Jon,
All the birthday best to you my friend.
San
Hobo Jungle
Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain
I am no longer amazed that this convivial bunch of hobos seem to have the same interests. It was meant to be. The first deep space object I ever saw on one of these was at an Anza Borrego desert star party. M57, or NGC 6720, the ring nebula. Some guy "dialed it in" and I was stunned by the beauty of it.
I love the ability of these newer telescopes to zero in on an object by name or coordinates, and, once oriented to Polaris, track it. OTOH, there is a certain craft to using a more primitive 'scope, the guide stars and constellations, this month's "Sky and Telescope", and figure out how to find something.
Like you, Pete, time, marriage, family and too many interests have curtailed my star gazing, but I retain a wonderment about it. It's one of the reasons I fear retirement, even with some means. There's just too much to do.
San
I am no longer amazed that this convivial bunch of hobos seem to have the same interests. It was meant to be. The first deep space object I ever saw on one of these was at an Anza Borrego desert star party. M57, or NGC 6720, the ring nebula. Some guy "dialed it in" and I was stunned by the beauty of it.
I love the ability of these newer telescopes to zero in on an object by name or coordinates, and, once oriented to Polaris, track it. OTOH, there is a certain craft to using a more primitive 'scope, the guide stars and constellations, this month's "Sky and Telescope", and figure out how to find something.
Like you, Pete, time, marriage, family and too many interests have curtailed my star gazing, but I retain a wonderment about it. It's one of the reasons I fear retirement, even with some means. There's just too much to do.
San
San, nice way to start! Bet THAT made an impression! The Ring Nebula is a jewel.
When I bought my 4-incher, my 'first light' was pointing it out a trapdoor in the roof of the apartment I was renting at the time. I picked the brightest thing I could find in the very limited view of the sky, and though it was rippling something awful from the heat escaping out the 18"-square hole, it too made a huge impression. I was looking at Saturn.
Hey you knuckleheads, it's Jon-Jr's birthday!
When I bought my 4-incher, my 'first light' was pointing it out a trapdoor in the roof of the apartment I was renting at the time. I picked the brightest thing I could find in the very limited view of the sky, and though it was rippling something awful from the heat escaping out the 18"-square hole, it too made a huge impression. I was looking at Saturn.
Hey you knuckleheads, it's Jon-Jr's birthday!
AG wrote:webenda wrote:I think He feel bad... he disappeared.
A.
Don't worry Jonathan. As soon as our parents go to sleep tonight, we will find you.
Signed,
Baby Commandos
Last edited by webenda on Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
----Wayne----
Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard
Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard
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ANG retired
- Posts: 1977
- Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:41 am
- Location: Garage of Doom
The refractor has an Alt-Az mount, the reflector has a German Polar mount, and both are aimed with the old standby "point and pray" method!
Yup, a GoTo would be SWEEEEEETTTT, but, there are also trains to be bought.....
I take 'em to Women in the Outdoors events, funny is hearing the reactions of seeing Saturn or Juipter for the first time!
I had one woman, look down the tube, to make sure I didn't paint on the image of Saturn!!!
I'm taking them down to Meyersdale tomorrow night, to the local Boy Scout Camporee, let the kids see Juipter before it slides out of view.
I was looking the other night for M-51 (the Andomeda Galaxy) couldn't find it. Almost gave up, when I swung the refractor to a random point in the sky. Guess what I found?
Yup, a GoTo would be SWEEEEEETTTT, but, there are also trains to be bought.....
I take 'em to Women in the Outdoors events, funny is hearing the reactions of seeing Saturn or Juipter for the first time!
I had one woman, look down the tube, to make sure I didn't paint on the image of Saturn!!!
I'm taking them down to Meyersdale tomorrow night, to the local Boy Scout Camporee, let the kids see Juipter before it slides out of view.
I was looking the other night for M-51 (the Andomeda Galaxy) couldn't find it. Almost gave up, when I swung the refractor to a random point in the sky. Guess what I found?
Bob
Rufus T. Firefly wrote:Simplify.....be where everyone else is not.
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Renovo PRR
- Posts: 1309
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:39 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
T
Joe S. wrote:Hey Guys...
I wanted to buy a round for MartyE (and everyone else)
MartyE lost his buddy a few years ago today...
It hasent seemed like three years....
Here is one for you MartyE!!!
Kodi... part of our family, never forgotten.
3/31/90-9/28/04
WOW Thanks Joe. It is hard to believe it's been 3 years. I miss that old man.
"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit."
MartyE.com and KodiakJunction.com Home to Kodiak Junction U.S.A.
MartyE.com and KodiakJunction.com Home to Kodiak Junction U.S.A.
AG wrote:Oh!
Sorry Jon I thought that was yours......
Nice pictures, as usual, your family and you looks great!!!
Andre.
Whoops. Well Jon have a beer and Jon's son can has a huge chocolate milkshake! Happy Birthday!
"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit."
MartyE.com and KodiakJunction.com Home to Kodiak Junction U.S.A.
MartyE.com and KodiakJunction.com Home to Kodiak Junction U.S.A.
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