· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Refractors Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 18UCinVA professor emeritus Reged: 10/24/08 Loc: Virginia M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10       #5605340 - 01/04/13 06:28 PM Attachment (85 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Time has come again, bring your refractor to the 2013 Mid Atlantic Refractor Soiree-Spring. Lets meet at the Staunton River Star Party We'll have Jupiter in the west for a couple of hours and Saturn culminating around 4 AM. Please bring any refractor and your enthusiasm. Pictured is the 7" f/15 Mogey refractor in Richmond. Post Extras:       BKBrown Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/23/09 Loc: Northern Virginia, USA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: 18UCinVA]       #5607944 - 01/06/13 09:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sounds great, it's now officially on the travel calender Thanks! Clear Skies, Brian Edited by BKBrown (01/06/13 09:29 AM) Post Extras:       BKBrown Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/23/09 Loc: Northern Virginia, USA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: BKBrown]       #5674755 - 02/11/13 08:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Got my reservation in, see ya'll there Clear Skies, Brian Post Extras:       Catapoman Pooh-Bah Reged: 06/06/03 Loc: VA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: BKBrown]       #5684435 - 02/16/13 11:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm registered too! Post Extras:       18UCinVA professor emeritus Reged: 10/24/08 Loc: Virginia Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: Catapoman]       #5703905 - 02/27/13 05:35 PM Attachment (15 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Not long now. Be sure to register before Friday Mar 1. The FSQ-106 is owned by one of the star party founders. I was amazed at how well it worked in Jupiter last year, considering how short it is. Post Extras:       18UCinVA professor emeritus Reged: 10/24/08 Loc: Virginia Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: 18UCinVA]       #5724401 - 03/10/13 05:59 PM Attachment (12 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I learned a lot and saw a lot this weekend. Thanks Guys! Post Extras:       18UCinVA professor emeritus Reged: 10/24/08 Loc: Virginia Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: 18UCinVA]       #5724417 - 03/10/13 06:10 PM Attachment (12 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I didnt bring a refractor as my main scope. For the first time I tried my Borg 45 as a finderscope. Ive used Antares or Stellarvue RACI finders for over ten years. Good scopes but the stars are distorted starting halfway to the edge. Stars in the Borg are sharp across the field, pinpoint with excellent color rendition. Im using the digaonal from the Stellarvue and a Meade 20mm RG with crosshairs. This gives a FOV that can fit Orion's belt. Now Im thinking of the 50 or 60mm Borgs. Post Extras:       Scott Beith SRF Reged: 11/26/03 Loc: Frederick, MD Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: 18UCinVA]       #5724779 - 03/10/13 09:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great pics! Sorry I missed it. Post Extras:       BKBrown Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/23/09 Loc: Northern Virginia, USA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: Scott Beith]       #5726521 - 03/11/13 06:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   We missed you Scott, it was a great time. Maybe you can catch the October reprise Clear Skies, Brian Post Extras:       BKBrown Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/23/09 Loc: Northern Virginia, USA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: BKBrown]       #5726621 - 03/11/13 07:05 PM Attachment (16 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   So we are just back from another terrific star party at Staunton River State Park in southern Virginia. The hospitality was exceptional, and aside from dodging some left over soggy spots on the field (we had rain and snow throughout the mid-Atlantic area the day before the event kicked off!) the conditions were quite nice. I didn't arrive until Friday afternoon and had to scramble to get my gear set up before dark (it comes first of course), and never did manage to set up my tent(slept in the 4-Runner instead). Skies were beautifully transparent that night, even if the seeing was a bit bumpy. The viewing was fantastic! Jupiter looked pretty good early on, and the crew got to see tons of DSO coolness compliments of a super 18" Teeter Dob, a fine Mewlon 210, and a couple of nice refractors (TEC 140 and SW100ED) in our camp. The sky conditions kept us up until just before dawn, and everyone went to bed exhausted but satisfied... Clear Skies, Brian Post Extras:       BKBrown Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/23/09 Loc: Northern Virginia, USA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: BKBrown]       #5726629 - 03/11/13 07:08 PM Attachment (11 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Saturday started off late and lazy. The solar filter for the SW100ED came out and we did a bit of casual solar observing along with the straightening up... Clear Skies, Brian Post Extras:       BKBrown Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/23/09 Loc: Northern Virginia, USA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: BKBrown]       #5726652 - 03/11/13 07:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There was some worrisome haze early Saturday evening, but it cleared off quickly enough, and the seeing was more stable. It was a night for more DSO hunting and splitting double stars. We hit several and had some memorable views...saw the Pup with the TEC 140 and it was very satisfying. Later, Saturn put on quite a spectacle through my Pentax 5mm XO and we were able to make out the tiny notch of the blue polar hex during moments of good seeing - I was even able to use the TV 3-6 zoom on the 3mm setting to good effect. All in all it was a memorable weekend under the stars. In parting, I have to give big kudos to the event organizers and park staff, they made the whole thing look easy and we felt right at home. There will be another star party at SRSP in October, and I hope to go down and enjoy some more of the local hospitality and fine observing. And thanks guys for a great weekend, I always learn so much when I get a chance to observe with you Clear Skies, Brian Edited by BKBrown (03/11/13 07:21 PM) Post Extras:       Catapoman Pooh-Bah Reged: 06/06/03 Loc: VA Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: BKBrown]       #5726765 - 03/11/13 08:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ray and Brian summed things up well. After getting some rest Friday night from a long day I had a great time. I didn't bring my TEC-140 this time; but knowing Brian was bringing his gave me solice that if I got to missing mine I could take a few steps over and feel right at home again. I had my Celestron Onyx 80ED, but didn't use it, just mounted it for the refractor row photo op. It was great having the opportunity to see all the DSO that I've never seen and revisiting some familiar ones. Although it may seem small, the highlight DS observation for me was seeing the Zodiacal Light and splitting 78 UMa for first time in about four years (attributed to the excellent seeing). I also learned alot from everyone. Saturday presented a public viewing session and quite a few locals (one lady told us she drove about 45 minutes to bring her son) and campers stopped through. It was such a well organized event that there was little interference from visitors' headlights. Looking forward to October. Edited by Catapoman (03/11/13 08:26 PM) Post Extras:       18UCinVA professor emeritus Reged: 10/24/08 Loc: Virginia Re: M.A.R.S.S. 2013 March 7-10 [Re: Catapoman]       #5760455 - 03/27/13 02:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I hope we can do this again in the fall. Im looking at the Novac Stargaze Oct 5th. The Delmarva Fall star party is another option, date TBA. With the 3 day star party there is a better chance for good weather. 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