Home from CalStar 2003

by Jeff Gortatowsky

Well after a well deserved soak and a even more well deserved nap, I home if not totally unpacked from CalStar.

Hits:

The sky was excellent. As dark IMO as a few of the nights at SSP 2002 or SSP 2003 but not always as transparent. Sometimes especially in the south transparency would go... well... south!
OTOH, seeing often a 6 or 7 in the wee hours.
The venue. As usual, and this is my 4th CalStar, the park was wonderful. What a gem Montery has.
The people. Everyone knows who you are. As Stacy would say good to see you "da 'lings".
The wine. Thanks to all who let me sample.
Lumpy and Mexican coffee. You know who you are. Fun fun fun.
The fog. Thanks to the man above for making sleeping in a bit more enjoyable (see minor misses as well).
Bill, Markus, Debbie, and Paul. Observing with you folks each night and hangin' out together during the day is just the best. It makes the party 'a party'.
Charlie and Susan. Thanks for all the hospitality. Nice having nice neighbors.

The group picture facing into the sun. All I guess to get the 30 inch in the photo? I don't care about the scope, it is the people that count. Not cool. Last year we faced North. Much better idea.
The teens in the next camp over to me who did not understand 'quiet hours'.
Not seeing Jane and Mojo. :(
No 180EDT on Mars with Ziess binoviewer and orthos (RICH!!!!). :(
Taking the 11 inch instead of the 18! What the @#$!# was I thinking! (Answer: I wasn't. But the 11 is a very sweet scope)
The Johnsonian platform. I helped finance the first production run and it still does not track well (never has). And now a motor's gone dead. I think it's a lost cause.

Naked eye as the Milky Way of Cygnus sets in the early morning darkness while the Milky Way of Gemini rose.
7184 trio through Debbie's 20.
Another grouping where I counted nine galaxies but the NGC number eludes me (it's in my notes somewhere). Paul will know...
The Veil in my 11 inch Starmaster and the 31mm Terminagler w/ OIII
NGC 40 in the 20 inch.
Barnard's Galaxy and 6818 in the same FOV in my 11. First time I've seen 6822
Pleiades in my 12x60's mounted on Paul's bino-chair.

Telescopes: Teleports 14.5-001, 7-007, 18 Litebox with Swayze mirror