12 replies to this topic

[Mr Onions]

Decided to take my little 80mm refractor to the Sage Gateshead {UK} to let the people who were attending a performance of Riverdance have a look at Jupiter.
In UK on national BBC2 MON,TUE,WED, this week there is a live broadcast of stargazing and I decided to use this as an introduction to the people who past me on the way to the performance.
Around 50 couples stopped by to look at Jupiter.
All the usual comments of "WOW" "Oh My God" etc were made,one woman said "That's better than Riverdance" really made my night.
I stopped out for about 2 hours {3 if you include cool down of the APM-TMB 80/480}

The most popular question of the night was the old favourite "How powerful is that telescope"

Two lads tried to look at the objective to see if I had an image on the glass

Really worth the minus 3 temperature and I wish I could do this more often but I have no transport so I have to lug all the gear myself and it's a 3 mile round trip.

Just used a 32mm plossl as finder and a 3-6mm TV Nagler zoom.

Looking forward to trying it again sometime.

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[Dob Frog]

Absolutely wonderful! Thank you for taking the time to go down to the Sage and share your view of Jupiter. I'm just so happy for you that it went so well!

[Mr Onions]

Thanks Diane.
I was actually doing the Riverdance at the side of the telescope all night.

[Dob Frog]

I would hope so with it being minus 3 degrees out that night.

[Jason B]

Great job! Thanks for sharing.

[Mr Onions]

Thanks.

[rick rian]

Kudos to you Barty!

Well done, it sounds like you and the scope were well received. (I'd have paid to see you "River Dance" tho)

Nice pic too!

[Mr Onions]

Thanks Rick.

Barty O'flattley.

[star drop]

Good show, Barty!

[Mr Onions]

Cheers.

[Mr Onions]

Decided to head back down to Sage this night to have a couple of hours look at the moon with same scope,another fantastic evening with dozens of people stopping by before they entered the Sage to watch a classical concert,I even managed to persuade the co leader of Northern Sinfonia to have a look.
One guy who was just starting work at the Sage and didn't look very happy to be doing so was really cheered up by the view and said it made him feel great and he left with a handshake and big smile.

I was surprised at just how many people were really interested in astronomy and quite knowledgeable too.

I really enjoy doing this,temperature wasn't as cold either so I could use high magnification from the off.

[rick rian]

Nice report, Barty! Glad you're getting out and about, oh yes.

[Mr Onions]

Thanks Rick.
I asked a few people who were looking through the scope if they had heard of Rick Rian from Minessota and a few said "Oh Yes" we've heard of him alright!