[sac-forum] Re: Lunar Observing . . .
- From: "Richard Harshaw" <rharshaw2@xxxxxxx>
- To: <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:09:15 -0700
Great reply, Dave! We definitely have to meet some day!
Like you, I am not into list chasing. When I lived in Kansas City, our club
was an Astronomical League affiliate, so getting certificates was a natural
part of being active in the club. But like you, I observe as much as I can
when I am out, and make up my own target list, complete with detailed finder
charts and (usually) a negative of the digitized sky survey already flipped
so I don't have to warp my brain flipping an image at the EP of the C11. I
have not counted lately, but I know I have over 25,000 double star
observations and about 4,000 or so deep sky objects logged. The more I
observe, the more I enjoy it. I once heard that God does not deduct from a
man's life the hours he spends using his telescope. I hope that's true. I
should live to be 140 then.
Richard Harshaw
Cave Creek, AZ
From: sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sac-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of David Hofland
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 9:47 AM
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Lunar Observing . . .
Oh yeah, I am "working on" all three of those. But my approach now is
somewhat different than it was when I was doing the Messier, 110 Best of the
NGC, and the H-400. When I did those lists, like most I suppose, I was
really focused on list target objects, you know, find one, log it and go on
to another list object. Anyway, what I do now is rather like walking the
beach picking up shells. I start by picking a target constellation, and
then, using Skytools database search, I use the computer to select for me a
number of objects from that constellation that are bright and pretty easy in
the 16", say mag 13 or brighter. I tell skytools to eliminate all objects
that I've already logged, and that creates a list for that constellation.
Depending on the night I have coming up I may pick more than one
constellation, but usually just one that is placed well to observe for the
night (or early morning) in question. Then when I am out, I will start of
course with an object on the list and observe it, and then look around on
the Skytools chart and see what else is nearby and, one by one, I'll just
move from object to object observing until I run out of nearby objects, then
I pick another object from the list and off we go again. I know that after
a while I'm going to get to a point where if I go back and look at the
Herschel II or the SAC 110 Best Beyond, I will have logged most of them and
will clean up the ones few remaining at that time. But right now I am
having a lot of fun just observing and not really being "list" focused. Of
course it is likely that I'll have the 1000 New Objects award before the
other two going at it this way but we'll see. I have logged over 560 deep
sky objects towards the 1000 New so far.
Everything other than the last few H-400s was with my 10" Starfinder
Dob, upgraded with a custom primary and secondary coatings from Spectrum
(Max-R EAL 98% primary) and a MoonLite CR-1 focuser. Everything since then
has been with my Lightbridge 16, also upgraded with Spectrum coated primary
and secondary mirrors, Moonlite CR-2 focuser, and Astro-tech 66mm ED Apo
finderscope. If you read the magazine Amateur Astronomy I wrote an article
about how I made a few improvements to my Lightbridge to fix some of the
design flaw problems that will be in issue #60 in three months.
Basically my backyard is my "dark sky site". Mag 5 to 5.3 is about as
good as it gets here at home. I have visited the Birmingham AL club at
their site on Chandler mountain once and it was really no better than home,
and no coffee so I have not gone back there :-) I also visited one
glorious June 2007 night with the Chattanooga Club (Barnard Astronomy Club)
at their site (Orion Acres) with mag 6 ish skies but I've not been back
again mostly due to we just haven't had a good weekend of weather to do so
on a weekend I could go. I joined the Chiefland Village club a few months
ago but have not found the opportunity to get down there yet, again mostly
due to weather not being good for the trip. My little local club here in
Jacksonville where I work, we have a farm we use as our club star party
site, its about mag 5 at best. But 99% or my observing is at home.
Hey I'm really impressed with you completing the H-400 with an 8" from
suburban skies! I had a time for a few of those from my home with a 10".
And I also gotta say that, while the Herschel II is a bit challenging, that
110 Best Beyond has got some real tough ones on there for mag 5 skies even
with the 16! I am jealous as heck to have the desert dark skies you guys get
there in Phoenix. But one day I'll join you. until I do though I think the
110 BB will be a real tough one for me. How is that for you and the 11? Gee
if you can get a lot of that list with an 11 that's something.
David Hofland
Director, Student Services
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Jacksonville State University
256.782.5276
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