114 replies to this topic

[Tom Laskowski]

Hi Darryl, welcome to TSP!  I can answer some of your questions.

 

I am not an imager but can offer some perspective as a visual observer who shares the field with imagers.

 

1. Wifi. Not sure what the rules are.  The concern is that all the wifi signals on the field will interfere with each other. Somebody else chime in here.

2. Small tent...  Depends on which field you set up on. If you are in an RV and want to observe near your RV, then you'll be in the RV field which I know little about and others with experience there can offer advice.

  What I can tell you is, if you choose to observe and image on the upper field, tents are allowed but must be in the outer boundary area outside the marked perimeter of the field. Many imagers set up a table and laptop station rather than working from a tent. Please if you do this, please use a dark filter over your laptop screen, point your screen away from the middle of the field, and use a deep shroud so your neighbors don't catch an eyeful of light.  Most imagers are polite and really try to shield their light but overall the upper field is getting brighter every year with screens and various LEDs, etc.

3.  There is a grid of power cords on the upper field (and middle field?) for powering telescopes.

4.  Cell service is hit and miss. Depends on your provider. There are various magic spots on the ranch where service seems to work.  Don't count on it though.

5.  Be prepared for wind, sun, and dust devils. Stake your equipment down and store delicate stuff out of the weather during the day.

 

 TSP is great.  You'll have a blast!  

Hey Kurt!!  I was hoping to make a return to TSP this year since I have not been there since 2018, but life has gotten in the way. I miss TSP like crazy. Maybe next year or Okie-Tex.

[BobInTexas]

RV site 12 is opened (or should be when my cancellation is processed).

[lwbehney]

Where do the visualists assemble their telescopes? Is there a battery charging location with AC power? 

[rsalva1]

Where do the visualists assemble their telescopes? Is there a battery charging location with AC power? 

 

Visual guys are all over the place at TSP but mainly in the middle field. As for AC power, I believe it is supplied on all three fields. You just need to get a long extension cord, about 50 feet or so.  

[lphilpot]

Where do the visualists assemble their telescopes? Is there a battery charging location with AC power? 

As others have indicated there's no specific location. In past years I've always set up on the upper field which (at the time at least) was majority visual. Years ago the was a brief period where it was informally suggested that imagers might use the middle field. But I don't think that ever 'took' too much.

 

There are many places on both fields that are literally 10 to 20 feet or so from a power outlet. Just depends on where you set up. IIRC, on the upper field (at least) power originates on the north end, so toward the extreme southern end it might not entirely reach. Dunno for sure since I never set up down there where it can potentially (temporary) flood during a thunderstorm.

[sw196060]

I am considering going to the TSP for the first time.   I would fly out from NH for a 3-4 day stay.  Considering total cost, I am concerned about the chance of cloudy and/or bad weather during the event.  Is that unlikely?  Am I worrying too much?

[Tempus]

Well, it's generally clear but like anyplace else, weather is never certain. I've seen 7 days of great weather and I've seen a week of rain (even had a wild fire one year).  Most years I've attended we've gotten at least 3 or 4 days of good nights but keep in mind they could have been Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If it's your first time out to a dark site and you are there for 4 nights, you'll probably get at least a night or two. Is it enough to justify the expense of the trip if you only get a night or two, only you can say.

[Keith Rivich]

I am considering going to the TSP for the first time.   I would fly out from NH for a 3-4 day stay.  Considering total cost, I am concerned about the chance of cloudy and/or bad weather during the event.  Is that unlikely?  Am I worrying too much?

No such thing as worrying to much when the dollar cost is fairly substantial. But like the saying in golf: never up never in. Gotta just take a chance sometimes. 

[bunyon]

Any astro trip that doesn't include a significant chunk of other stuff is a risk. I'd bake in a road trip around the area, maybe even Big Bend if the forecast turns super sour.

 

Like others, I've been exhausted by too many consecutive perfect nights. I once spent five nights in a soggy tent in which I did no observing. I wish, on that later trip, I'd given up and done something else.

[John Fitzgerald]

I am considering going to the TSP for the first time.   I would fly out from NH for a 3-4 day stay.  Considering total cost, I am concerned about the chance of cloudy and/or bad weather during the event.  Is that unlikely?  Am I worrying too much?

Spending that much for travel, you might be better served to stay for the entire TSP duration.

[Keith Rivich]

It looks like TSP is going to do a couple of "Big Scope Nights". Details forthcoming. But the jest of it is is that those of us with "Big Scopes" will make ourselves available, on a volunteer basis, for observing for a few hours on the designated nights. I always enjoy having visitors to my scope but I also understand folks to want to intrude. This bridges the gap. Great idea!

 

Of course I volunteered my 25", plus I should have my 18" available, so put your wish list together and make sure you stop by and visit! I will be set up in the NW corner of the upper field where Larry Mitchell used to have his 36" set up. See you there!

[SNH]

It looks like TSP is going to do a couple of "Big Scope Nights". Details forthcoming. But the jest of it is is that those of us with "Big Scopes" will make ourselves available, on a volunteer basis, for observing for a few hours on the designated nights. I always enjoy having visitors to my scope but I also understand folks to want to intrude. This bridges the gap. Great idea!

 

Of course I volunteered my 25", plus I should have my 18" available, so put your wish list together and make sure you stop by and visit! I will be set up in the NW corner of the upper field where Larry Mitchell used to have his 36" set up. See you there!

I've already started my list and am up around a dozen objects! The cool thing is: 6...10...16...25. That's the aperture in inches it takes to increase your light collecting ability by 2.5x. Meaning each one can see a magnitude deeper than the former. I've got the 6, 10, and 16-inch, but Keith's 25-inch will be super fun to view through since I'll get to go one magnitude deeper than I'm used to!

 

Scott H.

[Zhangcancan]

I decided to use this year's vacation to see the darkest skies, and I brought my 270 Awning Plus, Amazing!!

 

https://openroad4wd....ree-awning-plus

[Keith Rivich]

I've already started my list and am up around a dozen objects! The cool thing is: 6...10...16...25. That's the aperture in inches it takes to increase your light collecting ability by 2.5x. Meaning each one can see a magnitude deeper than the former. I've got the 6, 10, and 16-inch, but Keith's 25-inch will be super fun to view through since I'll get to go one magnitude deeper than I'm used to!

 

Scott H.

And I only charge $50 per hour 

[SNH]

Alright, I'm officially going since I just booked my accommodations!

 

SH

[Akarsh Simha]

And I only charge $50 per hour 

If it comes with Keith Rivich's experience and mentorship included, I'd say that's cheap!

 

I'll be around in Fort Davis some time during TSP week. I'm hoping to meet some of you off-campus!

[phobos2]

I'm going to try for next year for this. 

Ah.. who knows... maybe I'll be living in TX by then. Will be there in May house hunting and exploring. I already have family near Galveston.

[lphilpot]

I already have family near Galveston.

...you can trade nor'easters for hurricanes! LOL 

[phobos2]

...you can trade nor'easters for hurricanes! LOL 

True... will take the snow over the hurricanes as well!

[BobInTexas]

I just canceled a site at Davis Mtn SP for the 19th if anyone needs a landing area before the TSP starts.

 

Campsite Full Hookup

Davis Mountains State Park, TX
003, FULL HOOK UP AREA

[SNH]

Just to update everyone, I'll be the evening speaker on Wednesday. My talk has never been given before and is titled "Where is the Nearest Black Hole?" Be sure to introduce yourself to me if you are on CN!

 

Scott H.

[Keith Rivich]

It looks like the "Big Scope" viewing nights will be Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. I know myself (25" f/5) and Larry Mitchell (20" f/5, perhaps with a NVD?) will be participating. Not sure whom else is involved. 

 

The purpose of this is to have a of few big scopes accessible for general viewing for a few hours before we all settle in for our on personal observing. Sounds fun.

 

I know folks want to take a look through the bigger scopes but are hesitant to approach the observers, not wanting to interrupt. 

 

Larry and I will be set up on the NW corner of the Upper Field (just south of the Vendor building). If you have a certain DSO you would like to look at please bring it to our attention. If its an extremely difficult object (like the jet in M87) we will save that for after the scheduled event. 

 

Better yet, if you plan on visiting go ahead and list your DSO here (for my scope only, I don't want to speak for others) so I can put a list together and have it ready. 

[lwbehney]

I have for many years been contemplating going to the Texas Star Party, but various obligations have interfered, including this year. So as a long-time fan, what I would most want to see would be IC 1101; not for its beauty, but for it being the most massive known galaxy in the universe and also at the one billion light year club distance. I tried for it once in my 8 inch, but couldn't do it. It might be possible in the arid high plains TSP skies at that aperture, but obviously not a challenge for your awesome 25" reflector. 

Thanks for generously doing this and even though you were joking, I do think people would be quite willing to pay $50 for an hour at your telescope. 

[Keith Rivich]

I have for many years been contemplating going to the Texas Star Party, but various obligations have interfered, including this year. So as a long-time fan, what I would most want to see would be IC 1101; not for its beauty, but for it being the most massive known galaxy in the universe and also at the one billion light year club distance. I tried for it once in my 8 inch, but couldn't do it. It might be possible in the arid high plains TSP skies at that aperture, but obviously not a challenge for your awesome 25" reflector. 

Thanks for generously doing this and even though you were joking, I do think people would be quite willing to pay $50 for an hour at your telescope. 

Who's joking? I just attached a credit card machine to serial port two on my Argo_Navis! 

 

Just kidding. To bad you can't make it this year. Maybe next!

[lphilpot]

Who's joking? I just attached a credit card machine to serial port two on my Argo_Navis!

It's a new online astro-payment method -- View-Pal!