FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Omega Centauri Tales; (was: The Idiot)

["Gene A. Lucas" <geneluca@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

O.K., gotta chime in here with my Omega Centauri story (I think every amateur
astronomer in AZ has one!)  I was privileged some years ago to be able to 
observe
with Jeff Shaffer's 24 inch Newt/Cass fork-mounted reflector when it was
originally located north of Prescott (at a place called Hootnanny Holler,
honest!).  Now, the big steel fork mounting was originally made up for the
latitude of the Baltimore area, so the wedge shaped welded steel base was tipped
about 10-15 degrees to the South for Prescott.  Anyways, we REALLY wanted a look
at Omega Centauri, BUT the truss tube just wouldn't quite clear the fork pointed
that far in the South, even with the cluster right on the meridian.  Sooooooo,
one night we each took turns looking at Omega for a few minutes while the other
"assistant" kept the telescope base jacked up the extra 2-3 degrees with a big
pry bar!  Afterwards, we had to re-align the mounting, of course.  But the view
with the 24 inch was worth it!  I wonder if Tim Hunter (who now owns the scope
and has it mounted near Sonoita, at Grasslands Observatory) has ever tried THAT
view?
Gene Lucas
(17250)

PHXJeff@xxxxxxx wrote:

> > At around 6 - 6:30 I saw a constellation in the South I didn't recognize
> >and scanned it with my binos and found a huge globular cluster filling a
> >quarter of the field in my binos. I had no idea what it was. I found out
> >later from Chuck, it was Omega Centuri. Wow! Too cool! Kind of 2 dimensional
> >and flat looking for a globular but really great in the binos. I found my
> >scopes bearing characteristics changed in the cold with the heavy eyepiece
> >and I had to balance the scope with my leg and view on my knees to see it,
> >but again, a fantastic view.
>
> The first time I saw Omega Centuri, it blew me away. I was at my cabin at
> 7500' with a great southern view. I was using a 13.1" dob and just
> scanning around. S&T does not seem to list it in the monthly sky charts.
> I guess they figure it too far south. At first I had no idea what it was,
> but was floored at its size and brightness. Since I am originally from
> upstate NY, I had never realized it could be seen from AZ. Your report
> brings back memories.
>
> Jeff
>
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