CalStar 2008 - It doesn't get much better.

Paul Sterngold

Wags wrote, "Kind of a throwback to the old days in some respects." Later, "Sterngold was having fun too, doing visual, having turned away from the dark side. Wonderful to hear Paul and Pete working on objects together like Navarette and I often do."

This CalStar was very much a throwback for me. The only electrified thing that I used after nightfall was my red flashlight! No imaging camera, no filter wheel, no camera rotator, no computerized GOTO mount, no guide camera, no laptop for image acquisition/guider control/mount control or even computerized star charts. Just the dob and paper star charts. It was great! I concentrated on the sky and my companions. Nothing could have been sweeter.

Later still Wags wrote, "...and nobody pulled a 'Sterngold' and freak out..." A testament to how relaxed and blissful I was! And also the result of crossing back over to the light side - much more chill. Hopefully, your transparent attempt to link my name permanently to these types of outbursts will fail.

LaFlambe wrote, "Getting to see and use the very first scope I ever made, now owned by super-guy Paul Sterngold. (I never needed a mallet or pipe cutter to assemble it at a star party before but hey, he got it working great;-)"

Thanks for the kind comment, but LOL! Who would have thought that a mallet would be an essential tool for setting up a scope! I'll have to work on those clamps. That scope performed brilliantly. The movements in both axes are as good as it gets. You may make prettier scopes, Greg, but I doubt that you'll make more functional ones.

(I bought a solid-tube Discovery 15" f/5 Dob a few years back. When Greg found out, he gave me the woodwork from his 15" f/5, because he was re-doing it all. This Calstar was the maiden voyage for the resulting scope. The first night - Thursday - was challenging, but after we cut down the tubes on Friday (big thanks to Pete Santangeli and especially Richard Ozer), the scope performed like a champ. Greg, your gift was generous and greatly appreciated, especially those three nights.)

This event reminded me how valuable, sustaining and tenacious have been my astro friendships. And how much more fun and far less work visual is. However, I did catch myself often pondering, "Hmm, I wonder what that galaxy would like like if I imaged it..." I had to keep telling myself, "one object at a time." Recovering imager. God grant me the strength...

I'll add my voice to the chorus praising and thanking Dan for his breakfast bar. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And thanks to the organizers and Rob for yet another successful CalStar. It was so good, I'm seriously considering the next GSSP despite the horrendous drive.

Some of my most rewarding observations at this CalStar included: Mark Wagner, Richard Navarrete (Wags: check your spelling), Pete, Richard Ozer, Rashad, Marsha, Jamie, Greg, Bill, Dan, James, Jeff, Bob, Jim - and many more. Thank you all for a memorable event.

Cheers,
Paul Sterngold