[AZ-Observing] Re: Thunderbird Park Star Party 10 May 2008

Hi Dan,

I like to tell the folks a story about some Indian lore where young 
braves were tested to see if they could see the two stars of Alcor. 
Some people claimed they could, but for those who couldn't I had them 
look through the finder. The two stars are easy to see. Then the 
surprise when I have them look through the main optics and see the 
two stars with one actual a double (Mizar). Part of the attraction is 
I can easily point out the Big Dipper and the stars of the handle so 
people have feel for what they are looking at.

As for what size telescope is needed to split Mizar, I believe I have 
seen it split in my 2.4" Unitron refractor, but my memory may not be 
doing so well. I know I have seen it with my C-8. A spectroscope 
would not show double stars, but for eclipsing binaries it would show 
a double spectrum. Hence the term spectroscopic binary.

Jeff

At 17:04 -0700 05/11/2008, Dan Heim wrote:
>Jeff,
>
>DFAC was doing an Astronomy Night for the Boulder Creek High School
>Astronomy Club, Saturday night up here at Heimhenge.  I too was surprised by
>the reactions to Mizar A/B, which seemed to be one of their favorite
>objects.  Of course, there were the usual "ooo's" and "ahh's" over Saturn
>and the Moon, but they really seemed to like the double star thing ...
>perhaps because most had never before encountered the concept of a double
>star.  I don't know.  When I explained about each of the stars being
>themselves double (albeit spectroscopic) that wowed them even further.
>Several asked "How big a scope would you need to see the double double?"  I
>had no idea, so I just said special instruments were needed, i.e., a
>spectroscope, and that they couldn't be split with just a telescope.  Did I
>lie?  Couldn't find the answer on the web when I searched later.
>
>Dan Heim
>President
>Desert Foothills Astronomy Club
>http://www.dfacaz.org
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jeff Hopkins" <phxjeff@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 1:15 PM
>Subject: [AZ-Observing] Thunderbird Park Star Party 10 May 2008
>
>>  Saturday evening an estimated 250 people showed up for the SAC spring
>>  Thunderbird Parkk Star Party. There were a couple dozen telescopes.
>>
>>  I showed the Moon, Saturn and Alcor (with the double star Mizar) to
>>  many people. There was a continuous line of 20 to 30 people from dark
>>  to 9:30. Surprisingly people seemed more interested in Alcor than the
>>  other objects. I may need to get a tracker for my DOB as I was worn
>>  out between putting in the step stool and taking it out of the way
>>  for kids and adults (if only I could sort the viewers by size) and
>>  having the recenter things every couple of minutes.
>>
>>  I'm less than impressed with the Park Commission. I do not think they
>>  talk to each other. It took awhile to gain access as they had locked
>>  the gate and noone had a key. I think they ended up using bolt
>>  cutters.
>>
>>  All in all, it was a beautiful night and everyone seemed to have a
>>  great time.  Jack Jones did a good job!
>>
>>  Jeff
-- 
Jeff Hopkins
HPO SOFT
Counting Photons
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html
Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
7812 West Clayton Drive
Phoenix, Arizona 85033-2439 U.S.A.
(623)849-5889
(623) 247-1190 (Fax)
www.hposoft.com
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