Texas Star Party

by Dennis Beckley

Only one night was clouded out and two were exceptional. Average SQM readings were around 21.8.

Finished two Larry Mitchell Observing list (Nebula & Interactions) (lots of Hickson's and Arps, plus saw the Pencil Nebula way down in Vela - the one I wanted to see from the ill-fated Costa Rica Trip). Also finishded John Wagoner's Challenge Binocular list.

Alvin and Darrell had great times. Alvin's 30 was one the hits of the star party, he sold lots of his Hickson and Abell Planetary guide books and last seen was showing Larry Mitchell, Barbara Wilson, Faith Jordan and Stephan J O' Meara how many Arps he could detect using a 4 inch refractor.

Darrel's evening bird lecture and morning bird walks were very well received and I was amazed how many hard core astronomers and chicks are into briding! Hmmm!!!

They're talking about making it a regular feature of the TSP and even having a birding list pin! The spouses love it! It gives everyone a chance to do something after a cloudy night when we're not so sleep deprived.

For me the highlights were seeing Omega Centauri rising each night in my 10 X 70 and my 25 X 100 binoculars, following the progress of the C and B fragments of Comet 73 P each night through the bino's and scope, seeing Hickson 61 "the Box" through the 18 and seeing the Pencil Nebula NgC 2376 from so far north. And of course being with all the old and new friends that attend TSP.

Heading home tomorrow morning in the Van with Alvin and Darrell and back to work again on Wednesday.

Fatigued but happy.

Posted on sf-bay-tac Apr 29, 2006 15:43:37 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.4 May 02, 2006 20:21:39 PT