Telescope Reviews: Winter Star Party 2013

Winter Star Party Observing Report

Executive Summary: Six clear nights of viewing

Drove down with 13.1 in Teeter, 80 mm Apo, and 60 mm Lunt h-alpha. Stayed in a chickee, mostly cooked (minimally) for myself. Every night was essentially clear, except one that didn's clear until 8:30 PM. A couple spritzes of rain but nothing to cause any hassles. The only major hassle was heavy dew on a couple nights that soaked everything.

My first goal was to complete my AL Messier list, which I did on the first two nights. The second night, I went to sleep from 10 PM to 1 AM, and got up again to catch the final objects in Virgo. On Tuesday night (actually Wednesday morning) at 03:22 I bagged the final object M 61. I showed my field notes to Bill Bogardus, to back up the cleaned up log which I will send him for my AL Messier award.

The remainder of the the time was spent viewing Sue French's Snowbird Delights list from 2007 http://www.scas.org/WSP_Observing_Lists/Sue%20French%27s%20WSP%20Snowbird%20D... and Dave Chapman's Widefield list http://www.scas.org/WSP_Observing_Lists/ChapmanObservingList.pdf. I viewed about half the items on each list.
After the third night of extended viewing, I found myself ready to quit around midnight the remaining nights. Since we were starting about 7, those are still 5 hour viewing nights. Most of the other folks seemed to be on the same schedule, except for the astrophotographers.

I only attended two of the speakers, neither very good. I made an attempt to improve the quality of the speakers by volunteering for next year.

There were no other members from MHAA this year, but being my third year I have gotten to know some folks. Bill B and Jeff Norwood were there as vendors, and Alan Traino from NEAF/Rockland Astronomy club were there. Marty from Adirondack Astronomy Retreat was there, as were Sue and Alan French. And I set up my scope next to the tent of Gay and Joe Haldeman (Science fiction author), so there was plenty of good conversation.

The usual vendors were there, except for AstroGizmos, whose truck broke down en route. I picked up an iOptron Mini mount from Camera Concepts. It was used, so I saved some money, and both Jeff and the previous owner were there to help me figure the thing out.

Following the weather back home, I changed plans two or three times to try to maximize my viewing time, but also arrive home in not too bad weather. I finally left Saturday morning, arrived back in New Paltz late Monday afternoon to a driveway covered with 8-12 inches of snow.