Hawaii Observing Expedition

Part 14

by Jay Reynolds Freeman

FULL CIRCLE

My observing vacation on the big island of Hawaii was a complete success. I pushed my long-term survey of the deep-sky objects in Burnham's Celestial Handbook to 60 degrees south declination, and a little beyond, in the range of right ascension from about 09:30 to about 23:30. I logged over 600 observations, of which over 400 were first-time observations of southern objects I had never seen before. The others were two-thirds Messier objects, and beyond that mostly repeat looks at some of the new, southern stuff.

Besides the obvious advantage of Mauna Kea's clear, dark, southerly location, and the excellent support for amateurs provided by the Onizuka Visitor Center, several things contributed to my good fortune:

1. The telescope worked. Taking a brand new, home-built telescope on an expedition that depended on it was worrying, even though I had had time for some shakedown at home. My biggest fear was that the "beeswax trick", which allowed cutting the truss poles in half for transport, would somehow prove faulty, but the waxed joints not only proved stiff in use, but also even held collimation from night to night, notwithstanding transporting the whole telescope down and up the Saddle Road in the back of my rented vehicle.

2. I had done enough advance planning to be able to conduct an observing program, rather than just sit around wondering what to look at next.

3. I anticipated cold observing conditions, and was prepared to deal with them, via clothing, catalytic heaters, coffee, and calories.

4. I did not try to do regular tourist stuff as well. It would have messed up my sleep schedule for observing, even if I had had extra time. The only view I got of volcanic activity was through a binocular from the Visitor Center. I think my hotel was on the beach, but I never actually went out on the side away from the street to check. I ate mostly in fast-food joints, or in my room, from supplies bought at the local Safeway. I hulaed no hulas and luaued no luaus.

5. I planned for plenty of rest, both on the trip and before and after it. I did not set out the day after a work day, or return the day before I had to return to my job. I slept a lot.

6. I spent enough money to be sure of getting all the things I needed to make my trip a success. My air fare was economy, and the hotel was relatively inexpensive, but both United Airlines and Uncle Billy's Hilo are established players that provide plenty of service. I bit the bullet and rented a four-wheel drive vehicle for the Saddle Road -- that was probably the expense that seemed least necessary. I fussed with my telescope design and bought a special carrying case, so I could transport it as standard checked airline baggage without great fear of damage. I did not keep detailed records, but the entire cost of my six-day trip was about $2000, which does not include the telescope. The 10-inch would probably cost about $1300 if I had to build it again, and that includes commercial optics (but no eyepieces) and the special carrying case.

I have been trying to think of some philosophical way of summing up the entire voyage. It occurred to me more than once, that most normal people would think me crazy to spend a vacation the way I did, especially in Hawaii. I joked before leaving, about returning bleached pale from lack of sun, with a touch of frostbite, but that humor was very nearly the truth. I am tolerably traveled in the lower forty-eight states, but the only other nation I have ever visited is Canada. Many people with that history would have set their travel priorities differently. It used to be common to do some kind of grand tour, seeing those parts of what was considered to be the civilized world, that you hadn't already visited.

I did do a grand tour, but not of the civilized world. I toured something much grander. The northern Milky Way has been familiar since childhood, but now I have seen the full circle, from where it vanishes beyond the California horizon in Puppis and Vela, to where it emerges again, climbing out of Ara into Scorpius. I have been a science fiction fan since I could read, so I cannot help but think of the title of one Heinlein juvenile, Citizen of the Galaxy. My voyage was vicarious, while that of Heinlein's character was not. Nevertheless, that title suggests how I feel about my experience.

The only other words I offer those of you who are contemplating a similar project are, "Do it!" I will close by once again giving thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Onizuka Visitor Center, and to several astronomically oriented friends in the Hawaiian islands, for making my travels easier, more interesting, and more pleasant. I hope to see you all again some time soon.

Jay Reynolds Freeman
Palo Alto, California
June 13, 2000

Parts
Previous
1	Telescope
2	Telescope
3	Telescope
4	The Road
5	Island Aesthetics
6	Onizuka Visitor Center
7	Preparations
8	Observing May 28
9	Observing May 29
10	Observing May 30
11	Observing May 31
12	Observing June 1
13	Observing June 2
14	Summing Up

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