[sac-forum] Re: Saddle Mtn fun.

Echoing Steve's advise.  In my brief experience I have found that operating a 
telescope is a bit like playing an instrument like a guitar or a piano.  The 
more practice you put in the more enjoyable the results.  And, maybe even more 
importantly than the mechanical aspects of operating the telescope, the eye 
needs practice too.  Seeing faint objects takes practice.  So even in a light 
polluted urban backyard, maybe even especially in a light polluted urban 
backyard, the process of finding and observing (those really are two different 
things) not only is good practice with the operation of the telescope but give 
valuable experience to the eye. Once a month star parties are, like being a 
musician in an orchestra, a time to really have a blast and enjoy the music in 
an environment that is special, but the satisfaction will be greatly enhanced 
with practice at other times. The Uban List is designed just for that I guess. 

David Hofland
Director, Student Services
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Jacksonville State University
256.782.5276
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 11:13 PM
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Saddle Mtn fun.


> Steve;
> 
> Every new telescope I have ever owned has had a period of time where the
> operator needs to get trained to use it easily and accurately.  I will now
> give you a great piece of advice...set up in the backyard, even if the Moon
> is full, and practice.  Don't waste that precious dark sky time trying to
> get it all to work.  Do that in town so you know how to get right after
> those deep sky goodies once you have driven all that way.
> 
> See ya at the Antennas site for next weekend;
> Steve Coe
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Steve McAllister
> Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 8:19 PM
> To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [sac-forum] Saddle Mtn fun.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of AJ Crayon
> Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 3:18 PM
> To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [sac-forum] Re: fun night at Saddle Mt. site
> AJ,
> That was my 10" truss with M35 and NGC 2158.  Even though I've been a member
> for just under a year I have enjoyed everyone's friendliness and willingness
> to answer my questions when I've been able to get out to a few star parties.
> Special thanks to Al for letting use his 32 mm eyepiece. Hope to have clear
> skies and see some of you at the antennas this weekend.  By the way, the
> biggest issue with my manual setting circles was "operator error".  Go
> figure.
> 
> Steve McAllister
> Glendale, AZ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

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