Observatory Reports

Friday, Dec 9, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch

7:30p-10:00p

Guests: 15

Phone, scopes working.

Internet not working.

We decided to call it a "go" last night even though the forecast called for 60% cloud cover, arrived at the gate around 7:16p.    I called the front desk to let them know we were there and guests began arriving.  I used the phone inside the observatory to call the front desk. We left around 10:00p when the north winds began to pick up, perfect timing.  I brought a small space heater and the guests enjoyed the warmth.  I turned it on only when I needed some relief, but really it wasn't too cold. I layered up.

We viewed only the full Moon and Jupiter.  Seeing was quite good on Jupiter.  Thin layer of clouds the whole time made a halo ring around the Moon.  Neat.  Not a moondog as I actually told people.  Moondogs are small crescents on either side of the moon.

The guests we had were on a couples' retreat and mostly military/Army from Fort Hood. Whoever opened the observatory last, left the north wall ropes untied and draped over one of the desk chairs.  Good grief.

Dana

Saturday, Nov 12, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch

5:45p-10:15p

Guests: 200

Phone & internet, scopes working.  My cell phone appeared on top of the phone box on north wall!  I did drop it somewheres and possibly Ranger Bill may have accessed the grounds earlier in the day to discover it.  Weather warmer than last night by 10º.  A beautiful clear night for the whole time (mostly cloudly was forecast), we had a swarm of guests that completely packed the observatory with a double line out front that kept Dana and I very busy for 2 straight hours.  Time was 8:20 when most of the crowd had disbanded.  I can't imagine what Lone Star road must have looked like during that time.  I've never known of an auto collision yet along the road, but wonder sometimes.

The Milky Way was pretty at first before the 95% waning gibbous Moon rose, giving us the chance to point out constellations with our lasers.   We saw Jupiter (good Io transit and shadow) its GRS, M31 in the Ealing most of the time early on.  Dana worked the Harlan on M13, M57, M15 and the double double.  Her feet was totally spent after the evening.  

64º at close, light winds all night.

Friday, Nov 11, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch

5:30p-10:15p

Guests: 25

Phone & internet, scopes working.  Clouds eventually came and was sucker holes all evening on the 98% waning gibbous moon and Jupiter.  We used the off axis mask on the Ealing to give very crisp view of Jupter and the moon.  We did get to glimpse Albireo, M31,  M57, double double, M15 globular, showed movies and pictures on my 17" laptop for guests and a group from Astronomy Student's Association of UT beginner astronomy students led by teacher named Arina. 

Got a little nippy at 52º when we left the grounds at 10:25p.  I may have dropped my cell phone somewhere on the grounds.  I'll ck back tonight.

Friday, Oct 28, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch, Mark Florian

7:30p-12:00a

Guests: 16 

Phone & internet, scopes working.  I collimated the Ealing some more as it was quite off for some reason.  Sharp stars now.  A Small crowd, one small child.  We saw 5% waxing crescent Moon, M57,17,31,32,110,13,27,double double,Albireo,Garnet star in Cass,Veil,NGC 7492 globular w/Mark Florian who couldn't find it in his 10" outside.  Extrememly difficult to see, even though its 11.5 mag.

Left at midnight.  42º F. no wind.

Friday, Oct 21, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch

7:00p-11:15p

Guests: 75

Internet, phone, scopes working.  I set up my 16" dob and bino mount outside.  Dana ran both telescopes inside.  We had 2 packs of boy scouts and 1 pack of girl scouts.  Awesome skies with no moon.  We saw all the top M dogs: M13, 17, 22, 57, 27, 31, Jupiter, Uranus, Comet Garradd, Veil neubula, NGC 7331, Stephan's Quintet.

I noticed the front door latch is coming loose on the left door, one screw is missing.  Needs attention.

We stayed the night in our camper.

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch

5:45p-12:15a

Guests: 80

Phone, internet, scopes working.  We observed the sun and many cool sunspots thru the Ealing.  It was clear all night and guests kept coming and coming.  James Hall and his brother Jon, wife Michelle, two girls Morgan (9 years old), Megan (6 years old) joined us.  James learned more with the Ealing while Dana and I ran the Harlan Smith and answered many questions from eager children.  A large family came last and stayed till about 11:30p.

We saw comet Garradd which was very bright, M13,57,16,17,22,31,27,Uranus,Double Double, 86% waning gibbous Moon,Pleaides in our 12x60 binos on bino mount outside.

Left at 12:15a, 63º.

Friday, Oct 14, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch

7:30p-11:00p

Guests:  12

Phone and Internet are working!  Both scopes in good condition.  Small crowd.  We saw comet Garradd, M13, 22, 16, 17, 57, 27, 31, Albireo, Double Double, 92% waning gibbous Moon, Jupiter, Uranus, one real good meteor, rotating satellite giving a blink on/off show.  End temp was about 65º.

Friday, Oct 7, 2011

CoE Star Party

Darin & Dana Koch

8:00p-11:00p

Guests:  50

The weather was certainly not favorable going into this evening from all forecast models.  But we only had a few passing clouds and everything turned out really great and mostly clear.  A busy night, lots of visitors kept pouring in and a couple dogs.

Both scopes and phone working.  No internet.  We viewed the 85% waxing gibbous Moon, Comet Garradd (a tough find 2x),Albierio, M31,22,13,57, Jupiter.  Seeing got really good at 11p looking at the moon in the Harlan at 400x!

Dana and I stayed overnight at the Lodge, cottage N3 for our comp night we earned back in May.