by Jeff Gortatowsky
I always bring a long list of objects to observe while I am out at star parties. Dark skies, just me and the telescope.... NOT!!! Like clockwork, I -NEVER EVER- observe them. I just can't help walking around with a bottle of wine and a glass and just standing/sitting there and chatting with friends old and new while we stare upward for hours. Call me a starstruck lush, I don't care.
Wags: I do wish I had gotten more time to talk. I came by twice very late, but alas, too late. I was up each night until 3 or 3:30am. Nonetheless... my oint: Don't let them destroy the man behind the name Wags...
Big thanks to Rob Hawley of the San Jose Astronomical Association! Do not judge 'books' by their Internet persona. Rob is a great guy. But who would know from his posts???? LOL!!!!! Just kidding! And he is a very hard worker. Once again proving, judging anyone by their posts on the internet alone is to misjudge someone at least 50% of the time (if not more).
And having "Mr. SJAA" Mike remember me by name?!! I know, it seems like a little thing, but I was thrilled! It's nice to feel so welcome that people remember you name! Certainly the representatives of the SJAA ought be very proud of themselves. They truely defined the 'gracious hosts'. And the SJAA membership should be very proud of their officers.
Let me put in a good word for a couple rarely heard from online, but certainly one reason I adore going to Shingletown and CalStar. Charlie and Susan Wicks. If there is a more giving, hospitable, interesting, and fun couple to hang out with at a star party, I have yet to meet them. They have 'literally' given me the coat off their backs! Their camp is your camp. They are reason alone to drive to these starparties. Thank you both!
Paul Alsing: We missed Debbie S.!! But I had a fantastic time observing with you through the 25 inch scpoe. Sometimes I wonder why I bother to bring a telescope! Looking through your 25 inch is all really one needs!
Kent Wallace: Thank you for the views. You have furthered my (obscure?) DSO education more than anyone else in the hobby. I thank you for that and your boundless enthusiasm and for taking the time to show me objects I'd otherwise miss.
Curt: Can Nan and you have dinner some night with us? :D
Bill Dean:... missed ya my friend...
Ms. Stone: Ya know, it makes my night to talk with you and hang out at your observing site. You define the hobby. Smart, caring, giving, funny, and a joy to hang out with.
Albert Highe: I mean it. I find your observations invaluable and educational. You continue to teach me how to observe. And others how to build a telescope!
Enough. Richard great to see you. Mr. Sterngold, ditto.
Memories are made at these parties. That's all I need. Fourty bucks for memeories... a bargain.
Best view: Saturn in the 6 inch F/15 of Charlie Wicks. Gotta luv an F/15 refractor. Seeing could have been (far) better. But the experience... well you just have to have been there! Playing Cassini is fun. :D
Most difficult: Padcheck's Pneb (Kent how do you spell that?) Man that thing was hard! It took what? 20 minutes of Kent being patient and still while I tried to blink that sucker under a black cloth.....
Best new (to me) items: A chunk of the halo of the Cat's Eye, Vilt's star, Gyubungian's Nebula (or however it's spelled, it was pretty easy).
Best Road: I think I 'easily' saw the 'road to Polaris'. It can be followed to the west of two chains of stars that appear to crisscross as they emerge from Cepheus, then curve to the east and back to Polaris with the dark road to the west of the two chains of stars. Of course further west one has to see the weak glow of 1000's of background stars to set off the darkness of this river of dark. So let me summarized what I saw (not that it is correct): Two chains of stars to the east, a void, and a faint glow on the west side of the void to complete the outline. And if that is TOTALLY wrong... then I saw nothing. :D
Best groupies: Abell 426 in Perseus through P. Alsing's 25 and Plettstone's 15. The central area is littered with fuzzies. I counted 16 in one foV without really trying.
Best slight bit of color: IC 418 in Charlie Wick's 20 inch. Man, B. Wilson must be sharp... I get just a hint of pink on the outer ring.
Coolest view: The night sky with an air temp of 3C. The Swan setting 'tail first' in the Northwest, the mighty hunter towering in the Southeast, the ringed one casting a shadow in the gathering quiet after 1am, counting the seven sisters as the dog star barked low in the 3am skies...
What a great hobby... wish more of you could have been there.
Your Milky Way May Vary... Dark voids where not prohibited... Close Universe... Professional Astronomer....
Posted on sf-bay-tac Oct 17, 2004 23:20:30 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Jan 15, 2005 17:42:48 PT