CALC has safely returned from vacation on Kauai, only about three and a half pounds heavier (Roy's, Casa d' Amici, The Beach House, Brennecke's), firmly convinced that casual observing is a serious adjunct to general vacation pleasures. The hypothesis tested was "Is a small, carry-on telescope a worthwhile addition to a vacation planned around non-astronomical parameters?" and the answer is a resounding yes! My little early Hannukah gift, a Nexstar 80, broke down easily into an 11 pound total weight shoulder case (scope, mount, eyepieces, etc.)and a three pound tripod that fit nicely into one of our suitcases. In addition, I took along only a compass, red beam flashlight and a copy of Orion's DeepMap 600.
Unfortunately, my observing schedule had to deal with third quarter-to-full moonlit nights, but after seared ahi, tomato and onion salad, parmesan-crusted lamb shank and chocolate soufflet at Roy's, preceded by chilled vodka and accompanied by both white and red wine, the hotel and a modest nap seemed more a pleasure than a curse before beginning. I was set up by about one am, and after finally realizing that a new day begins at midnight and that Hawaii *is* in a different time zone, I finally got the computer in the scope on my side and plinked away at the easy stuff in the otherwise lovely Hawaiian moonlight. I planned on almost two hours of black skies after moonset, but you just can't believe the range of resort hotel sprinklers; I thought I was safe out on the beach, but had to pack it in about 4AM to dry things off. I set the alarm for 3AM the next two nights, but cloudy skies prevented observing.
All in all, not much of a test of observing, but a rather good test for me of the practicality of taking a scope almost anywhere. Really just the opposite viewpoint of the ususual pack-a-scope report, where the observer tells us how big a scope he or she could pack into an airline-suitable case. But it really added to the general enjoyment of the vacation. I'll take it up to Ashland with me for the Shakepeare Festival and maybe even on other business and professional trips. I'm hooked!
Take care,
Clay
CALC
(Casual Astronomy League of California)