Observatory Reports

 

  • Publicity night for resort staff and travel journalists

    03 Apr 2012 8:30 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Tues April 3, 2012  8:30 - 10 :10

    Jim & Joyce Lynch
    COE Resort staff & Journalists
    About 30 guests in toto.

    Jim ran the Harlan Smith scope to show the almost full moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn (several moons were visible), the Orion Nebula, and Mizar/Alcor.  We gave a tour of the sky to point out constellations and answered questions from the visitors.  We did not do anything with the Ealing.

    When we arrived, there were no dust caps on the finder scope for the Harlan Smith.  We found them in one of the eyepiece cases. Evrything else was in good shape.

    I (Jim), accidently, left the Telrad installed on the Harlan Smith. Sorry!!  :-(.

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  • Friday March 30, 2012

    02 Apr 2012 10:48 PM | Anonymous member

    Friday March 30, 2012

    CoE Star Party

    Darin Koch

    8:15p-12:30a

    Guests: 75


    Grounds good, Harlan Smith working, Ealing not tracking well (must over-tighten RA clutch- but still drifts over time), internet working but slow (.48mbs down .07mbs up).  I took the Ealing finder eyepiece home with me to glue the stripped out threads as it crashed on the floor when a kid bumped into it.  I stuffed a rag in there to keep bugs out.  I hope to return it this Friday.


    A very busy night with cub scouts with many ADD+D children.  Yes, they constantly were tugging at me to answer this, that, this, that, some kept moving and pushing the Harlan.  Had to reset it 6x within 1 hr.  


    Mostly clear, seeing was kinda poor at 5/10. Some hight cirrus clouds, passed quickly.  Saw Venus, Jupiter, 1st qtr Moon, Mars, M42, M51, M81, Rigel, Saturn.  


    Was about to close down and leave at 11:40p and a p/u came with a family of 6 who were camping (late arrival) and I treated them to views only thru the Ealing at the Moon, Mars, and Saturn.  One child was 5 yrs old in kindergarten and he looked 1st after I moved the scope without any words of the next object and he identified Saturn!  His parents were awestruck. They donated $5 to the kitty for keeping me late.


    Left at 12:30a, temp 70º F.

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  • March 31st COE Star Party

    31 Mar 2012 1:21 AM | Anonymous member
    Saturday March 31, 2012
    CoE Star Party
    James Hall
    7:30-11:30a
    Guests: 50

    Grounds mostly good, except an empty beer bottle on an outside table that I took care of on arrival.  Only other issue is that a couple guests pointed out a few chairs looked like they were falling apart with holes and such.  That happened a couple weeks ago as well.  There are some that look like they need to be replaced.  The Harlan Smith was working well, (Except for Telrad,) I keep meaning to check if the batteries are bad, but usually don't have time since guests are waiting so I just keep using the regular finder scope.  Ealing tracking seemed mostly ok.  However, it is missing finder scope back end eyepiece.  Looks like rag or something was stuck in it instead.

    A busy night with many children as well.  Guest began arriving immediately. 

    Mostly clear, seeing was ok considering the Waxing Gibbous moon. Some cirrus clouds, passed quickly as well.  Saw Venus, Jupiter, Moon, Mars, M51, Rigel, Saturn.  Entertained children and adults with iPad astronomy apps and binoculars in between scope slewing.  Saw one person put a donation in box.  Crowd very impressed with planets.

    Was about to close down and leave at 11:00p when a young couple walked up and begged for a brief viewing.   I treated them to views only thru the Ealing at Venus and Saturn.  They were impressed and grateful I stayed late.  

    Left about 11:45, temp 75º F.

    - James
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  • Saturday March 24, 2012

    26 Mar 2012 6:04 PM | Anonymous member

    Saturday March 24, 2012

    AAS Observatory Training

    Darin Koch

    6:50p-8:00p

    Trainees:

    Jim Sheets, Alexandra Elliot, Jim Lynch, Joyce Lynch, Dawn Davies, Michael G. Albrecht 


    Jim Sheets, Jim Lynch later operated the scopes for the visitors.

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  • Friday March 23, 2012

    26 Mar 2012 6:03 PM | Anonymous member

    Friday March 23, 2012

    CoE Star Party

    Darin Koch

    8:00p-12:50a

    Guests: 35


    Grounds not mowed; 6" high weeds, Harlan Smith working, Ealing not tracking well (must over-tighten RA clutch), internet not working.  Phone is now disconnected.  I found the Ealing Telrad still on, on the scope, Ealing diagonal halfway out of the drawtube.  All doors were shut upon opening.  


    I had a med. size group boy scouts come in, didn't stay but 20 min.  Nice guests, all were amazed.


    Seeing was not good, 5/10, but very clear.  Viewed Venus, Jupiter, very thin waxing crescent Moon, M81-82, Pleaides, M37, M42, Rigel.


    Left at 12:50a 55º.

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  • Friday March 16, 2012 Star Party

    17 Mar 2012 2:07 AM | Anonymous member
    Friday March 16, 2012
    CoE Star Party
    James Hall
    7:15p-11:45p
    Guests: 50

    Note: South door was ajar when I got there and banging in the wind. (Closed it with instructions on the door).  Telrad not working on Harlan Smith scope. It might be just the batteries, but I ended up just using the regular spotting scope. The Ealing spotting scope is missing eyepiece cap. 

    Grounds good but slightly wet, scopes working (other than Telrad as mentioned above), internet working but phone not working.  

    Guest started arriving immediately.  There was one person who was very interested in joining AAS and getting trained on the scopes.  There was another who said he use to run the EEO for about 8 years and wanted to get back into it.  Both of them said they would try and get in touch with Darin.  Other than that, most guest were mainly families with children that were coming from lodge due to spring break.  Mostly from Houston area.

    However, the sky had other plans.  There were quick moving dark clouds coming from the west.  We saw Venus for about 5 to 10 minutes right after sunset. But then it quickly became  too cloudy.  In fact, It was solid clouds for most of the normal viewing hours.  Then just after 9pm, I closed the roofs just in time when it started to rain.  To entertain guests that stayed during the rain, I showed them around the observatory and let them play with the astronomy apps on the iPad, but many left. The rain continued until about 10pm when suddenly the clouds were gone.  Seeing was still bad.  But a few guest were still arriving and a few had remained due to not wanting to go out in the rain.    So I gave them a sky tour until 11:30pm to show off Mars and Orion nebula to about 10-15 guests.  It was still somewhat  blurry.  There was no moon visible all night.

    I left about 11:45 pm.  

    - James

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  • Friday March 2, 2012

    03 Mar 2012 11:01 AM | Anonymous member
    Friday March 2, 2012
    CoE Star Party
    Darin Koch
    6:50p-10:20p
    Guests: 14


    Grounds good, scopes working, internet(1.4mbs d/1.4mbs u) and phone working.  Guests started coming immediately.  One parent had a 4-5 yr old child that didn't behave and was not interested and they had to call it a short visit.

    A clear night, no clouds, seeing was pretty bad...4/10.  Mars was bobbling around all night.  Could barely make out the N pole ice cap.  E/F stars in the Trapezium of M42 was tough at times.  Saw the Moon (70% waxing gibbous) which looked pretty good with the off-axis mask on, Venus(62% ill) and Jupiter.  Other objects, M81/82, Rigel A-B, M45, NGC 869-883 (Double Cluster), Mars.

    Left at 10:24p temp at 56º.
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  • Saturday Feb. 25, 2012

    28 Feb 2012 7:12 PM | Anonymous member
    Saturday Feb. 25, 2012
    AAS Public Star Party
    Darin Koch
    6:30p-12:30a
    Guests: 80

    Observatory training at 5pm, began closer to 5:25p.  David N. Ault Jr, Ty Yun, Alan Carruth.

    Grounds good, scopes working, internet(1.1mbs d/1.1mbs u) and phone working.  

    Guests didn't start coming until about 8pm or so.  There was some seminar going on at the lodge.  A clear night, no clouds, still could see E/F stars in the Trapezium of M42.  Nice alignment with the Moon (15% waxing crescent), Venus(65% ill) and Jupiter.  M81/82, M37, Rigel, Mars, Trio in Leo, NGC 869/883 (Double Cluster).

    I glued a black plastic cap to the Harlan Smith focuser set screw for easier tightening.

    Left at 12:30a temp at 46º.
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  • Friday Feb. 24, 2012

    28 Feb 2012 7:11 PM | Anonymous member
    Friday Feb. 24, 2012
    CoE Star Party
    Darin Koch
    6:30p-10:30p
    Guests: 30


    Grounds good, scopes working, internet(1.4mbs d/1.4mbs u) and phone working.  Guests didn't start coming until about 8pm or so.  There was some seminar going on at the lodge.  A clear night, no clouds, seeing improved continuously and could see E/F stars in the Trapezium of M42.  Nice alignment with the Moon (9% waxing crescent), Venus(65% ill) and Jupiter.  Other objects, M81/82, Rigel, Mars, Trio in Leo.

    I lubed the Ealing focuser with some electronic grease.  Now works wonderful.

    Left at 10:30p temp at 42º.
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  • Saturday Feb. 11, 2012

    13 Feb 2012 4:47 PM | Anonymous member
    Saturday Feb. 11, 2012
    CoE Star Party
    Darin Koch
    6:20p-9:35p
    Guests: 20


    Building in good condition, scopes in good condition.  Ealing was sticking on Venus low in west.  Worm gear needs adjusting...I'll get to that soon.  Phone working, internet not working.

    A nice small crowd of people, no more than 10 at a time.  Clear Sky Clock showed mostly white for clouds, but ended up being a fair night.  High cirrus clouds made for very excellent seeing conditions for Jupiter and the M42 Trapezium stars.  E&F were easy.

    Viewed Venus, Jupiter, M42, Double Double, Rigel.

    Closed up at 9:30 (35ºF) and met the first car ever on Lone Star Rd upon leaving the EEO since its opening in 2000.  Then another came up as I was closing the gate.  They came after the band entertainment was over.
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