223 replies to this topic

[russellmm]

I was up at Hurricane Ridge on Sept 2nd during the day. I was asking the ranger if people come up at night for AP. He did not really seem to know but he said it would not be an issue. As someone posted on this thread earlier, there are some really clear lines of sight to the East and its pretty far out of the way so should be pretty dark. I may go up there at some point and test it but it takes effort

[Spaced]

Congrats on the new scope, Kreppart! I compare Hurricane Ridge most favorably to Table Mtn. The problem at Table is that you're looking south across the Yakima Valley light pollution and I expect the LP has gotten worse in the 15-20 years since I went to TMSP. That problem doesn't exist at HR and the skies are much darker. Table does have an advantage in a much lower horizon to the north and it's pretty dark in that direction. I do prefer the all-paved aspect of HR over Table.

 

Russell, there are regular viewing programs at Hurricane Ridge in the (normal) summer months. On weekends around new-ish moons John Goar, the volunteer who organized and runs the programs, sets up a couple of good sized dobs and shows off a bright example of several different classes of objects. He keeps the scopes in the building at Hurricane Ridge.  Then on full moons (normal summers) he leads a sunset hike up to Hurricane Hill. At the top, after it becomes dark enough, he gives a constellation tour and a night vision talk, then urges everyone to walk down without flashlights/headlamps, because the hike back down in the dark is straight ahead into the rising full moon. I've done that twice; it's a lot of fun! (Bring hiking stick/poles.) John's web site:  http://www.olympictelescope.com/

 

Also, the Olympic Astronomical Society organizes viewing parties at Hurricane Ridge. You might check out their web site.  They're a great bunch of people.

[russellmm]

i'll check it out. thanks for the info! by next summer, i should know what i am doing

[cliff mygatt]

The OAS had no star parties at Hurricane Ridge this year but we have them scheduled for next year along with a spring and fall Camp Delany star party. 

[SteveG]

I hope some of you got a chance to view last night. I had some of the best planetary views in years. Due to trees, I can’t look at Jupiter and Saturn at their highest altitudes, and I’ve not had a good view the past few years, especially with the gas giants sitting so low on the horizon. Last night both were spectacular, and I was using my smallest ED refractor. I stayed up late to view Mars for the first time this season. Probably the best Mars I’ve seen in 10 years, and through a 4” scope!

 

I’m not sure what weather system created this stable air, but I sure hope we get more of it!

[russellmm]

i was able to do a few hours of imaging with my newly modded Canon 5D Mark III. Was a nice clear night indeed

[rwiederrich]

Typically I am a refractor guy...but while on Holiday to Yellowstone last week I found a nice Meade 7" Mak CAss in the basement of a curio shop in Virginia City. I de-forked it and then De-counterweighted it, machined a dovetail and risers and put it on a small GEM. I'm looking forward to some clear skies soon to test it out... Terrestrially its views are great.

Come on clear skies.....

Rob

[MadHungarian]

Ah, i was just mourning recently about the death of starwatching in Pacific Northwest, but i'm glad to see it's still alive after all!  Maybe some day i'll have time again myself to drag the scopes out again.

 

Hurricane Ridge, eh?  I spent a rather cold (but productive) July night up there a few years ago.  And I was bemused by the random (non-starwatching) folks who would drive up there in the middle of the night, do various random things in the parking lot, and then leave again.  One group i was convinced was doing chinese fire drills around their car every 15 minutes.  But at least they didn't shine lights around.

[rosecityred]

Hi Friends,

 

I know I've been a pretty erratic presence here the last several years but some of you may remember me from here on CN, OSP, original Table Mountain, and/or the Rose City Astronomers.  I used to hang with Mike and Square Peg and Larry at star parties back in the day (who wouldn't?  ).  Ill health and reduced financial circumstances have kept me away from our hobby longer than I like to think about.  I've missed being part of amateur astronomy more than I can say and I hate to ask but at the moment I could really use some help from fellow PNW astronomers.  

 

My mom and I had to evacuate due to the Eagle Creek and Riverside fires in Oregon.  I was able to get most of our treasures out of our home and put them in a storage unit in Gresham, OR. Fortunately our home was not touched by the fire.  Unfortunately, that storage unit was robbed.  I've posted a list of what was taken in the Stolen Equipment thread:  https://www.cloudyni.../#entry10560554.  I'm asking you guys to please take a look at that and to let me know if you think you see any of my stuff for sale.  I'd really appreciate it.  

 

I'm not expecting much help from the insurance I had on the contents of the unit because I can no longer prove that I ever owned most of the things that were taken.  That's on me.  20/20 hindsight is a hard teacher.  

 

It's been good to 'talk to' you guys.  Stargazers and amateur astronomers are pretty wonderful people in my experience and I hope you're all well and as happy as can be in these strange days.  

 

Thanks for taking time to look at this and helping me if you can.  

 

Your friend,

Julia aka rosecityred.

Edited by rosecityred, 05 October 2020 - 06:02 PM.

[russellmm]

that really sucks. 

 

I assume you are monitoring craigslist/ebay in case they are dumb enough to put it there.

 

More than likely, they will try and sell it at a local pawnshop so those are good places to check.

[rwiederrich]

Julia...what a terrible story.....you are protecting your valuables from damage and you put them in a secured storage to protect them and they get stolen....our world is going to hell. I'm so sorry.

I'll keep an eye out for sure. I pray you find peace in all of this tragedy.

Rob

[SteveG]

I hope everyone is getting out for Mars. The gas giants haven't been that great sitting down in Sag, but Mars is really showing it's stuff. Probably the best view I've had in 10 years, and it's been consistently good every night!

[russellmm]

unfortunately, I don't have the gear to shoot/see planets but I have been looking at it every night and sometimes using it to focus my DSLR before shooting Nebula

[rwiederrich]

Yeah...I checked it out with my new 7"f/15 Mak...it is so high and resolute....I concur.... the best I have seen in years too.

Rob

[MadHungarian]

Okay, you motivated me last night to run out with my binoculars at 11pm.  And then because Mars was so bright & red, and under the principle of the camel & the tent, i had to go and drag out my 8SE small-scope for a better look.  Hadn't had the scope out for a year or two, but being ever optimistic i'd kept the batteries charged...

 

Yeah, best viewing i've ever had i think, at 222x and 286x.  286x was just a little soft, but i was viewing right over warm roofs, a warm street, and an un-cooled SCT.  And who knows, the SCT probably needs a little collimation too.

[kreppart]

Me too, set up the scope on the back deck and the whole family took turns viewing. Mars looked best around 175x - 250x through my C6 in downtown Seattle. My wife says we need a bigger scope 

[rwiederrich]

Me too, set up the scope on the back deck and the whole family took turns viewing. Mars looked best around 175x - 250x through my C6 in downtown Seattle. My wife says we need a bigger scope 

 

 

Bless your wife......and

 

Lucky you..

 

Rob

[square_peg]

That's a cool scope! F/ratio?

 

 The 8" home built cook-pot scope was the most convenient though.

 

Brad

[square_peg]

 

That's almost certainly a spot Tom Allyn and Walt (and Walt's shivering dad) and I spent a night in a while back. It's an excellent location I can highly recommend. The site is backed by a very close, steep ridge that does an amazing job of blocking lights from the SeaTacEv megalopolis and the result is a microhabitat of skies that are much darker than one would expect from a look at the CSC. A downside is that northern views are totally obscured. Another is that there are a few miles of Mowich Lake Rd., which has been severe washboard every time I've been on it.  There's room for 3 or 4 setups if people park on the opposite side of the road.

I remember that site. It was pretty good.

[BradleyB]

 

That's a cool scope! F/ratio?

 

 The 8" home built cook-pot scope was the most convenient though.

 

Brad

 

It's f/4  It's bottom heavy without any finder. We'll see what I get around to doing on it this winter. It's my experiment scope so I might try out different things on it.

[Spaced]

Wow, did I ever get lucky with the weather? I spent a week at Pixieland, returning last Thursday. I managed to enjoy the dang near perfect Indian summer week. The only scope I took was my 4" refractor and of course good binocs. There was a lot of moon, so the couple of nights I viewed I was looking mostly at planets and star clusters. I do love easing back in the lounge chair with my binocs and the Milky Way!

 

Mostly I was viewing wildlife and birds during the day. I had a couple of "firsts," including my first ever positive id of a golden eagle. Wednesday Posey and I walked out to the Klickitat gorge overlook that Tom, Brad and I (did I leave anyone out?) first visited a couple of years ago.

[MGAR]

The weather is clearing and I'm getting out of the house and heading up to Ft. Casey for camping for the next couple of days. The skies are pretty dark considering some local lights but better than the skies in Everett. I'll be taking my EXT-90 and my 130SLT Celesrton with me.

 

Having not going to OSP this year was sure a downer. Though getting out every once in a while has been good. Got some great views of comet Neowise earlier this year and seeing the parade of planets wasn't bad either.

Looks like we could have some clear skies this week into next.

 

Take care and we'll report back on the adventure.

Cheers!

Gary

Edited by MGAR, 13 October 2020 - 11:04 PM.

[Spaced]

Wishing you good luck on the weather, Gary.

[MGAR]

Thanks Mike! Last night we had clear skies at sunset. Jupiter appeared in the west followed by Saturn. Some fellow on-lookers came by and they were amazed that you could see the moons of Jupiter. One fellow said they saw Venus rise in the east, I said that was probably Mars. Sure enough out of the muck in the east rose the red dot. The locals got asking many questions, told them I'm just a casual observer and just enjoy the skies.

 

Nice dark and dark up here although there is construction going on at the ferry pier, they are putting in a new ferry dock. A lighted crane illuminates the area and they are working 7x24 by the looks of it. All in all though some good viewing and some interesting outreach among the local campers.

 

Cheers!

Gary

[Spaced]

Fun nite and public outreach all in one package!