13 replies to this topic

[Dave Mitsky]

I set up my venerable 6" Orion SkyQuest XT6 Dob, along with an 8-24mm Tele Vue Click Stop Zoom eyepiece, in my driveway this evening to give trick-or-treaters the treat of seeing Saturn with their own eyes, after they had received some candy, of course.  Quite a few of them arrived early, when it wasn't dark enough to look at anything astronomical, but eventually some came when it was dark enough for me to locate Saturn.  Some of the younger ones didn't want to look or were unable to see the planet but their parents did and were impressed.  Eventually a few of the younger, as well as the older trick-or-treaters, were able to see Saturn.  One little girl was really excited and kept saying, "I saw it."

I took the following photos during the two hours of trick-or-treating in my community.

 

Until it got dark, I had the Orion Dob focused on some treetops.

 

 

 

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[Dave Mitsky]

(continued)
 

Somewhat later I put Saturn into view.

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[Dave Mitsky]

(coninued)

 

Here's a shot of some of the kids and their parents at the telescope.  I got permission before taking the photograph.

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[Dave Mitsky]

(continued)

 

It was a very spooky night.  More trick-or-treaters showed up on Tuesday night than we've seen for many years.

 

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[blackhaz]

Happy Halloween! 

 

Very good idea. Lovely faces! Hopefully I am just one day late - planning to do Saturn and Jupiter outreach with a 90 mm refractor. It was really cloudy yesterday.

 

Max

[RMay]

Very nice of you to do that!

Ron

[Cpk133]

No Saturn here, but we did have blowing snow.

[afrancis]

Great idea Dave!

[Dave Mitsky]

Great idea Dave!

Thanks, one and all.

 

In years past, other than the pandemic years, of course, I've done the same thing, weather permitting.

[RTLR 12]

This is only the 2nd Halloween in the new house, but I setup a scope last year and viewed the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter and this year people came back by and said that they had hoped that I would have a telescope out again this year. Again we had the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter. Looks like I’m stuck for the next few years.

Stan

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Edited by RTLR 12, 01 November 2023 - 03:19 PM.

[Don25]

Was  going to do the same thing; got clouded out

Edited by Don25, 02 November 2023 - 06:31 AM.

[mjgillen]

We had clear skies and I setup my tracking DOB. Had 50 or more look through the scope at Saturn. They appreciated it. It’s a great opportunity to reach a lot of people of various ages.

 

Michael

[No N in collimation]

Candy's a good idea! I'll have to remember that next year. 

 

 

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[eric_zeiner]

Great stuff Dave!  I've been out for the last five nights with all of my gear set up in the front yard and though there was a lot of foot traffic, not a bit of interest was shown.  Too bad to because Saturn and Jupiter have been exquisite