dale, typically more clear. Yesterday Anne & I took my mom to see the Rainiers game at Cheney, our first live b/ball this summer. The game featured the team's first grand slam of the year, a mammoth blast. If the scoreboard hadn't gotten in the way I bet it would have gone 450'. It has been fantastic thus far.....I'm going out again tonight. I hope you guys have great weather. Rob Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5221713 - 05/14/12 11:29 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good job Mike. Take care of Mom. There is nothing like making your mom happy. I took my wife and her mom out to a nice brunch. It was very good. They had an omelette bar and crepes made to order, dungeoness crab (my daughter Julia's favorite part) and prime rib. They also had all the normal brunch items. Then i took my wife to Seattle to buy a new 50mm f1.4 (i think) lens. It is the middle grade canon 50mm. Not the L lens. Glazers camera has a giant tripod that looks like it could hold 100lbs in the store. They have a nice selection of binoculars (some very expensive) canon IS among them. It was fun to see her in her candy store. I need to save up for her next one... The 24-70mm l lens is more than my genesis sdf and mount. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5221772 - 05/14/12 12:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Robert, that image of m31 is wonderful. No spikes either, must have been the at65 quad. Not that spikes bother me. I have a question for you guys. I ordered the canon eos t thread adapter and the televue 2" to t thread adapter. Is that all i need to get a canon dslr into my focuser? Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5221789 - 05/14/12 12:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Then i took my wife to Seattle to buy a new 50mm f1.4 (i think) lens. Take her to G/dale so she can photojournalize! Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Spaced]       #5222136 - 05/14/12 03:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Then i took my wife to Seattle to buy a new 50mm f1.4 (i think) lens. Take her to G/dale so she can photojournalize! I am trying to talk her into the pixieland star party. She didn't like the sound of no porta john for this weekend. That is a good idea. There are always lots of photo opportunities in the picturesque pixieland area. Are you all ready for this weekend? I have to sweep and wash out the back of my truck to remove all the brick particles before i can load any optics in there and i also need to pick up the suitcase sized gas grill i want. I am nearly ready though. It'll be nice to get away and have 2 days off. I also need to change the oil in the truck before i go. Who is going next weekend? Rob, pack up that new scope and come on down. Bill, you too. Play tetris in the back of your car to get the 22" and the fs102 or whatever you are bringing. Tom, you Bill,Mike and Stacy have been at every star gathering that i have been to so let's not mess with the streak. I know you're not coming Rob. It is easier to try to suggest it with your shorter scope now. We will have to come to you. Anyway, i hope more than who i listed show up. Always a good time. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5222158 - 05/14/12 03:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Kerry and Steve i haven't even met you guys yet so don't forget anything while you are packing to go. Robert, you are always going to winthrop so goldendale is just another trip. If i missed anyone, just think: new moon and air that doesn't need to be cut with a knife. Clear dark skies calling you.... Post Extras:       SteveG Post Laureate Reged: 09/27/06 Loc: Seattle, WA Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Myles]       #5222435 - 05/14/12 06:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Steve, Where do you view from at Rattlesnake Lake? Does the parking stay open overnight? I'd like to check it out sometime. Any idea what the visable magnitude is from there? Thanks, Myles Miles, at the entrance gate to the park is a paved round-a-bout. The park closes at dusk but the huge round-a-bout is open for who-ever wants to set up there. It takes about 45 min to get there from my house in Woodinville. The sky is usually pretty transparent, with the Milky Way plainly visible overhead. For some reason, seeing there is usually not very good - so I typically seek out low-power deep sky things there, and high-power planetary viewing is usually better from my light-polluted neighborhood. Post Extras:       zerro1 Postmaster Reged: 08/02/09 Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°... Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5222894 - 05/14/12 11:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Robert, that image of m31 is wonderful. No spikes either, must have been the at65 quad. Not that spikes bother me. I have a question for you guys. I ordered the canon eos t thread adapter and the televue 2" to t thread adapter. Is that all i need to get a canon dslr into my focuser? Thank You Sean. I put a lot of time on M31 last year with that AT65Quad. It's a fantastic imager. The adapter and T-ring is all that you should need(though I have seen some refractor scopes require a spacer) I'll try to make Goldendale this weekend and bring at least the quad and the Canon camera imaging gear. The weather is deteriorating here but it's still looking good east. Post Extras:       Sean Puett Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/06/10 Loc: always cloudy, washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: zerro1]       #5222917 - 05/15/12 12:04 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Cool. I am going to play with the scope as a lens. Try some daytime photos to see how it works. Then i will try some moon shots. I am glad to hear you might make it. Edited by telenewbie (05/15/12 12:05 AM) Post Extras:       buckaroo Space Cowboy Reged: 05/26/06 Loc: Washington Re: Pacific NW Mt St Helens EternaThread Pt 6 [Re: Sean Puett]       #5223036 - 05/15/12 02:45 AM Edit   Reply   Quote