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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 10442
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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The sky was pristine atop Breezy Hill near Springfield, Vermont, last night. I spent four hours observing with a number of fellow Stellafane ATM conventioneers, including Sue and Alan French and Scott Ewart. I had views through the 13" f/10 Schupmann medial refractor, an 18" f/5 ATM Dob, Scott's 12.5" f/5.5 split-ring equatorial Newtonian, a 12.5" f/6 Dob, an 8" f/5 ATM Dob, an 8" f/6 Orion XT8 Dob, Sue's 130mm f/6.3 Astro-Physics Gran Turismo apochromat, and Scott's 102mm f/8.6 Tele Vue Renaissance refractor
Jupiter, almost at opposition, was outstanding. While using Scott's wonderful 12.5", a dual first place award winner at Stellafane 2005, I observed the GRS, a dark area following the GRS, and a subtle hint of the impact zone as it appeared on the limb. We were able to use 350x (5mm Nagler Type 6) rather easily and with Scott's 2-4mm Nagler zoom I saw the Gallilean satellites as I've never seen them before. They were easily visible disks at magnifications up to well over 800x.
We also had a look at the carbon star optical double U Cygni.
Scott let me use his refractor and I had a great time observing more than a score of DSOs using a 13mm Nagler T6. The Double Cluster, Stock 2, Barnard's E, the Golf Putter and NGC 752, Collinder 399, M24, M27, and M31, and to mention a few, were protrayed quite nicely.
I had excellent views of M31 and M76 through the 18" Dob and of a rather dim Hickson 93 through the 12.5" f/6 Dob.
By the way, the 21mm Tele Vue Ethos is making its debut at this year's Stellafane.
http://stellafane.org/
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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Tarzanrock
super member
Reged: 12/07/08
Posts: 159
Loc: Los Angeles
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What a wonderful evening: a pristine sky; extraordinary instruments; and, marvelous people in a very special place. I hope that it gets even better tonight. Enjoy it as I wish that I could.
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 10442
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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Last night I had a chance to look through the 21mm Tele Vue Ethos prototype. Al Nagler was showing it off in Sue's 130mm f/6.3 Astro-Physics Gran Turismo refractor. We looked at the North America Nebula, NGC 6992 (the eastern portion of the Veil Nebula), M8 and M20, M31, and the Double Cluster. The Double Cluster was especially stunning. The 21mm Ethos has almost the same true field of view as does a 26mm Nagler Type 5.
I also observed Jupiter and Neptune with Scott's 12.5" Newtonian, Jupiter through a 28" Dob, M13 and M11 through Carl Lancaster's award winning 18" f/4.5 split-ring equatorial Newtonian, and the Double Cluster, NGC 457, and M31 through a 6" Meade ETX-LS LightSwitch ACF SCT that Phil Harrington was evaluating.
Unfortunately the skies began to grow cloudy starting around 11:00 p.m. EDT. I left the lower campground observing field at midnight.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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Tarzanrock
super member
Reged: 12/07/08
Posts: 159
Loc: Los Angeles
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Hi Dave:
It must have been a terrific evening. Unfortunately for you, it became cloudy.
I am curious about that new TV eyepiece; and, sooner or later I'll have the opportunity to view through one.
I am far more interested in the Schupmann scope that you earlier mentioned. Perhaps, if it is possible, you could send a photograph sometime.
Last night I was at Mt. Pinos, CA at the "Classic" Star Party where several of the guys had some world class astronomical instruments, including, but not limited to: side by side dual Astro-Physics 6 inch scopes -- a F9 super planetary and a F7 EDSF Starfire, double mounted on a Losmondy Gemini controlled G11 Mount; 2 museum quality 4 inch Alvan Clarks; a Brashears; a Jaeger 6 inch F/15; a 10 or 12 inch F/8 Cave; and, a fabulous 1956 6 inch F/15 Japanese Goto refractor.
As you might well imagine, the views at Mt. Pinos were stupendous to say the least. The views of Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune through the 4 inch Alvan Clark refractor mounted on a new AP 1200 Mount with a Zeiss 10 mm Abbe eyepiece were the best I have yet seen.
It is unfortunate that I could not be in two places (Stellafane and Mt. Pinos) at the same time, so I had to make the best of it here in California by going up to Mt. Pinos. In fews days or so I'm sure that some of the guys will post some photos of Mt. Pinos on the classics thread here on CN. I am certain that you will find those scopes of interest.
Best regards,
William
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 10442
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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William,
By the time that I arrived at the B & B that my wife and I were staying at in Chester, which is 6 miles west of the Stellafane grounds, it was clear again.
The early moonrise certainly put a damper on observing. Next year things will be back to normal and Stellafane will take place closer to the New Moon.
The skies on Saturday night gradually improved and we were able to observe well into the morning. I left shortly after 3:00 a.m. EDT, when moonlight had for the most part obliterated the Milky Way. BTW, one of the telescopes that I looked through that night was a Zeiss APQ refractor.
One of the astronomy clubs that I belong to, the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, at one time owned a number of antique refractors, including a 3.5" Brashear. We also have 10" f/7 and 12.5" f/6.5 Cave Astrola Newtonians.
http://www.astrohbg.org/ASH-i/Naylor_Observatory_info.html
You can read about the 13" Schupmann refractor and the McGregor Observatory that houses it at http://stellafane.org/history/modern/McGregor-Schupmann.html
A photograph of Jerry Logan, the winner of the first place awards in craftsmanship, mechanical design, and compound optics, and his 6" f/15 Maksutov is posted at http://stellafane.org/convention/2009/images/Gerry_Logan.jpg
Dave Mitsky
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Tarzanrock
super member
Reged: 12/07/08
Posts: 159
Loc: Los Angeles
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Hi Dave:
Thanks so much for the photos and the websites. From the photo of Jerry it appears that you guys had a little cloud cover at Stellafane. I am sure that the scenery must be utterly spectacular there.
One of the guys, Tim, at Mt. Pinos on Saturday had a Stellafane bumpersticker on his van. He spent some time telling me about what a wonderful experience it is there and how fabuluous the people are who go there. I'd really like to get out there sometime, someday.
The website of your club at Harrisburg is quite impressive. I'll read it thoroughly when I have some more time available. As for the Schupmann scope, I'm interested in those designs and I would like to view through one sometime. I looked for that Schupmann book from the- Williamen-Bell publishing house at the L.A. Library this past week but they didn't have it.
Thanks again,
William
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