earthbot1
sage
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 244
Loc: Central Virginia
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So far, I've done all my observing thus far from my backyard (Red zone). So I finally packed up the Nexstar 8 and hit the road. I have an old friend who owns an old house East of town. It was about 40 minute drive.
I was worried about the clouds according to the weather forecast, but they seemed to thin out, as I got closer to his house.
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
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earthbot1
sage
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 244
Loc: Central Virginia
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Once I got there I had to decide where to view. Decker leases out several plots for farmers, so I had several to choose from. I decide to go with one near his house, since he is in his mid eighties and would be joining me.
The one thing I was concerned about going to his place was his dog is very hyper and jumps on everyone constantly and he did end up chewing my jump/start flashlight. It still works as a flashlight, but the jump-start plug is a goner.
Luckily this was the one that would not sufficiently power my scope, so no big loss.
I eventually walked the dog back to the house and put him inside.
Once dark, the sky was so full of stars, that I was a bit disoriented... Which is the North? It no longer was so easy to find. I settled on Altair and Vega and got a good alignment first time! Yes...
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
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earthbot1
sage
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 244
Loc: Central Virginia
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Decker and his dog
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
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earthbot1
sage
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 244
Loc: Central Virginia
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First thing I looked at was Andromeda. It was much brighter and larger than I'm used to. I showed Decker and he couldn't see much or wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to see.
Ok, Double Cluster will be good for him. Sure enough, he was amazed by all the stars in it! I think they became his favorite right away.
I then pointed at Jupiter and even I was not impressed with the conditions..,he could see the 4 moons, but could not make out stripes. I could make them out, but not greatly.
Strike it up to atmospheric conditions.
All along we discussed ancient artist/scientist studying stars and the looking into the past thing...he was an Art Professor and Artist, so I wanted to connect to that side with him.
I did see two Leonids streak across the SW sky, one was very impressive!
I then got out my thrift store binoculars. WOW! We were both impressed with the Seven Sisters. He was telling me "I see that Cluster". I could even find Andromeda with the binoculars and it looked even larger!
Gonna have to get some nice binoculars eventually.
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
Edited by earthbot1 (11/17/09 10:04 AM)
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earthbot1
sage
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 244
Loc: Central Virginia
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So we spent about 2.5 hours enjoying his field and the amazing skies. The Milky Way was magnificent and was very evident. I would have liked to view things longer to really take them in, but I was pleased to introduce Decker to world of astronomy! I think I just upped his appreciation for his land even more. I think I'll give him my binoculars when I get a new pair, that way he can come out anytime with his dog and take in the sky!
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
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earthbot1
sage
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 244
Loc: Central Virginia
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One field had some little headbutters!
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
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Midnight Dan
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 3490
Loc: Brockport, NY
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Hi earthbo1:
Wow! Beautiful site to observe from. Sounds like you had a great night!
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Stellarvue 110 ED, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/RA drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter, Canon Rebel XS (1000D)
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rick rian
Re-Peter
Reged: 08/03/04
Posts: 23116
Loc: Upper Midwest
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Nice report and photos, earthbot1 ... thanks for sharing all. 
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Rickster
Scopes: C8, TV85
Mounts: NexStar 8i w/Ray's bracket, GM8, Oberwerk wood tripod w/Helix single arm mount
EPs: TV, Baader, TMB, UO
Denk STD Bino w/S2 PxS diagonal
Too much other stuff to mention
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Skip
Starlifter Driver
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 1571
Loc: San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Thanks for the great report and pics, earthbot1. Good of you to initiate an older friend into astronomy. As for M31, it takes awhile for folks to gain an appreciation for looking at galaxies in our amateur scopes (unless you happen to have a 30"-er - then GASP)! Ain't dark skies GREAT! 
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Skip
Celestron NexStar 6SE (Small Caliber)
Orion SkyQuest XT10i Intelliscope (Howitzer)
2 25mm Plossls; 24mm & 13mm Hyperions; 10mm Plossl; 6mm BO/TMB; 2X Barlow; 8-24mm Hyperion zoom
Telrad + 4" Riser
7Ah PowerTank
Starbound Observing Chair
Eagle Eye Observatory, Texas -
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Peter9
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/30/08
Posts: 1065
Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred
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Great report and pics Earthbot1. Thanks
Peter.
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There's only three kinds of people in the world - Those who can count and those who can't
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Nexstar 8se
150mm Reflector EQ3
6.3mm 10mm Plossls. E-Lux 25mm & 40mm E.Ps. 8mm x 24mm Hyperion Zoom. 2x Barlow. 9x50 R.A.C.I Finderscope. G.L.P. Dew Shield. Solar filter. H.C Holder.
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earthbot1
sage
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 244
Loc: Central Virginia
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Thanks for the comments! I'm lucky to have access to that spot and will be taking more trips out there "clouds permitting". Of course I did not even realize that the sky could be so good here in VA. I imagine on a more transparent night in the winter it will be spectacular.
I did see other things but didn't stay on them long because I knew Mr. Deckers would not see them well.
Ring Nebula, small but definite shape to it. Dumbell Nebula.
Alberio, actually this was a hit with Mr. D, he could see the vivid colors.He said it looked like a dash mark to him.
So yes, I've got the photon fever! I have two more Green Zones I can visit of family/friends and blue zone in a park setting (approved for viewing) about an hour away!
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
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ggarrison
super member
Reged: 07/22/09
Posts: 184
Loc: Austin, TX USA
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Quote:
I have two more Green Zones I can visit of family/friends and blue zone in a park setting (approved for viewing) about an hour away!
OK, that's just not fair 
Seriously, sounds like a great trip. Make sure to show him the Orion Nebula. That's a jaw dropper!
Clear skies
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Gordon
Celestron Nexstar 8SE with XLT coating - Baader Planetarium Hyperion 8mm-24mm Clickstop Zoom eyepiece
Celestron Skymaster 20x80 Binoculars
Smart Seat II Observing Chair
all in the hands of a total neophite 
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Register at ScopeBuddies.com to find local astronomy buddies! 
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ibase
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 2223
Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N
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Great! Thanks for posting.
Best,
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Hernando
Nexstar 8/CG-5 ASGT/EZT; WO Megrez 102ED SV; Antares 6" 1529; WO ZS66SD; Orion ST80
Naglers 5T6, 9T1, 12T2; Panoptic27; Hyperion Zoom&21mm; ES14; Meade 6.7 UWA 5K; Pentax XW7
Brandon 16;Ultima7.5/18;BO/TMB 2.5/3.2/4/6mm;UO HD 5;BGO 6;UO-V 9/12.5;WO 7.5-22.5mm;Axiom23LX
TV 2x,3x barlow&8/11/15/20/25/32plossl; Aspheric31;Siebert36-OB;Paragon40;Meade56Smoothie
C-f/6.3FR;OIII,23A,UHC,SkyGlow,U-block,8"S-flter;GLP/Telrad/MRF/9x50RACI; NexImge;Canon RebelXS
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Darrin
member
Reged: 01/29/09
Posts: 34
Loc: Northern Ireland
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Thanks for the report and pics.
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Celestron NexStar 8SE
Bresser 10x50 Binoculars
Hyperion Zoom 8-24
Plossl 25mm
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