P.S. Why not another five mile meadow adventure in July. It certainly won't be colder. Kimball Corson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kimball Corson" <kandj1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 3:49 PM Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: What a weekend!!! > Thanks to All, > > As the newbie in attendance, I concur with Steve's and other's comments > about what a great weekend of viewing, camping and company last weekend was. > I have no recall of ever seeing anything like the array of stars and the > milky way that I saw last weekend. I now know why they call it the milky > way. However, for a newbie all those stars can create problems. With SO > MANY stars and not being very discerning on magnitudes, finding some and > certain constellations was like searching for a needle in a haystack. The > problem was compounded by the fact some stars -- to my eyes -- did not look > particularly brighter than those around them until you looked at them > through a scope. Backyard star gazing is equally problematic for me because > I cannot always even see enough of the stars deemed to make up certain > constellations to be able to recognize them. In short, the problem is either > too many stars or not enough. Dropping the challenge of sorting things out > at my age, by star-hopping about with a chart and small red light (which can > impair my night vision I discovered), I have taken Steve Coe's suggestion to > heart and have order a Celestron CG-5 go to computerized mount to stick > under whatever smaller scope I choose. I feel a bit like I am chickening > out, but so be it. I cannot pester the likes of Thad all night on every > quandary, helpful though he was. I can only hope that as the go to mechanism > leads me about by the nose, I'll actually learn something about where > everything is in the process. I trust that is more than a rationalization. > Steve is also to be commended on the quality of his directions to the camp > site and his newbie letter on dealing with basic problems, like your car's > interior lights and other points. I torpedoed my vehicle's interior lights > before hand, because of Steve's letter, and my comfort level at the site > rose considerably because I could get stuff out of my car whenever I wanted. > Another skill I think it would be useful for me to acquire is that of being > able to take an good afternoon nap to better last longer at night. I wound > up reading instead of resting and fell short in the nap department. I am > also beginning to realize from observation that astronomy is less about the > equipment and more how well you can use what you have. So far, in that > quarter, I suck, but at least now have some direction. I likewise learned > Coe's Law of telescope mounting: tripod leg diameters should be at least > half of the aperture diameter of the scope. All in all a great weekend. > Thanks to all who lent a hand as I fumbled about. I had much more fun than > it may have appeared. > > Kimball > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx> > To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 5:14 PM > Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: What a weekend!!! > > > > Thad; > > > > You are very welcome. A really memorable weekend.....great views....great > > folks....great site. > > > > Lots of fun, maybe we can do it again when the monsoons are over? > > > > Making a list; > > Steve Coe > > > > Author "Deep Sky Observing--The Astronomical Tourist" > > Saguaro Astronomy Club website > > www.saguaroastro.org > > > > > > -- > > See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please > > send personal replies to the author, not the list. > > > > > > > -- > See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please > send personal replies to the author, not the list. > > -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.