by Carl Larson
An observing report in two parts. First astronomy, followed by some SSP highlights.
| Shingletown Star Party |
| July 10-13, 2002 |
| 9x63 binoculars |
| 9.25" f/5 homemade newt |
| 18" f/4.5 dobs newt |
Having been inspired by DDK last CalStar I opted to join the AL and start the quest towards qualifying for one of the cool pins.
I had always been rather lax on writing down eyepiece impressions or doing any sort of organized observing program. I felt that working from observing lists was somehow too mechanical and would make observing more of a chore, another burden which I wasn't ready to carry to the mountaintop.
Enter Master Dillon with his infectious enthusiasm for AL and his posts of (well deserved) praise for those who have crossed the finish line and are moving on towards new goals. That, along with a long ago discussion thread on TAC on how writing observations helped one become a better observer turned the tide for me. Mostly, my hesitation was due to lack of organization and, well, laziness. Besides - I want the cool pin!
So, I decided to buck up and hit the trail towards the Messier pin. Since starting last October I've only been out a few times so with 4 nights of observing at Shingletown I could make some good progress on the "organized observing" while still allowing myself time to poke around random areas of the sky in search of faint fuzzies without any of the logging, checking off lists, or otherwise detailed observing.
A brief digression. This was my first observing session with a laptop in the field. A week before SSP I discovered Cartes du Ciel, the freeware star chart program. Never used the Sky, Megastar, etc so I can't compare. But one category I know it wins hands down - price. It's free. If you don't have the bucks to spend, run, don't walk, run, and download CdC. Spend a few hours learning, download some additional catalogs and you won't regret it.
It took me a few hours in the field to make the transition from paper charts to computer. Transition completed. No going back. My trusty HB atlas will go along for the ride in case the batteries die. Red tap plastic screen cover, cardboard box, power saver modes, standby (screen black) when at scope, pointed towards the car. Common sense and no light trespass. Illumination so dim I couldn't see the keyboard. A couple pieces of tape on important keys so I could navigate by touch. My personal observation is that using the laptop was less damaging to my dark adaptation than paper charts and my red LED light. Your mileage will vary.
On to the Astronomy ...
As others have described, Wednesday night was a very good night. Transparency good but seeing only marginal. I was so tired from the drive and heat I just couldn't get much going and had to turn in by 2am. Thursday was a bit of a bust - mostly moving from one sucker hole to the next. Packed it in at 1am. Friday was very good again - perhaps better than Wednesday - at least Sagittarius wasn't blinking like a Christmas tree. Made it till 4am. My last night was Saturday - by far the best night for me. After the excitement from the public event died down the skies seemed to open. Between 2am and 4am both the seeing and transparency was the best I'd experienced in years. Truly magical.
No hint of tiredness. No fuzzy brain. My integration with scope and charts was hitting on all cylinders. Astronomy equivalent of runners high. My compadres, Kevin S., Turley, Steve S. and Richard L. all quietly and intently working in their own zone, the silence occasionally punctuated by a exclamation of wonder or an invite for a shared look. This is what it's all about. The Milky Way a grand arch overhead, horizon to horizon. Turley pointed out whole sections north of Cygnus I've never seen before. Inky blackness shot through granular white. Simply awe inspiring.
Then, reality. Blackness giving way to deep dark blue on the north of east horizon. Quick! swing the scope to Pegasus to work off some faint galaxies before the magic ends. All too quickly mag 15+ galaxies melt into the background. Then, mag 14, 13, and 12 become too hard to discern. Can twilight really come this early? It is hard to let go but the great exterminator (as Turley calls it) is on it's way. All too soon it's over and time to try and get some sleep before packing and the melancholy drive home.
I'm almost finished with my Messier survey. I logged 45 on this trip and only have a handful left which will have to wait for early morning at CalStar when they next escape the great exterminator's grasp. Jamie, fire the forges. I'm coming for that pin!
In addition I bagged about 20 other NGC's and I estimate over two dozen "in the moment" galaxies that went un logged but whose impressions are still with me.
Just a few notables to report.
The venerable dumbbell nebula, in the 18" was a sight to behold. Like most less experienced observers I too frequently observe at lower power. This time I used a range of eyepieces. The 12mm Nagler opened up a whole new vista as all kinds of subtle detail emerged. Many (background?, foreground?) stars were visible peeking through the gauze. Two brighter ones seemed to appear in darker holes giving an appearance of glowing coals in a skull's eye sockets.
The memory of CalStar2001 revisited. Using Turleys 31 Nagler and O3+ filter in the 18" is nothing short of breathtaking. At first glance the detail is remarkable with filaments and waves of nebulousity filling the field. Staring for a while and letting the eye integrate and adapt for a while lets fainter background haze punch up to visibility. This was a favorite for the public as well - the aperture, eyepiece, filter combo is almost unbeatable for enticing the ever hoped for "Wow" from the line at the scope.
Naming credit goes to Kevin Schuerman - and aptly named it is. Friday evening James was observing M101 and moved off a degree or so to the north where he was working a "pentagram" of fainter galaxies in his Orion 10" dobs. He worked it for a while and soon had enticed Kevin to track them down in his beautiful wood paneled 13" dobs. I don't know if James saw all of them in the 10", but Kevin worked it for quite a while refusing to leave "Turleys Trap" before snagging them all. Saturday night after I finished all the messiers on my list that were above the horizon I too fell into Turleys Trap. The fantastic transparency and 5" more inches of aperture made the pentagram fairly easy - and in fact one of the points of the pentagram had a fainter companion. The pentagram is comprised of NGC's 5473, 5485, 5475, 5443, and 5422 all blue mag 12.4 to 13.8. The extra companion I saw next to 5485 was NGC 5486 at mag 14.7. Only after I got home and zoomed the region in Cartes du Ciel with another catalog did I discover that the field is littered with more galaxies mag 15 to 16. Much more left to accomplish. Fall into Turleys Trap - highly recommended.
This observing report is getting long in the tooth but just a few SSP highlights. Neighbors make the neighborhood and the AstroCastle was planted in a fantastic zip code. Richard Lawler whose fine collection of gadgets, dry wit, and good company helped the hot days go faster. Steve Sergeant, TAC webmaster and gentle soul kept the public enthralled with his M4 lecture with simultaneous views through binocs, Nextstar 5" and NGC 12. James T. who guarantees a good time at any time, place or conditions - nuf said. Kevin Schuerman and Christine Pryor, who brought Woody that beautiful dobs and a camp stove that garnered almost as much attention. Bill Storm from Sacramento, with Michael and Gillian (great kids) who invited a whole host over for a wonderful pancake breakfast.
At various time you realize you miss those who couldn't make it. DDK, Albert H., Michelle S. and Paul L. and others whose names you would hear relayed in stories and lore up and down the runway.
But then new friends. Gerry from Oakland, friend to Rich N. who was on his first star party and I seriously hope not his last. Dan Wright whose amiable disposition and battery fan/bug sprayer water mister kept us cool and entertained. Ken Lum and his wife who were the first to greet me when I arrived. Richard Ozer, ATM guild master and organizer of the fantastic Hat Creek tour whose daughter won my heart by telling me she loved my homemade blue telescope. And of course the wonderful ladies of the SAC who kept us fed, watered, and entertained with salty talk :)
Sunday morning it was a sad walk up and down the runway. Most had already pulled up stakes for home. The lucky few who stayed to enjoy a last (and best) night were trying to grab a few precious z's before the eliminator made it unbearable. A quick introduction to Jeff Gortatowsky and pals who drove all the way from SoCal and I realized that even 5 days isn't enough time to meet and hang with all you'd have liked. But there is a consolation ...
See you at CalStar 2002.